The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-12-03
Department. Of the goyernment, and upon every

IS a fugitive. and the means to be used for his
restoration to the claimant This was done BY
an 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
and as binding as any other; it stands exactly
on the same foundation as that clause which
provides for the return of fugitves from Justice,
or that which declares that no bill Of attainder
or er post facto law shall be passed, or that
which provides for an equality of taxation, nc
cordng 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
sever i articles and clauses Of the Constitution,
al 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
tugitives 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 perShns, many of whom declare
their wish to see that Constitution overturned
TAey 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
suprem ,cy and even the existence of the Con:
Stltution.
Cases have heretofore arisen in which indi
Viduals have denied the binding authority Of
acts of Congress, and even States have pro-
posed to nuIify such acts, upon the ground that
the Constitution was the supreme law of the
land and that those acts of Congress We're re-
puTnant 10 that instrument but ullfcation il
now aimed, not so much against particular laws
as being Inconsistent with the Constitution, rs
to against the Constitution itself; aud it is not
to be Disguised that a spirit exists and has
been actively at work to rend aSuuder 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
oeen adopted AT the previous session. i. refer
ence to the agitation growing out Of the Terri
toria and Slavery q estions, as Il 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 b. those measures, until time
and experience should demoustrae the necessi-
ty of further legislation to guard against eva
sion or abuse. ] was not iniuctd to make this
recommendation becauIc thought those inca
aures perfect, for no human legislation can be
pe,iect. Wide differences and jarrng opinions
can only be reconciIed by yielding something
on all sides, and this result had been reached
after an angry conflict of many months, in
which one part Of the country was arrayed
against another, aud violent CONFUSION seemed
TO be imminent.
Looking Mt the interests Of the whole country,
felt il TO tse my duty to seize upon this com
promise rs the best that could be obtained
amid conflicting interests, and to insist upon it
as final settlement, to be adhered to by all who
value the peace and weflre of the country.
A year ha, now elapsed since that recommended
ton WAS made. TO that recommendation still
adhere, and congratulate you All the country
upon the general acquIscencc in these measures
Of peace, which rs been exhibited in all pGrts
Of the Republic. And not only is there this
general acQuiescence in these measurcs, but the
spirit OF coLcilia ion which has been manifested
in regard to tn IN ia all parts of he couutry, has
removed doubts and uncertainties il the min
of ussnds of good men concerning the dura.
bilitv Of our popular institutions. and given re.
newol assurance tina, our Liberty aud our Union
may sub,i together tor the benefit OF this aud
all succeeding generations.
WILLARD FILLMORE. |
Was,EXGToN, December 2, 1851.
The reading Of the message by Mr. FoEYEY,
the new clerk, occupied an hour and half
After It bad been concluded,
Mr. BAA'l.Y moved that IL be referred TO al
couui;.ce Of the whole House, and $4,000
copies ordered ~ be printed. Agreed to.
The drawing Of seats was assigned for to-
morrow morning.
At ha,f.past o'clock, the House adjourned.
We fad in the Scientific American and other
exchanges, the folio Ming notice of a new inn
provemcnt
IMPROVEMENT ~ lIoRsE. PowERs-Nr. A. ID
Brown, ol Clinton, jones CO., Geo, has taken
measures to secure patent for an improvement
IN horse powers. 1t consists in an arrangement
Of the gearing by which the shalt TO which the
last or fastest motion is communicated, is made
81 pass through the centre of the mastCr-Wheel,
sail wheel being logged on the outer periphery.
Motion s given to the shaft above mentioned.
bv pinirn on cugs Of which mesh into the cog>
Of The mas'cr.whcpl, the arbor Of the pinion
works into the outer ends Of travelling wing, !
the opposite ends Of the wings cncOmrassing !
the shaft While passes through the centre Of the
maSttr-whcpl. The arbor of the puOn has q
pulley upon it, and tn re is also n pulley upon
the shaft aforesaid ba ID passes round these
two pulleys The sr fl ,r pole to which the
horse is attached, is connected TO the lower
travelling wing Motion bring given TO the
shalt or pole 10y the morse, the pinion is turned
by passing around the ma. ter wheel, and molten
is communicated TO the working shaft by pulley |
on the aibor of the pinion. The power may be- |
t ken of the shaft tor driving other machinery |
L, IL. q II. b.f
SLOW PRoMorIoS IS THE NAvY.-A cores.
pondpnt Of the Portland Advertiser has examined !