Lincoln Research

[David Lockmiller]

I previously made two suggestions in response to this thread topic:

[2] The second suggestion, in combination with the first, would be Lincoln quotes on particular subject matter. I would suggest either/and the "Lincoln Dictionary" edited by Ralph B. Winn (1959) or "The Lincoln Treasury" compiled by Caroline Thomas Harnsberger (1950) containing "Lincoln's expressions on a multitude of subjects."

By reason of necessity, I became interested recently in the duty of government officials to render justice against the government itself in favor of citizens. It so happens that President Abraham Lincoln had recognized this particular cause and was given occasion to specifically address this subject in his first Annual Message to Congress on December 3, 1861. I found the relevant abbreviated quote under the subject of "Justice" in the "Lincoln Dictionary." The abbreviated quote is the bold section below. The complete quotation in "The Life, Public Services and State Papers of Abraham Lincoln" by Henry J. Raymond at pages 218-19 is as follows:

"It is important that some more convenient means should be provided, if possible, for the adjustment of claims against the Government, especially in view of their increased number by reason of the war. It is as much the duty of Government to render prompt justice against itself, in favor of citizens, as it is to administer the same between private individuals. The investigation and adjudication of claims in their nature belong to the judicial department. Besides, it is apparent that the attention of Congress will be more than usually engaged for some time to come with great national questions. It was intended by the organization of the Court of Claims mainly to remove this branch of business from the halls of Congress: but while the court has proved to be an effective and valuable means of investigation, it in great degree fails to effect the object of its creation for want of power to make its judgments final.

Fully aware of the delicacy, not to say the danger, of the subject, I commend to your careful consideration whether this power of making judgments final may not properly be given to the court, reserving the right of appeal on questions of law to the Supreme Court, with such other provisions as experience may have shown to be necessary."

Does anyone know if President Abraham Lincoln was successful in this endeavor to take the "power to make [the Court of Claims] judgments final" out of the hands of Congress and be given to the Court of Claims as President Lincoln proposed?

I love the way President Lincoln stated a simple principle of good government: It is as much the duty of Government to render prompt justice against itself, in favor of citizens, as it is to administer the same between private individuals. And, Lincoln added an astute veiled observation regarding the "danger" of continuation of the current process. He also provided answers to foreseeable objections by members of Congress who would have wanted to maintain this power to make such judgments final in their own "political" hands.