Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1851-12-11

1t is deeply to be regretted that in several in
stances, officers of the Government, in attempting
TO execute the law for the return Of fngiyes from
labor, have been openly resisted and their efforts
frustrated and defed by lawlegs mo5s; that IN one
case such resistance resulted IN the death Of an eV
empary citizen, and in others, injuries 20 those Of
fcers, and 90 individuals who we've using their en-
dcoyO,s 10 10 sustain the laws. Prosecutions hay"
been instituted GrAnst the ALLEGED offenders so far
as they could be identified and are sui penaiag.-
/ nave regarded it as NY duty in these cases 10
gheali aid legally in my power 10 tie enforcement
OF the laws and shall continue TO do 50 whenever
anu Wherever thcr execution may be rasIslcu,-I
Iue act or Congress for the return Of fi-t.y97
IoW labor T. one req Hred and demanded by Tie
cNfr1ss words Of Che Constitutions. Tie Cpnsu
ttoh declares that no person held 10 scrv &C or
labor in one State under the laws thereof escaping
into another, shall in consequence Of any law OIL
regllat on therein. be discharged from such service
or labof, but shall be delivered ON claim 10 the par
y to whom such service Of labor may be DUE
lms Constitutional provision is equally obligatory
upon lie leg satiye, the Judicial, and the eNccn-
i've departments OF the gpvcluue"t. and unon
every citizen Of the Uadcd States. Congress.
however, must from necessity first act upon The
subject by prescribing the proceedings necessary
10 ascertain that the person is fugitive and the
means 10 be used for his restoration 10 The c,a.-
inait. ms was done by an act passed during the
f!st term OF President Washington which was
amended by That enacted by the tat Congress aad
II now rema rs for the executive and judicial de-
pa:tmenS to take c1re that these law be faithful
~ * cited. Tnis injunction Of tiG Constitution is
as p1feInptofy and a demanding as any Otner.-I
1t s,snIs exactly on The same foundation as that
clause which provides for the return Of fugitive
from Justice or that which declares that no bill Of
a'tainder Or eN post facto law shall he passed. or
that which provides for an euualitv OF taxation 10
the census, and the clause declaring hat 81, duties
shall be uniform throughout the United Stale. or
the important provision that the trial of all crimes
shall be by Jury.
These several articles and clauses OF tho consti-
tuaon, all rcstl"- Oh the same authority, must
stand or lalj together. SOM objections have bean
urged a-ainst the details Of thr act FOR TIE return
Of fuE!tvas from laho bat It is worthy Of re-
ma Is tlal The main OppOSif is aimed At the Con-
sJti"7. proceeds from persons ana Ella ses of per-
sons many Of whom declare their wish 80 see That
tt;y 10 any law which shall give full and practical
o,tcJ 70 this requirement Of tha Con'i,u"oa.-
io'truatev the number Of these persons Is con-
pmatvely small, and II is believed 10 be daily d.
mnislilG, bgt The issue which they present is one
which involves the supremacy and even he cEs-
arisen IN which individuals have denied tn, bind
ing authority Of ac= COu-nss-cvea States have
proposed to Milf" such acts npon The r,oull that
the cons luton was The '2prcme law Of the ll1d,
a"l those acts a. CoN~-"ss were r-rusnart 10 that
III r'm"ni. Bt notification l. uoi a'n-I 50 u-,nh
a-rIf particular laws as being iucpus' tgrt WITH
Oh" .tut:cn a a-augt The constitution itself:
and IL j. not TO be dis'l'sod that sr,it c. end
has been actually 1T wo.'s to rsni "s;uuj2r this
CfoH, the cherished inheritance Of ogr reyo!u-
toha'y E.hCrs.
In my last annual message stated thai | consid-
cred % sariC. OF measures which had been adopted
a previous session in reference 10 the agi'a on
th}t grew out OF tie Territorial and slavery guess
tons as fuai - settlement /" principle and
s15,ia"c" Of Inc dangerous and exciting .nhinrts
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