Hannibal journal and western union. (Hannibal, Mo.) 1851-1852, 1851-12-11

most important that such legislation shoula
be az perfect rs possible, dChoing every
mower intended to be conferred, every
crime intended to be made punishable, ana
prescribing tbe punishment % be Unlisted
In addition 70 some particular cases spo.
ken Of more at length, the whole criminal
codo, is now lamentably detectives some
offences are impsrfectly described, aud oth-
efs are entirely omitted, 80 that haerant
crimes may be committed with IMMUNITY
| The scale Of punishment IL not in all ca,
ses graduated according TO the degree aud
nature Of the offence, and is often render
ed more unequal by the different modes ol
imprisonment or penitentiary confinement
| in the different States. Missy laws OF a
permanent character have BEEN introduced
into appropriation bills, and II is often dit
/ feult 10 determine whether the particular
clause expires with the temporary act OF
which il is 4 part, or continues in force
IL also frequently happens that enactmerts
and provisions OF laws have been intro
duced into bills, with the title or general
subject of which, they have little or no
connection or relation. In this mode ot
legislation, so manv ehaciments have been
/ heaped on each other, and often with but
li,tle connection, that in many instances It
| is difficult TO search out and deter MinS
Whist lie the law. The government OF the
| United States is emphaiiculy a govern
ment Of written laws-the statutes should,
therefore, as far as practicable, not only
| be made accessible to all, but Expressed in
language so plain and simple as to be I'M
derstood by all, and arranged IN suCha me
lthod stn give perspicuity to every subject
Many of the States have revised their pub
lie, acts with great and manifest benest,
and recommend that provision be made
by law for the appointment Of commits
sicn to revise the public statutes Of the
United States, arranging them IL order,
supplying deficiencies, correcting incon.
gruities, simplifying their language, and
reporting them to Congress for iis.action
An'a Of CoDgFess approved Soth Sep
TENDER, 1850, contained a provision Tor
the extension OF the Capitol, according to
such plan as might be approved by the
President, and appropri dted 500 600 10 ne
expended, under his direction, by such ar
list as he should appoint to execute the
same. On examining the various plans
which had been submitted by ditferen ut ar
| chitects, in pursuance o. an advertisement
| by committee OF the Senate, no one was
found to be entirely satisfactory, and It
was therefore deemed advisable TO COM
bine and adopt the advantage Of several.
The great object TO be accomplished was,
to make such an addition as would afford
ample and convenient halls for the DELHI.
eratons of the two houses of Congress,
with sufficient accommodations for spe eta
tors. and suitable apartments for the com
mttees and offirers of the two braches o {
the Legislature. 1t was also desirable not
to mar the harmony of the present struc-
ture, which as a specimen of nrehitf cure
is so universally admired. Keeping these
objects in view, / concluded To make the
addition by wings detached from the pres.
ent building, yet connected with it by cor
ridors. This mode at enlargement caves
the present capitol uninJured, and affnrds
great advantage for ventilation and the
admission Of light, and will enable the
work to progress without interrupting the
deliberations OF Congress. To carry this
plan into effect, have appointed an expe.
rienced and competent architect, The
corner stone was laid on the fourth of July
last, with suitable ceremonies. Since
which time the work has progressed with
commenesbl erapdity, and the foundations
OF both wings are nearly completed.
| again commend to your favorable re.
gard the interests of the District Of Co.
lumbia, and deem it only necessary TO re.
mind you, that although its inhabitants
have no choice Of representatives in Con.
gress, they are not the less entitled to
lust and liberal consideration in your leg
islatioD. My opinions on this subject
were more fully expressed in my last com.
Other subjects were brought
10 the attention of Congress in nv last
annual message, TO which would respect
ully refer, but there was one of more tbop /
ordinary interest, 10 which again invite |
'our special attention. | aluda IN tho |
recommendation of the appointment of a .
COMMISSION to settle private ciaims. Jns.
ice to individuals as we'll as to the gov.
rnment, imperaiively demands that SEINE
lOre convenient and expeditions mode
han an appeal to Congress should be a.
opted.
it is deeply to be regretted that in sew
RAJ instances, the officers of the Govern
rent, in attempting to execute the law for
he return Of "fugitives from labor" have
cen openly resisted, and their efforts rus
'sted aud defeated by lawless an5 violent
lobs-that in one case such resistance .
psulted in the death Of an estimable cit
zen, and in others, serious injury 10 those
fficers and to individuals who were using
heir endeavors tn sustain the law. Pros.
cutions nave been instituted against the
LEGGED offenders, so far as they could he
Identified, and are still pending, I have
egHrded ii as my duty, in these cases. IN :
i've alloaid, legally in my power. to the
Increment OF the laws, and shall contin-
e TO do 50, whenever and wherever their
xecutlon may be resisted The act of
congress for The return Of "fugitives from
aoor' Is one required and dpmsndeGabv
~ ne express words of the constitutions
me constitution declares that no person
ED to service or labor in one State under
ne laws thereof, escaping into another.
hait' IN consequence OF any law or rem.
'uon therein, be discharged from such
fFVlee or labor, but shall be delivered I'M
n "lalm OF the party 10 whom such ser. !
ice or labor may be due. This copstin.
onsl provision is equally obligatory upon
~ Legislative, the Executive and Jnbiri.i |
apartments Of the government, and upon c
very citizen Of the United States. Con. Ie
ress' however, must from necessity first !
CT upon the subject, by prescribing The :
Toceedings necessary to ascertain tbo. I,
'e person is a fugitive, and the means n !
Z used Tor his restoration 10 the cleima.,
MS was done by an act passed DURING Ibo G
Tst term OF President Washington, which