The Portsmouth inquirer. [volume] (Portsmouth, O. [Ohio]) 1849-1855, 1851-12-05

using their endeayors TO sustain the laws
Prosecutions have been instituted against
the alleged offenders, 50 far as they
could be identified, and are still pending.
| have regarded itas my duty, in these
cases, to give all aid legally in my power
to the enforcement Of TIE laws, and shall
continue to do SO 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 no
person held to service or labor in one
State, under the laws thereof, escaping
into another, shall, in consequence of any
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 obliga-
tory upon the Legislative, the Executive,
and Judicial Departments of the Govern
ment, and upon every citizen of the u.
States.
Congress, however, must, from neces-
sity, first act upon the subject, by pre-
scribing the proceedings necessary to as
certain that the person is 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 fugitives
from justice, or that which declares that
no bill of attainder or ex post facto law
shall be passed, or that which provides
for an equality of taxation, according 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 fu-
gitives from labor; but it is worthy of re-
mark that the main opposition is aimed a.
gainst the Constitution itself, and pro-
ceeds from persons and classes of persons
many of whom declare taelr wish to see
that Constitution overturned. They avow
their hostility to any law which shall give
full and practical effect to this requirement
cf the Constitution. Fortunately, the
number Of these persons is comparatively
small, and is believed to be daily dimin-
ishing, but the issue which they present
is one which involves the supremacy and
even the existence Of the Constitution.
Gases have heretofore arisen in which
individual have denied the binding au
thority Of acts of Congress, and ever
States have proposed to nulify such acts
upon the ground that the Constitution
was the supreme law Of the land, ant
that those acts Of Congress were repug
nant to that instrument; but notification
; is now aimed mot so much against particu
lar laws as being inconsistent with tn
Constitution, as against the Constitution
. itself; and tits not to be disguised that
spirit exists and has been actively at worl
to rend asunder this Union, which is oul
cherished inheritance from our revolution
ary fathers.
In my last annal message l stated tha
| considered the series of measures
which had been adopted at the previou.
session, in reference to the agitation grow
ing out Of the Territorial and slavery
questions, as final settlement in princi
pie and substance of the dangerous an(
exciting subjects which they embraced
and recommended adherence to the Ad
justment established by those measures
until time and experience should demon
strate the necessity Of further Legislation
to guard against evasion or abuse. / wa
not induced to make this recommendation
because thought those measures perfect
for no human legislation can be perfect
Wide differences and jarring opinions car
only be reconciled by yielding something
on all sides, and this result had been reach
ed after an angry conflict of many months
in which one part of the country was ar
rayed against another, and violent con
, vulsions seemed to be imminent. Look
lug at the interests of the whole coun
try, felt it to be my duty to seize upol
this Compromise as the best that could b,
obtained amid conflicting interests, and t
insist upon it as final settlement, to b,
adhered to by all who value the peace ant
welfare of the country.
A year has now elapsed since that re
commendation was made. To that re
commendation / still adhere, and con
gratulate you and the country upon thu
general acquiescence in these measures o
peace, which has been exhibited in al
parts of the Republic. And not only i
there this general acquiescence in thes
measures, but the spirit eff conciliatiol
6 which has been manifested in regard Il
them in all parts Of the country, has re
moved doubts and uncertainties in tn
minds Of thousands Of good men concern
ing the durability of our popular institu