The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1851-12-17
CHARLOTTE. n. c DECEMBER 17a 1851

The A,nstiiuti on declares That no Del rec
held to service or l4bor IN one Sru,e unde
ihs laws thereof. escapsing MO sno.her, sha
IN Gems quencss OF sny law OF ,e. ula,iun The re
IN, be dschuged from such sefvics or labor
but shall De delivered up on claim Of ,hs par
" to whom such service or labor NAV b. due.
Ihis ccnsti utional provision is equally oh j
gaiory upon the legislative, E,ecut,s, az,
Judicial DrPartne eBs Of The Goveinssn,, se,
upon every CT zsn Of the United Sla'es.
Congress, however, must iron necr ssity
h''' act upon the suhj-c,, by prs.cfb,ng n,
proceedings necessary TO stcettsin that III.
PRISON is a iug tive and the Gleaus to be u.es
ior his restors'ipR 10 the claimant. This va,
do"s by an act "a. II during the frs, term o
P'es dent Washington which wss sme aded by
that enacted bv the last Congress, tnd Il NJ .
remains for the Executive aud Jud ca deps,t
menis to isks care that these laws be IA tslal.
iy exscu.ed. This injnnciion OF the consu,u
lion sss perem piory and binding 30 any 9th.
ei ii.s'sbds exactly on tho same found
siion as that clagse which provides for
the return OF fugitive. from i,s ice, or that
which declares that no bill Of a,iainder or
ez post fdcto Law shall be raised or that hic h
provides for AZ equality OF ta1,tion accord.
Iog to the census, or the cause declaring tha,
oil duties shall be- uniform throughout the u.
nted States, or tho important provision that
the triai OF all erimss shall be BY Jury. These
several articles and clevses Of the Cons,i.
'utIon, oil resting o. tho s,ms authority,
must slsnd OF fall together. Some objections
hsve been urged sgains, the details Of the act
iof The return Of fuguivcs from labor, bsi IL
10 worthy OF remark that the msin opposition
10 aimed against the Constitution itself, and
procseds from persons, many Of whom DE-.
clare their wshito see that constitution over
turned. They avow their hostility TO any
law which shall give foil and prsctc 81 eH.c,
10 this requirement Of the constitution. For.
tunately, the number Of those persons is CON.
Paraiively small, and it 10 believed 10 be daily
diminishing, but the issue which they pre-
seat is one ~hich involves The supremacy
snd even the existence OF The constitution.
Cases have heretofors arisen IN which 10
div'duals have denied The bind az auhoti,y
OF sc's Of Congress, and even States have
proposes TO nulhfy such acts upon the ground
that the constitution YES the supreme law OF
'hs land, and that those acts OF Congress wore
rspug0sht TO that insiIumsai; but nulh6ca.
ton Is now aimed, rot 90 much spsinst psr.
tculsr laws as being inconsistent with tAs
constitution iisoif, snd Il 10 not TO be 9lsguis.
ed that sPitt exists AMI ha' been actively
., work 10 rend ssuRdsr this uuiop, which 10
our cksrisacd .ahefltsnce from cur teyolu,
tIonary fathers.
la my last annual message stated that |
considered tho series OF measures, which
had been adopted st the previous session, 10
reference 10 the agitation growing out Of the
Territorial and slavery questions, a. . 6nal
settlement in principle and substance Of Tho
dangerous and exciting bjects which they
embraced. aad recommended adhefencs to
the Adjustment estsblisted by those measures
until time ssd experience should Do " onslrsts
the necessity Of further Legislation TO guard
against evasion or abuse. | vas not induced
TO make thls recommendation because |
thought those measures perfect, for no human
legislation can be perfect, Wide differences
and jarrlng op nIon, csn only be recsneiIsd by
yielding something on all Ades, and this result
had been r'sched after an angry conf Ct Of
many months, IN which one part of the coun.
try was srraysd gtins. another and violent
convuIslon seemed TO bs imminent. Looking
al the interests Of the whole country, | fel, il |
TO be my duty 10 seixa upoE this 90 ppromise
IS the best that could be obtained amid con-
fcling ln'stests, and to ins s, upon il az fnal
's'tlemsnt to be adhered TO by all whs value
he peace and welfare OF the country. A year
has now elapsed since ,ha, recommendation
sas made. To ths, recon- endst,oa | stll
adhere, and congratulate you and the coun.
ry upon the general scquiescencs in lh.se
measures Of peace, which has been exhibited
u all parts Of tho republic. And not only s
here this genera acquIescence in these msa.
ures, but The spirit Of conc ialion which has
'sen manifested ia regard to them ia all parts
It the country, has removed doubts and uncsr.
ain.les in the minds Of thousands of good men
onc nlng the durability Of our popular in,,i.
utioRa, snd g ven renewed assurance iha, our
4lb,rty aud our Union may subsis, tope,bsr
or the benefit Of this and all succeeding gen.
rstious. MlLLARD FILLMORE.
Warrington, December 2, 1851.