The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1851-12-11

defects of their legislation it is most important
that that legislation should be perfect as pos
sibe, defining every power intended 10 DC CON
fc1rrd, every crime intended 10 be made PUNISH
able and prescribing the punishment 10 DC IN
fiictcd. In addition to some particular cases
spoken OF more at length, the whole criminal
code is now lamentably defective. Some onen-
ccs imperfectly described, and others are
entirely omitted; that fragrant crimes may
be committed with impunity. The scale OF pun
ishment is not i'll all cases graduated according
to the degree and nature of the offence, and is
often rendered more unequal by The different
modes of imprisonment or penltentary con-
fAemment, in the different States.
Many laws of a permanent character have
been introduced into appropriation bills, and it
is often difficult TO determine whether the par
ticular clause expires with the temporary act of
which it is part, or continues in force. 1t has
also frequently happened that enactments and
provisions of law have been introduced into
bills, with the title or general subject of which
they have little or connexion or relation. In
this mode of legislation so many enactments
have been heaped upon each other, and often
with but little consideration, that, i'll many in
stances, it is difficult to search out and deter
mine what is the law
The Government of the United States is en-
phatically a government of written laws. The
statutes should, therefore, as far practicable,
not only be made accessible to all, but be ex-
pressed in language so plain and simple as to
be understood by all, and arranged in such
method to give pcrsplculty to every subject.
Many of the States have revised their public
acts with great aud manifest benefit and l re-
commend that provision be made by law for the
appointment of a commission 10 revise the pub
lie statutes of the United States arranging them
in ORDER supplying deficiencies, correcting in
congruities, simplifying their language, and re-
porting them to Congress for its action.
An act of Congress approved 30th September,
1850, contained provision for the extension of
the Capitol, according to such plan might be |
approved by the President, and appropriated one |
hundred thousand dollars to be expended under
his direction, by such architect as he should ap- |
point to execute the same On examining the
various plans which had been submitted by diff
ferent architects; in pursuance of an advertise
ment by q committee of the Senate no one was
found to be entirely satisfactory, and it was
therefore deemed advisable to combine and adopt
the advantages of several.
The great object to be accomplished was to !
make such an addition would afford ample and
convenient halls for the deliberations of the two
Houses of Congress, with sufficient accommoda- |
tions for spectators, and suitable apartments for
the committees and officers of the two branches |
of the Legislature. 1t also desirable not to /
mar the harmony and beauty Of the present !
structure, which, as a specimen of architecture, |
is so universally admired. Keeping those OBJ |
iects in view, | concluded to make the addition |
vet connected with it by corridors This mode |
of enlargement will leave the present Capitol
and afford great advantages for VEN
tiation and the admission Of light, and will en-
able the work to progress without interrupting |
the deliberations of Congress. To carry this
plan into effect l have appointed an experienced |
and competent architect The cornerstone was
laid on the 4th day of July last, with suitable |
ceremonies. since which time the work has adj |
vaneed with commendable rapidity, and the foun-
dations of both wings are new nearly complete. |
again commend to your favorable regard the I
interests of the District of Columbia, and deem
IL only necessary to realinl you, that although its
inhabitants have ne voice in the choice of repre-
in Congress, they are not the less en-
titled to just and liberal consideration in your
legislation. My opinions on this subject were
more fully expressed in my last annual commu- !
nication-
Other subjects were bronght to the attention |
of Congress in my last annual message, to which |
| would respectfully refer. But there was one !
If M ore than ordinary interest to which again |
invite your special attention. / allude to the /
for the appointment OF com
mission to settle private claims against the Uni
ted States Justice to individuals as well as 10
the Government imperatively demands that
some more convenient and expeditions mode
than an appeal to Congress should be adopted
1t is deeply to be regretted that III several in
stances officers of the Government, IN attempt
ing to execute the law Tor the return OF 1ugltVeS
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 estinable citizen and
in others serious injury ensaedsto those otscers
and to individuals who were using their endeav-
ors to sustain the laws. Prosecutions have been
instituted against the alledged offenders, so far
as they could be identified, and are still pending.
| have regarded it my duty, in these cases, to
give all aid legally in my power to the enforce |
ment of the laws and l shall continue to do so
wherever and whenever their execution may be
resisted
The act of Congress for the return of fugi- |
tives 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 State, under the
: laws thereof, escaping into another, SHALL IN
consequence of any law or regulation therein,
I be discharged from such service or labor but
shall be delivered up claim of the party to
whom such service or labor may be due. This |
constitutional provision is equally obligatory !
upon the Legislative, the Executive, and judi !
cial Departments of the Government, and upon
every citizen of the United States.
Congress, however, must, from necessity, first
act upon the subject, by prescribing the procee-
dinps necessary to ascertain that the person is q
fugitive and the means to be used for his restc-
ration to the claimant. This done by an act
nassed during the first term of President Wash
ington. 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 in
junction of the Constitution is as peremptory
and binding as any other; it stands exactly on