Weekly North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1858, 1851-12-10

classes Of printed matter. submit the recomnen.
dations Of the port to your favorable consideration"
The President recommends that the public Statutes
Of the United States be revised and printed together.
He makes, 10 conclusion, the following remarks in
relation to the compromise" and the fugsve-slave
law:
"It is deeply to be regretted that 10 several instan-
ees officers the Governmeni. in attempting to exc
cute the law for the return Of fugitives from labor.
have been openly resisted, and their efforts astraied
and defeated BY las'ess aud. violent mobs; and in
one case such resistance resulted in the death Of
estimable cizen and in others serious injury ensued
to those officers and 10 individuals who were using
their endeavors to sustain the laws. Prosecutions
have been Instituted against the alleged offenders,
far a. they could be Identified and 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 10 do 50 wherever and
whenever their execution may be resisted. ..-
The oct Of Congress for the return of fogi,ives from
labor Is one required and demanded BY the express
words Of the Constitution.
The Constitution declares, {" That no person held
to ssrvica labor in State under the laws there
OF, escaping into another, shall, in consequence OF
any law OF regulation therein, be discharged from
such service labor, but shall be delivered up
claim of the party TO whom such service OF labor may
be due" This constitutional provision is eqrally
obligatory upon the Legislative, the Executive, and
judicial Departments Of the Governmsni. and upon
every citizen of the United States. O..
Congress, however, must, from necessity, first act
upon the subject, by prescribing the proceedings ne
cessary to ascertain that the person 10 fugitive, and
the means to be used for his restoration to the claim
ant. This was done by act passed during the 6rst
term of President Washington, which was amended
By that enacted by the last Congress, and il
mains fol the Executive and Judicial Departments
I'll AZ 1o~ L.E E,:sl lcnU-
Injunction Of the Consultation 10 peremptory and
as binding 40 any other; it stands exactly on the
same foundation az that clause which provides for
the return of fag.ives from justice, that which de-
claes that bill of attander OF ez poet faefo laws
shall be psssed, that which provides for equai
ty of taxation, according the census, the clause
declaring that all duties shall be uniform throughout
the United States. 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
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 the Constitution overturned They avow
their hostility to any law which shall give full and
practical effect to this requirement Of the Constitution.
lively small, and is believed to be daily diminishing
but the issue which they present is one which in
wolves the supremacy and even the existence Of the
Constitution.
Cases have heretofore arisen in which individuals
have denied the binding authority Of the acts of Con-
acts, upon the ground that the Constitution the
supreme law of the land, and that those acts of Con.
gress repugnant to that instruments but nuIli6.
cation is now aimed, not so much against particular
laws being Inconsistent with the Constitution az
against the Constitution itself; and it is not be
- ekos hal koov uo1
work to rend asunder this Union, which is our che
rished inheritance from our revolutionary fathers.
In my last annual message I stated that consid.
cred the series Of measures, which had been adopted
the previous session, in reference TO the agitation
growing out of the Territorial and slavery questions
as final settlement in principle and substance Of the
dangerous and exciting subjects which they embraced
and recommended adherence to the Adjustment es-
tablished by those measures, until time ard expert
ence should demonstrate the necessity of further leg
islation to guard against evasion abuse. was mol
induced to make this recommendation because
thought those measures perfect, for no human egis
lation can be perfect. Wide differences and jarina
thing on all Sides And this result had been reached
after an angry conflict Of many months, in which
one part OF the country arrayed against another
and violent convuIson seemed 10 be imminent. Look
ing the interest of the whole country, felt
be my duty to seize upon this Compromise as th,
best that could be obtained amid conflicting interests
and to insist upon it final settlement, to be ad
hered to by all who value the peace and welfare o
the country. A year has now elasped since thai
RECOMMENDATION was made. TO that Recommendation
still adhere, and congratulate you and the country
upon the general acquiescence in these measures o
peace, which has been exhibited in all parts Of tn
Republic. And no. only ia there this general acqui
escence in these measures but the spirit of conca
ton which has been manifested in regard them
all paris of the country, has removed doubts and on
certain,ies in the minds OF thousands of good mel
concerning the durability of popular institutions
and given renewed assurance that our Liberty ant
our Union may subsiss together for the benefit Of thi
and all succeeding generations
The Editors are still harping on that lava Coffe