The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1873-12-11
VOLUME 26-NUMBER 10.


success. / invite the favorable con-
sideration Of Congress to suggestions
and recommendation of the Post
master-General for an extension of
free delivery in all cities having a
population Of not less than 10000; for
the prepayment OF postage on news
papers and other printed matter of
the second class; for uniform postage
and limit of weight on miscellaneous
matter; for adjusting the cOmpensa-
tion of all postmasters not appointed
BY the President, by the old method
OF commissions on the actual receipts
Of the Office instead of the present
mode of fixing the salary in advance,
upon special returns, and especially
do I urge favorable action by Con-
/ gress on the important recommenda-
ton of the Postm aster General for the
establishment of United States saw
ing repositories. Your attention is,
also, again called to 3 consideration
OF the question of postal telegraph, and
the arguments addueed in support
thereof, in the hope that you may take
such action in connection Herewith
as, in your judgment, will most con-
tribute to the best interests of the
country.
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
The affairs in Utah require your
early and special attention. The Su.
preme Court of the United States in
the case of Clinton vs. Englebrieht,
decided that the United States Mar
shal Of that Territory could not
lawfully summon Jurors for the Dis
tTiet Courts, and those Courts hold
that the Territorial Marshal can
not lawfully performed that du-
ty because he Is elected by
the Legislative Assembly and
not appointed as provided for in the
act organizing the territory. All pro-
eeedings at law are practically abol.
ished by these decisions and there
have been but few, or no jury trials in
the District Courts OF that territory,
since the last session of Congress;
property is left without protection by
the courts, and crimes go unpublished.
To prevent anarchy iJ is absolutely
necessary that Congress provide the
Courts with some mode OF obtaining
Jurors. / recommend legislation to
that end, and also that the Probate
Courts of the Territory now assume to
issue writs of injunction and habeas
corpus and to try criminal cases, and
in all questions rs to land titles be de-
MED all jurisdiction not possessed or
dinarily by Courts ofthAt description.
| have bt come impressed with the be.
! lief that the act approved March 2d,
| 1867, entitled an act To- establish an
uniform system of bankruptcy
throughout the United States is pro-
ductive of more Injury than good.
/ At this time many considerations
might be urged for its total repeal,
] but il this is not considered adYisa-
| bic, ] think II will not be seriously
Questioned that those portions of said
act providing for what is called vol
untary bankruptcy, operate to in
crease the financial embarrassment of
the country.
Careful and prudent men very Of
| ten become involved in debt III the
| transaction of their business, and
though they possess ample property,
if it could be made available for that
purpose, to meet all their liabilities,
yet, on account of the extraordinary
scarcity of money they msy be una
i OAC ia uCEt oil luCn
atiOns as they become due, in cOnse-
quence of which they are liable to be
prOstrated in their business by proceed
ings in bankruptcy st the instance Of
creditors. The people are now so
easily alarmed as to monetary mat
ters that the mere filing of an appliea-
ton in bankruptcy by an unfriendly
creditor will necessarily embarrass
and Oftentimes accomplish the finan-
cial ruin of a responsible business
man. Those who otherwise might
make lawful and just arrangements
to relieve themselves from the diff
culties produced by the present strin-
Rency in money, are prevented by
their constant exposure to attack
and disappointment by proceedings
lagsinst them in bankruptcy, and be-
sides the law is made use Of, in many
cases by obdurate creditors to frighten
or force debtors into a compliance
with their wishes and into acts Of in
| justice to other creditors and to them
selves. 1 recommend that so much
of said act as provides for involuntary
bankruptcy on account to the suspen-
sion of payments be repealed. Your
careful attention is invited to the
subject of the claims against the Gov
ernment, and the facilities afforded
by existing laws for their prose-
cution. In each of the Depart
ments of State, Treasury and
War, have demands for many mill
liCDs Of dollars upon their files, and
they are rapidly accommodating to
these, and there may he added those
now pending before Congress, the Court
of Claims and the Southern ClA ms
Commission, making in the Aggre-
gate an immense sum. Most Of these
grow out Of the rebellion and are in
tended to indemnify persons on both
sides for their losses during the war,
and not = few Of them are fabricated
and supported by false testimony.
Projects are on foot it is believed, 10
! induce Congress to provide for new
classes Of claims and to revive old ones
through the repeal or modification
of the statute of Limitation by which
they are now barred. Ipresume these
schemes, If proposed, will be received
with Little favor by Congress, and ]
recommend that persons having
claims against the United States by
any tribunal or department be reQuir-
ed to present them at an early day,
land that legislation be directed, as
far as practicable to the defeat Of the
uDfounded and unjust demands upon
the Government and should sug-
gest as a means Of preventing fraud,
that witnesses be called upon to appear
in person to testify before tribunals,
having such claims before them for
adjudication. Probably the largest
saving to, the National Treasury can
be secured by timely legislation on
these subjects OF any of economic
measures that will be proposed. You
will be advised of the operations Of the
department of justice by the report of
the Attorney General, and invite
your attention to the amendments of
existing laws suggested by him with
view of reducing expenses Of that
department of the interior.
The policy inaugurated towards the
Indians at the beginning of the ad-
ministTation has been steadily push
ed, and / believe with beneficial re-
suits. It will be continued with only
such notifications as time and eX-
perience may demonstrate as neces-
saTy with the encToaehment of ciyili-
zatiOn upon the Indian reservation
and hunting grounds. Disturbances
have taken place between the Indians
and whites during the past year, and
PROBABLY will continue to do so until
each race appreciates that the other
has rights which must be respected.
The policy has been TO collect the In
dians as rapidly as possible on reser-
vatiOns, and as far as practicable with
in what Is known as the Indian Ter
ritory, and to teach them the art Of
civilization and self support. When
/ found OFF their reservations and en-
dangeFing the lives OF whites, they
have been punished, and will continue
to be for Ike offences. The Indian
I Territory south of Kansas and west Of
Arkansas, is sufficient in area and ag-
ricultdral resources TO support all the
Indians of the Rocky MOustains. In
! time, no doubt, all of them except few
who may select their homes among
white people, will be collected there
as q preparatory step for this eOnsum-
nation. am now satisfied that q
territorial form ofGoverDments should
be given them, which will secure the
treaty rights Of the original settlers,
and protect their hOmesteads from
alienation for q period Of twenty