Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1851-12-11

certain that the person is q fugitive, ant
the means to be used for his restoration
to the claimant This was done by al
act passed during the first term OF Presi
dent Washington, which was amended b,
that enacted by the last Congress, and i
now remains for the Executive and Ju
dicial Departments to take care tha
these laws be faithfully executed. This
injunction of the Constitution is rs per
emptory and as binding as any other; i
stands exactly on the same foundation a:
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 taxa,
tion, according to the census, or the
clause declaring that all duties shall be
uniform throughout the United States, OF
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 fugitives from labor
but it is worthy Of remark that the main
opposition is aimed against the Constitu.
tion itself, and proceeds from persons and
classes of persons, many Of whom de-
clare their wish to see that Constitution
overturned. They avow their hostility
to any law which shall give full and prac-
tcal 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 supremacy and even
the existence of the Constitution.
Cases have heretofore arisen in which
individuals have denied the binding au-
thority of acts of Congress, and even
States have proposed to nulify such acts,
upon the ground that the Constitution was
the supreme law Of the land, and that
those acts Of Congress were rcpugnant
to that instrument; but notification is
now aimed, not so much against particu.
lar laws as being inconsistent with the
Constitution, as against the Constitution
itself; and it isno to be disguised that
s!feitzG2xtf shirt GG2tfts aHe has been aGirel At As
tionary fathers.
In my last annual message | stated
that considered the series of measures
which had been adopted at the previous
session, in reference to the agitation
growing out of the territorial and slavery
questions, as 4 final settlement, in princi-
pie and substance, Of the dangerous and
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. |
was not induced to make this recommcn-
dation because thought those measures
perfect; for no human Legislation can be
perfect.
Wide differences and jarring opinions
can only be reconcilcd by yielding some,
thing 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, and
violent convulsion seemed to be immi-
nent. Looking at the interests of the
whole country, felt it to be my duty to
seize upon this Compromise as the best
that could be obtained amid conflicting
interest, and to insist upon it ASA final
settlement, to be adhered to by all who
value the peace and welfare of the
country. a year has now elapsed since
that recommendation was made. To
that recommendation I still adhere, and
| congratulate you and the country upon
the general acquiescence in these mca,
sures of peace, which has been exhibited
in all parts of the Republic. And not
only is there this general acquiesccnce in
these measures, but the spirit of con-
cilation which has been manifested III re-
gard to them in all parts of the country,
has removed doubts and uncertainties in
the minds of thousands of good men
concerning the durability of our popular
institutions, and given renewed assurance
that our Liberty and our Union may sub,
sist together for the benefit OF this ana
all succeeding generations.
A VERY TRurnruL ASswEn.-Bunk-
um, in the old North State, is undoubted-
ly the hcalthiest spot on earth, and 1t was
IN that account that some CLOVER coun-
trv gentlemen" was surprised one day to
sec q . a Bunkumitc at work upon an omI,
nous looking "hole in the ground, oi
course they cnquired what he was about
digging grave sir" ,,,, : :,
Digging grave! Why | thought
people didn't die often up hcrc-do thcyE, f.
ooh, no sr-thcy never die but once"
They never asked that question but
once"
EVERYBODY blackguards rich men, and
vet everybody shows a vast amount OF
respect for them. Nobody uses rich
man ill to his face, or speaks we'll OF him
behind his back.
THE heart never grows better by age.
I fear rather worse; always harder. a