The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-12-03

| 10 DC enIrely satlsiuOtOIyS anu AZ ""o tHSASlOfs
deemed advisable to combine and adopt the advan-
/ tagesof several.
The great object to be accomplished was 10 make
such an addition as would afford ample and con
venient halls for the deliberations of the two Houses
of Congress, with sufficient accommodations for
spectators and suitable apartments for the com
mittecs and officers of the two branches of the LIE
gislature. II was also desirable not to mar the
harmony and beauty of the present structure,
which, as a specimen of architecture, ia 30 univer-
sally admired Keeping these objects in view, !
concluded to make the addition by wings, detach-
ed from the present building, yet connected with it
by corridors This mode of enlargement will leave
the present Capitol uninjured and afford great adj
vantages for ventilation and the admission OF
light and will enable the work to progress without
interruptng the deliberations of Congress To
carry this plan into effect ! have appointed an
| experienced and competent architect. The COR
ner- stone was laid on the 4th day of July last,
with suitable ceremonies, since which time the
work has advanced with commendable rapidi-
ty, and the foundations of both wings are now
nearly complete
again commend to your favorable regard the
interests of the District of Columbia and deem it
only necessary TO remind you, that although its
inhabitants have voice in the choice Of represen
tatives in Congress- they not the less entitled to
just and liberal consideration in your legislation.
My opinions on this subject were more fully ex-
pressed in my last annual communication.
Other subjects were brought TO the attention of
Congress in my last annual message, to which
would respectfully refer. But there one
Of more than ordinary interest to which l again
invite your special attention. / alude to the
recommendation for the appointment of a COM
mission to settle private claims against the
United States Justice to individuals well as
to the Government imperatively demands that
| some more convenient and expeditions mode than
an appeal to Congress should be adopted.
1t is deeply to be regretted that in several in
stances Officers of the Government, in attempting
to execute The law for the return of fugitives from
labor, have been openly resisted and their efforts
frustrated and defeated by lawlesa and violent
mobs; that n one such resistance resulted in
the death OF an estimable citizen, and in others
rous injury ensued to those officers and to indi
viduals who were using their endeavors to sustain
the laws. Prosecutions have been instituted against
tie alleged offenders SO far they could be ident
fed, and are still pending. have regarded it as
my duty, in these cases, to give all aid legally
in my power to the enforcement Of the laws, and
shall continue to do wherever and whenever
their execution may be resisted
The act of Congress for the return of fugitives
from labor is one required and demanded by the
express words of the Constitution.
The Constitution declares, "That nopereon held to
service or labor in State, under the laws there
of, escaping into another, SHALL in consequence of
any law regulation therein, be discharged from
such service or labor but shall be delivered up on
claim of the party to whom such service or labor
may be due" This constitutional provision is
equally obligatory upon the Legislative, the Execu
tive, and Judicial Departments of the Government,
and upon every citizen of the United States.
Congress- however, must, from necessity, first act
upon the subject, byprescribing theproceedings
cessary to ascertain that the person is fugitive and
the 10 be used for his restoration to the claim
ant. This was done by act passed during
the fist term of President Washington, which was
amended by that enacted by the last Congress, and
it now remains for the Executive and Judicial De
partments to take care that these laws be faithfully
executed This injunction of the Constitution ia
peremptory and as binding as any other; it stands
exactly the same foundation as that clause
which provides FOR the return of fugitives from JUS
tice that which declares that no bill of attander
or post facto law shall be passed. or that which
provides for an equality of taxation, according to
the census, the clause declaring that all dutics
shall be uniform throughout the United States,
or the important provision that the trial of all
crimes shall be by jury. These several arti-
Giles and clauses of tie Constitution, all rest
ing the same authority, must stand or fall
together Some objections have been urged
against the details of the act for the return of fu
gitives from labor but It'll worthy of remark that
the main opposition is aimed against the Constitu-
ton itself, and proceeds from persons and classes
OF persons, many of whom declare their wish to
see that Constitution overturned. They avow
their hostility to any law which shall give full and
practical effect to this requirement of the Cons
tuition. Fortunately, the number of these persons
is comparatively small, and is believed to be daily
diminishing, but the issue which they present is
one which involves the supremacy and even the
existence OF the Constitution.
Cases have heretofore arisen in which individu-
ais have denied tie binding authority of acts of
Congress, and even States have proposed to null
lily such acts, upon the ground that the Constitu-
ton was the suprsme law of the land, and that
those acts OF Congress were repugnant to that in
strument; but notification is aimed, not so
much against Particular laws as being inconsist-
ent with the Constitution, against the Consti
tuition itself and It is not to be disguised that
spirit exists and las been actively at work to rend
asundcr this Undn, which is cherished inheri
lance from our revolutionary fathers
In my last annual message | stated that con-
sdered the series OF measures, which had been
adopted at the previous session. in reference to the
agitation growing out of the Territorial and sla-
very questions, Us final settlement in principle
and substance of the dangerous and exciting sub
ects which they embraced; and recommended adj
herencc to the Adjustment established by those
measures, until time and experience should de-
monstrate the pecessity of further legislation to
guard against evasion or abuse. was not induced
a., bot dat I