The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-12-03

An ACT Oh congress approved SON September,
1850, contained provision for the extension of
the Capitol, according to such plan as might be
approved by the President, and appropriated one
hundred thousand dollars TO be expended under
his direction, by such architect az he should APP
point TO execute the same. On examining the
various plans which had been submitted by diff
ierent architects, in pursuance of an advertise
ment by a committee Of the Senate, no one was
found to be entirely satisfactory. aud it was
therefore deemed advisable TO combine and
adopt the advantages of several.
The great object to be accomplished was to
make such an addition as would afford ample and
convenient halls for the deliberat ons of the two
houses Of Congress, with sufficient accommoda.
tons for spectators, and suitable apartments for
the committees and officers of the two branches
OF the legislature. ID was also desirable not TO
mar the harmony and beauty of the present.
structure, which, as specimen of architecture,
is 80 universally admired. Keeping these OBJ
Jects in view, concluded to make addition by
wings, detached from the present building, vet
connected with it by corridors This mode of en-
largement will leave the present Capitol uniniur-
cd, and afford great advantages for ventilation and
the admission of light, and will enable the work
TO progress without interrupting the debera-
tons of Congress. To carry this plan into eff
feet have appointed an experienced and compe-
tent architect The corner stone was laid on
the 4th day of July last, with suitable ceremo-
MES, since which time tie work has advanced
with commendable rapidity, 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 1t only necessary to remind you, that al
though its inh bitants have no voice in the
cbaca N inf
not the less entitled to just and liberal con
sderation in your legislation My opinions on
this subject were more fully expressed 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
was one Of more than ordinary interest to which
again invite your special attention. | allude
to the recommendation for the appointment of
commission to settle private claims against
the United States. Justice to individuals as
well as to the government imperatvely de-
mands that some more convenient and exped
tious 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 attempt
ing to execute the law for the return of fugi.
lives from labor, have been openly re listed, and
their efforts frustrated and defeated by lawless
and violent mobs; that in one case such resist
ance resulted in the death of an esti.nable citi-
zen, and in Others serious inju ensuei to
those officers and to individuals who were using
their endeavors to sustain the laws Prosecu
tons have been instituted against the alleged
offenders, so far AS they could be identified, 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, ard
shall continue to do 50 wherever and when
ever their execution may he resisted
The act of Congress for the return of fug-
tives from labor is one required and demanded
by the express words of the Constitution
The Constitution declares, "That no person
held to service or labor in one State under the
laws thereof, escaping into another, shall, in
consequence of amy law or 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 Executive, and Judicial
Departments of the government, and upon every
citizen of the United States
Congress, however, must, from necessity, first
act upon the subject, by prescribing the pro-
ceedings necessary to ascertain that the person
is fugitive, and the means TO be used for his
restoration to the claimant. This was done by
act passed during 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 to take care
that these laws be faithfully executed This
injunction of the Constitution is as peremptory
aud as binding any other; it stands exactly
on the same foundation as that clause which
provides for the return of fugtives from Justice,
or that which declares that no bill of attainder
or er post fdcto law shall be passed, or that
which provides for an equality of taxation, ac-
cording to the census, or the clause declaring
that all duties shall be uniform throughout the
United States, or the important provision that
the trial of all crimes shall be by jury. These
several articles and clauses of the Constitution,
all resting on The same authority, must stand or
fall together. Some objections have been urged
against the details of the act for the return of
fugitives from labor but it is worthy of remark
that the main opposition is aimed against the
Constitution 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 Constitution. 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 Con.
stitution.
Cases have heretofore arisen in which ndi
viduals have denied the binding authority of
acts of Congress, aud even States have pro-
posed to nuIIifY such acts upon the ground that
the Constitution was the supreme law Of the
land and that those acts of Congress were re-
.pugnant to that instrument but notification il
now aimed, not so much against particular laws
as being Inconsistent with the Constitution as
to against the Constitution itself; and it is not
to be disguised that spirit exists and has
been actively at work to reud asunder this
Union, which is our cherished inheritance from
our revolutionary fathers.
In my last annual message ] stated that
considered the series of measures, which had
been adopted at the previous session, In refer
ence to the agitation growing out Of the Terri
torial and Slavery Questions, as a final settle
ment in principle and substance Of the Danger
Gus and exciting subjects which they embraced
and | recommended adherence TO the Adjust
ment established bv those measures, until time
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