The New York herald., 1850-12-03
Opening OF Congress-The Presidents
Message.

message.
The second sess on Of the thirty first Cong
opened yesterday, punctually at twelve O'clock
quorum having been pre- sent, both houses or
ganized, and Joat Committee was appoin ed to
wait upon President Fillmore, and inform hun
that they were ready to receive any communi-
cation which he had 10 make 10 them The
committee returned ia short time, and reported
that The President would communicate with
both houses, without delay, ani in few minutes
afterwards the regular annual message was re-
ceived and read. The document was received
by Us is the afternoon, aud placed before the
public, together with the opening proceedings OF
Congress, in an extra, las, evening. II will be
found in another column, and is the most in
teresung feature Of this days Herald.
We have carefully perused the message. from
beginning TO end, aud satisfied that il is one
Of the most compact, Perspicuous, and business
our review. il is written in manly and straight
forward manner, and a tone Of frmness and
patriotism pervades 1t throughout. Il is an In
sirument worthy Of the chief magistrate of this
great republic, and no matter what opposition
papers may say, it reflects the greatest credit on
MIR. Fillmore, aad Will be highly acceptable to the
great bulk OF the American people.
la his message, Mr.. Fillmore sets out with the
principle that the constitution will be his guide,
and in questions of doubt he will look for their
solution in the judicial decisions Of the Supreme
Court of the United States. II any act should
pass both houses Of Congress which should ap
pear TO him unconstitutional. or an cncroa ach neat
on the ju,t rights Of other departments, OF with
provisions hastily adopted, aud likely to produce
consequences injurious and unforeseen, he will
consider i, his duty to apply the veto power con
fded TO him by the constitution, aud aires, il.
This is all very good, and speaks well tor Mr.
Fillmore. In going little further. we find that the
President administers a well-tmed and msriied
rebuke to the abolition fanatics Of the Northern
end Middle States, for the manner in which they
have nierfered, and are now interfering with the
domestic affairs Of the South. lie remark, with
great truth, that the. beauty, safety, and durability
Of our system Of goveu ment depends 10 avoiding
mutual collisions ami encroachments, and by
allowing each State to revolve ia hs own o;bit.
But this is not all that the President says ia his
message, not only to the Senate AMI House of
Repres, Natives, but to the flnatcs and higher
law politicians. lie declares thai both Congress
and the country may be assured that, 10 the ut
most Of his ability, and 10 the extent of the power
vested in him, he shall take care that the laws be
faithfully executed. In doing 50, he shall shrink
from no respon sibhty, and shall endeayor to meet
events a. they may arise, with hrmness, as well
a. with prudence and discretion. This Is cold
piece of comfort TO those extremely humane and
philanthropic gentlemen in New England and
elsewhere, who have, in solemn conolave, voted to
disobey that anti. christian AMI odous law the
Fugitive slave bill. Wen see whether they
will carry their high. sounding threats into execu-
ton, or whether. when the time Of trial ccmes.
their courage will not. like that Of Bob Acres,
ooze at IN, il finger endsor at their heels. Iflbose
pbilanthropists desire msrtyrdom, they will have
an opportunity Of being graufied when they oppose
the execution Of the Fugtve Slave law, the recent
opposition TO which. ia Boston. was. no doubt the
cause Of those pointed and determined remsrks.
Mr. Fillmore, in his message, does not allude to
the recent high-hsnded proceedings Of the British
Consul towards Nicaragua, or those Of the British
authorities in San Juan, towards Americans, Ame-
rican commerce, and American interests. lie
simply ssys, that treaty has been ratified by the
Ifniea States and I.rfat Britain for factatnq and