Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1851-12-08


tho death Of an estiahable citizen, and in
ethers, seriously injury. ensued TO those
officers and TO individuals who were using
their endeayors TO sus.ain the law. Prose-
cuions have.been Instituted against the al
legged offenders, so far MS they could be lden-
tilted, and are sill pending. have re.
gafdsd has my duty, in these. to. give all
aid legally in my power.to'the en- osesment
Of the laws, and shall continue 10 do so
wherever. and @heneger their exeeaion
may bo resisled. q = -; ~: = = ..S -
The act Of Congress FOR the return oil
fugi,ives from labor is one required and de-
Innnded by the express words OF the Con
stitulion. - - s5.s'
aaThe Constitution declares, "Thal no
person held TO service or labor in one State,
under the laws thereof, escaping into
another, shaiI, in consequence Of any law
orregulaiion therein, be discharged from
such service or labor, but shallb delivered
up onclaim Of tho party ie whom such ser.
vice or labor may be due.
This constitutional provision is equally
obligatory upou the Legislative, the Exec
u,iye, and Judicial departments Of the Gov.
etnmeni, and upon every citizen OF the
United States.
Congress, however, must, from necesssi.
ty, FIRST act upon the subject, by prescrib.
ing the proceedings necessary to ascertain
tholsthe person is a fugitive, and the means
10 BE used for his restoration 10 the claim
ynt. This was done by an net passed DUR
ing the first term of President Washington,
which was amended by that enacted by The
last Congress, and it now remains for the
Executive and Judicial Departments 10 take
care that these laws be faithfully executed.
This injunction of the Constitution is as
peremptory and as binding as any other;
il stands exactly on the same foundation
as that clause which provides for the return
offugiliyes from justice, or thai which de-
clares that no bill of altainaer or ex post
facto law shall be past, or that wi ich pro-
vides for an equality Of taxation, according
TO the census, or the clause declaring that
oil dulles shall be uniform throughout The
uaiied States, or the important provision
that the trial of all crimes shall be by jury.
These several articles and clauses oil The
Constitution, oil resting on the same au-
thority, must stand or fall together. Some
objections have been urged against the de-
tails of the act for the return vi fugitises
from labor; but il is worthy Of remark
that the main opposition is aimed against
the Constitution ilseli, and proceeds from
persons and classes Of persons, many of
whom decsare their wish TO see that Con.
.t.tu.nn overturned. They nyow their
f.,,, xt.,i ,,.t f,,ll
and practical effec, to this requirement Of
the Constitution. Fortunately, the number
Of these persons is comparatively small.
and is believed te be daily diminishing, but
the issue which they present is Ole which
involves the supremacy ano even the exis>
,ence ef.thef Constitution.
Gases have heretofore arisen in which
individuals have denied the binding nulhor-
Ey OF acts of Congress, and even Staies
nnye proposed 10 nulifv suth nc's, upon
The erould That The Co, siiiglian was tie
sup1eme law !, { tie land, tld that those
tets Of Congress were reprgnant TO that
instrument; but notification is now mined.
NOT so Ihoch ageiEsi particular laws as be-
lug iiconss ent with the Coistilniion, ns
egalnsi the Constitution itself; and il is
no, 10 be disguised that a spirit exists and
has been aciiveiy al work to rend assunder
this Unon, which is our cherished Inherit
aEce from our revolutionary fathers.
The pn!icy which dictated tae low rate
OF dutles GU foreign merchandise, 1t was
thought BY ,hnse who promoted and estob-
lished il, would tend 10 benefit the farming
population of this country, by increasing
The demand and raising the price of agri-
cultural products in foreign maj kets.
In my last annual message | stated that
! considered The series OF measures, which
had heen adopted at the previevs session,
in reference TO the agitation growing ont
of the Ierritorinl and slavery questions,
as final4selilemeEti in principle and sub
stance Of the dangerous and exciting sub
iects which they embraced and recom-
mend adherence TO the Adjustment estab.
lished by those measures, unit! time and
experience should demonstrate the necessi-
ty OF further legislation to guard against
evasion or abuse. | was not induced to
make this recommendation because | tho.t
those measures perfect, for no human leg
islalion can be perfect. Wide differences
and jurring opinions can only be recon
ciled by yielding some thing on all sides and
this result had been reached after an an
cry conflict Of many months, in which one
part OF the country was arrayed against
another, and violent convulsons seemed TO
be im,rinent. Looking at the interest Of
the whole country, felt it to be my duty
to seize upon this Compromise as the best
that could be obtained amid conflicting in.
terests, and 10 insist uron it as a final settle.
sment, 10 be adhered to by all who value
tho peace and welfpre Of the country. A
year has now elapsed since that recon-
ms7,dation was made. To that recon-
menda.ion still adhere. and | congratu-
late you and the country upon the gener-
. al aequiescence in these measuresof peace,
which has been exhibited in all parts ofthe
Republic. And not only is there this gen.
eral acqaiescense in these measures, but
the spirit Of concilialipn which has been
menifes, ed in regard 10 them in all parts