Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1851-12-11
THE MESSAGE.

This document presents so formidable front
that our columns are altogether too limited to
receive it. There is nothing of particular in
tcrest in it but what will appear from time to
time in the way of items, and the i'm
portance of other matter at this time is a very
good excuse for not publishing it entire. The
President is in favor of specific duties, but can
have no hopes of any backward movement on
the tariff question by the present Congress-
He takes strong grounds upon the compromise
measures, and fully endorses the Cass doctrine
Of As. Upon the subject of the fugitive slave
law he says
1t is deeply to be regretted that officers Of
the government in attempting to execute the
law for the return of fugitives from labor, have
been openly resisted by lawless mobs; that in
one case such resistance resulted in the
death of an estimable citizen, and in others Sc
rious injury cnsucd to those who were endeav-
oring to sustain the laws. have regarded it
as my duty in these cases give all aid legally
in my power to enforce the laws, and | shall
continue to do so wherever and whenever their
execution may be resisted.
The act Of congress for the return of fugi-
tivcs from labor is one required by the express
words of the constitution. This constitutional
provision is equally obligatory on the executive
the legislative and judicial departments of the
government, and upon every citizen of the
United States. Congress must however, from
necessity, first act upon the subject by prescri-
bing the proceedings necessary to ascertain
that the person is fugitive, and the means 10
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 judi
cial departments to take care that these laws
be faithfully executed.
Cases have heretofore arisen in which indi-
yiduals have denied the binding authority Of
acts of congress, and even states have proposed
to nullify such acts on the ground that the con-
stltutIon was the supreme law OF the land, and
that those acts of congress were repugnant to
that instrument; but notification is aimed not
SO much against particular laws, as against the
constitution itself; and it is not to be disguised
that spirit exits and has been actively at work
to rend asunder this Union, which is our cher
ished Inheritance from our revolutionary faith
CrS.
In my last annual message | recommended
adherence to the adjustment established by
those measures which had been adopted at the
previous session in reference to the agitation
growing out of the Territorial and Slavery
questions Wide differences and Earring opn-
ions can only be reconciled by yielding some
thing on all sides. Looking at the interest of
the whole country, in which, alter an angry
conflict of many months, one portion was ar
rayed against another, and violent CONFUSION
seemed to be imminent, felt it my duty to
seize upon this compromise as the best that
could be obtained, and to insist upon it as a
final settlement to be adhered to by all who
value the peace and welfare of the country
To that Recommendation still adhere. And
congratulate you and the country, that not only
is there general acquiescence in these mea-
sures, but the spirit of Cancellation which has
been manifested in regard to them in all parts
of the country has removed doubts and uncer-
tainties in the minds of good men concerning
the durability of our popular institutions, and
given renewed assurance that our Liberty and
our Union may subsist together for the benefit
of this and all succeeding generations.