Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1851-12-11

o. september &ctn kb5V.
We are at peace with all the Indian
tribes. Occasional acts Of hostility have
been committed, which is attributable in
part 20 their destitute and starving cOndi-
tim. IL 70 suggested whether justice and
humanity do not require that, instead OF
seeking TO punish them, we should not
provide for their immediate wants, &c.
The Mexican Boundary, the Census,
Internal Improvements. the south western
frontier, the Army and Navy, the Post
Office Department, and the enlargement of
the Capital, are all touched upon more or
less at length.
The Message concludes with the Fugitive
Slave Law and the Compromise, as follows:
Ii is deeply 10 be regretted that in seve-
raj instances, officers of the Government,
in attempting 10 execute the law for the re-
turn of fugifiVes from labor, have been open
ly resisted, and their efforts frustrated and
Defeated by lawless aud violent mobs and
that in one case such resistance resulted
in the death Of an eslimable citizen. and IN
others serious injury ensued to those off,
GERS and to individuals who were using
their endeavOrs to sustain the laws. Pro-
secutiOns have been instituted against the
alleged offenders, SO far rs they have been
found out, and are still pending, have
regarded it as my duty. in these cases, to
give all aid legally in my power to the en>
iorcement of the laws, and shall continue
to do so " herever and whenever their exc
cution may be resisted.
The act of Congress for thereturn Of fu
gitives from labor is one required and de-
manded by the express words OF the Cons
stitu Jon,
The Constitution declares, THAT no per-
son held to service or labor in one State,
under the laws thereof. escaping into an
other, shall in consequence of any law or
regulation therein, be discharged from
such service or labor, but shall be deliver.
ed up on claim OF the party to whom such
service or labor may be DUE This con-
stitutioual provision is equally obligatory
upon the Legislative. the Executive, and
Judicial Departments of Government. and
upon every citizen of the U. S.
Congress. however, must from necessity,
FIRST act upon the subject, by prescribing the
proceedings necessary 10 ascertain that the
person is a fugitive, and the means to be
used for his restoration to the CLAIMANT
This was done by an act passed during the
first term of President Washington, which
was amendedby that enacted by the Con-
gross, and 1t now remains for the Execu>
tive and Judicial Departments to take care
that these laws be faithfully executed
This injunction of the Constitution is as
preremplory aud as binding as any other;
it stands exactly on the same foundation
as that clause which provides for the return
of fugitive from justice. or that which de-
clares that no bill of attainder or ex post fac
to law shall be passed, or that which pro-
vides for an equality of taxation, according
to the census, or the clause declaring that
all duties shall be uniform throughout the
United States, or the important provision
that the trials of all crimes shall be by Jury
These several articles and clauses OF the
Constitution, all resting on the same au-
thority, must stand or falltogether. Some
objections have been urged against the do
tails Of the act for the return of fugitiveS
from labor but it is worthy of remark
that the main opposition is aimed at the
Constitution itself, and proceeds from per>
sons and classes of persons, many of whom
declare their wish to see that Constitution
overturned. They avow their hostility
to any law which shall give full and prac-
teal effect to this requirement of the Con
sttution. Fortunately the number of these
persons is comparatively small, and is be.
ieved to be daily diminishing but the is
sue which they present is one which in
wolves the supremacy, and even the exisl
tence of the Constitution.
Cases have heretofore arisen in which
individuals have denied the binding author
ity of acts of Congress, and even States
have proposed to nuiify such acts, upon the
ground that the Constitution was the SUI
preme law of the land, and that those acts
Of Congress were repugnant to that instru-
meAt but nullificatiO9 is now aimed not
SO much against particular laws as being
inconsistent with the Constitutional against
the Constitution itself; and it is no. to be
disguised that spirit exists and has been
actively at work to rend assunder this I'M
ion, which is our cherished inheritance
from our revolutionary 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
final settlement in principle and substance
of the dangerous and exciting subjects
which they embraced; and / recommended
adherence TO the Adjustment established by
those measures, until time and experience
should demonstrate the necessity of further
legislation to guard against evasion or abuse
was not induced TO make the recomenda-
ton because | thought those measures per-
feet, for no human legislation can be per-
feet Wide differences and jaring opinion
can only be reconsiled 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. violent cOnvul-
sions seemed to be imminent. 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 OBJ
tanned amid conflicting interests. and to IN
sist upon it as final settlement, TO be adj
hered to by all who value the peace and
welfare of the country. A year has pow
elasped since that recommendation was
made.