American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-12-02

only necessary to remind you, that although it's
inhabitants have voice in the choice of represen
taves in Congress, they not the less entitled to
just and liberal consideration in your legislation.
My opinions this subject more fully ex-
pressed in my last annual communication.
Other subjects were brought 10 the attention of
Congress in my last annual message, to which
l would respectfully REFER But there was
OF more than ordinary interest to which ! again
invite your special attention. / allude to the
recommendation for the appointment of com.
mission to settle private claims against the
United States. Justice to individuals as well as
to the Government imperativey demands that
some more convenient and expeditions mode than
an appeal to Congress should be adopted
II 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 lawless and violent
mobs; that in one case such resistance resulted in
the death of estimabe citizen, and in others Sc
rous injury ensued to those officers and to indi-
viduals who were using their endeavors to sustain
the laws. Prosecutions have been instituted against
the alleged offenders, far they could be identi
fled, 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 person held to
service labor in State, under the laws there
OF, 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 obligatory upon the Legislative, the Execu
tive, and Judicial Departments oft Government,
and upon every citizen of the United States
Congress, however, must, from necessity, first act
upon the subject by prescribing the proceedings ne
cessary to ascertain that the person s fugitive and
the means to be used for his restoration to the claim
ant. 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 De
partments to take 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 fugiyes from jus
tice, or that which declares that no bill of attainder
or er post fdcto law shall be passed, 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 arti.
Giles and clauses of the Constitution, all rest
ing 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
gtives from labor; but it is worthy of remark that
the main opposition ia 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 Consti
tuition. Fortunately, the number of these persons
is comparatively small, and is believed to be daily
diminishing, but the issue which they present il
one which involves the supremacy and even the
existence of the Constitution.
Cases have heretofore arisen in which indiyidu-
ais have denied the 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 supreme law Of the land and that
those acts OF Congress were repugnant to that in
strument but notification is now aimed, not SO
much against particular laws as being inconsist-
ent with the Constitution, as against the Consu
tuition itself; and it is not to be disguised that a
spirit exists and has been actively at work to rend
asunder this Union, which is our cherished inhcri.
lance from our revolutionary fathers.
In my last annual message l stated that con.
sidered the series of meaeurea which had hoo,
adopted at the previous session. in reference to the
agitation growing out Of the Territorial and sla-
very questions, as final settlement in principle
and substance of the dangerous and exciting sub
jects which they embraced; and recommended adj
herence to the Adjustment established by those
measures, until time and experience should de-
monstrate the necessity of further legislation to
guard against evasion or abuse was not ipduced
to make this recommendation because thought
those measures perfect, for no human legislation
can be perfect. Wide differences and Earring opin-
ions can only be reconciled by yielding something
on all sides, and this result had been reached after
an angry conflict of many months, in which noo
part OF the country was arrayed against another.
and violent CONFUSION seemed to be- Imminent
Looking at the interests of the whole ropntrv
felt 1t to be my duty to seize upon this Com.
promise as the best that could be obtained amid
conhicnng interests, and to insist upon il as final
settlement to be adhered to by all who value the
peace and welfare of the country. A wear ba,
now elapsed since that Recommendation was made
To that recommendation still adhere, and con-
graduate you and the country upon the gene
raj acquescence in these measures Of peace.
which has been exhibited in all parts of the Re-