The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1851-12-13
mil Justified BY tho revenue Of The Depart

HEni
llu also recommends that the rates OF pos
tagr 0u printed matter be- ~ rcybed 40 10
render lhen.fnore simPle, and Moro pBiiorm
la their oporaiioR upon all rlapsa oi printed
mnter Hilmit De reromuiebla1ops OF the
report 10 yo,if ayofablr ntblsmiioag
The publit ttatln,S Of theE United Istatea
hayc now besn .acf,hBulatak jDr usoye thag
sixfy years, hnd, fateuporued vita private
acts, are scattered through numerous luines
aud, from the cost Ut the whole, have begome
almost inaccessible Ia the great mas OF the
community THY also exhibit much Of the
incongruity aud nperieetion Of hasty logiala-
ton. A. it seems 10 be- generally conceded
that there II no "common law" OF tha United
States 60 supply the defects OF their legisla-
ton, IL ia most jpp0rLant thai that lfHlsl>ti291
ssotild W. ~ pcrfect ~ posNbie, dehlihg eV'
ery powsr, ihtsndost go b. conieFred, every
crims iniended 10 bo made punishable, aud
prescribing the punishnlent " be lpnleied.-1'
IN addition 10 some particular cases spoken
~ more ~ length the Whole criminal code q
noAs laui,nlal,ly tleisctiye. behie oifenrss
are imporfcglly JrscTlA'd. and oihurs are en-.
tirgly. ouHuyd, 10 that hagrHnt erimes may ha
tOnnlitted With inpnnity, The scale VI pun
islnncnt h not inall cases graduated accord
ing 90 The dgsroe. And Nature Of the offence
aul Il OleH. rcpdored mors.uuequAl BY uie
different molrs ct imprisopngnL OF PenlfI'''
! tiary confnemrnS in the dilprenl STATE,
T Many laws dr 4 permanent ehataeifr have
i bsen intrd'inoeA Into appropriation bills, And
Il - often diiligult Go dstc dhifie a~hetser tue
pariirulpr flaupa ySpiH.., !, ~ the ieinfoTnrs
act OF which il Is mart or coniinueAin force.
II haralso frequently happoncd.- that enact
mcnis and ITesifiops 81 law lays. bsen intro
rIIrSii ihrrhiiin, ,witIithr THEW general sub
iccldf which they have littlc or no conneo'
ton or relation ln this mole Of Legislation.
40 many .tmarinenfNliAve been heAped uIon
each other aud often with mii iiulc consider
alton tint IN MANY instances IL II hiflirult TO
saarrh oiii aud 'doisrniim whht !. the law
4 The Govrrhmont Of 1h,' l'mtc' States u
3 vmphan0aAy government OF written laws
I Ihe,statutrs should, Therefore, NJ far ~ prac-
licablr, not oniy bg TAdg uretWibc TO ah but
be cxprcsscd IN langnRgc "a plain and simple
ras 10 b. understood by all, aud arranged in
such method ~ 80 give perspicnity 10 every
subject. Many of the Statp have revised
their public acts with great nnd manifest ben
eft; aud lrecommend tina, provision BE- made
by law for the appointment OF commission
to revise tho public statutes OF the United
States, arranging them in order, supplying
deficiencies, correcting incongruiticb, sinpli-
lying their language, and reporting them to
Congress for its action.
Anact OF Congrcss approved 50th Septcm-
bcr, 1880, contained provision for the eN-
tension ofthe Capitol, according TO such plan
AS might bo approved by the President, aud
appropriated one hundred ihousand dollars,
to 10 expended under his direction, by such
architect ~ he should appoint 10 execute thv
same. On cNHmining the various plans when
had been Submitted by different architects, IN
parsunnre al AZ advertisement by commit
tee of the S-Aat,., no one was found 10 he en-
I. tirvly satisfactory, and It was therefore deem
ed advisable 90 combine and adopt the adyan
tagcs Of several
The great object 90 bc accomplished was Il
make such an addition NJ would aiforiNmpl,
and couvenirnt tTsiis for the rielibera,icn. %
! the two Houses Of Congress, with sufficient
aceommotions for spectators, and suitable n
parimcnts for the committees and officers Of
the two branches OF The Legislature. II WA
also desirable mt 20 mar the harmony and
Z beauty of the Vruscut strJirture, which, as =
specimen OF architecture, " so universally
r admired Keeping these objects in view,
, , concluded 70 make the addition by wings de
! tached from the present building, yet con
nectod With Il by corridors. This mole Of
E enlargement will leave the present Capto
> nninjured, an'l afford great advantages FOL
Ventilation and the admission Of light, auC
% will enablc the work to PROGRESS without in
terruptins the deliberations Of Congress- II,
carry Ills pIail inlo eiiccl, I have apP0iHtG5
IAN experienced aud competent architect
: The corner stone was laid ON the 9TH day Of
July last, with suitable ceremonies, sine,
which time the work has advanced with CON
mendnblr rapidly, and the foundations Of
: tUth wings arc now nearly complete.
again recommend to your favorable re
gard the interests of thr District of Columbia
: and deem il oaly necessary to remind you
= that although its inhabitants have, no voice
in the choice OF representatives in Congress
they are not less entitled TO a just and iibcra
: consideration in your legislation My opin
. ions on this subject were moro fully express
ed in my last annual communication.
e Other subjects were brought 10 the atten
: ton ofCongress. in my last annual message
to which | would respectfully refer. Blu
there was one Of more than ordinary inter
est TO which again invite your special attcn
! ton. i alludc 10 the recommendation for thu
appointment Of a commission TO settle privat,
claims against the United States. Justice 4
= individuals as well as to the Government iGl
I peiatiyely demands that some more conSen
y lent and expeditions mode than an appeal 4
4 Congress shonldb be adopted, s...'
r. Itis deeply 10 be regretted that in severa
; Instances Officers Of the Government, in ut
tcneptnr to execute the law for the return Of
fugiiivcs frorn'labor, have been openly rcsist
ed, nndNthcir efforts frustrated and defeated
by lawlcss andvioient mobs; that in ono cas-,
such resistance resulted in the death of an Us
tinfahle citizen, and in others serious iniur,
ensued to those officers aud to individuals who
were rsing their endeators TO sustain the
laws Prosecutions have been instituted A
gsinst the alleged offenders, so far as the,
could be identified, and are still pending,
have regarded il rs my duty, in these cases
to give all aid legally in my power to.the en-.
iorcement of the laws, and shall continue to
do so wherever and whenever their execution
may be resisted.
The act of Congress for the return of fasi.
tives from labor is one required and demand.
ed 10y the express words OF the Constitution
The Constitution declares-"I'hat no per-
son held to service or labor in one State; nm.
der the laws thereof escaping into another.
shah in'consequence of any law or reae&hion
therein, be discharged from such service or
labor, but shall bcdeIivered up on claim of
4 the party TO whom such service or labor may
! be due" This constitution rrov;s;or :, $500,