Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1852-01-10

men of architecture, is so universally aoHiiIeo
Keeping these objects in view, / concluded &c
make the addition by wings, detached from the
present buildings, yet connected with 1t by cor
rider. This mode Encouragement VIII leave
the present Capitol uninjured, and aflofd gfea'
advantages for ventilation and the ADMISSION
of light, and will enable the work to progress
without interruptipg the deliberations Of Con
gress. To carry this plan into etfect ! have ap'
pointed an experienced and competent architect,
The cornerstone was laid on the 4th day OF
July last with suititabe ceremonies. since WHICH
been submitted by different architects, III 'uf-
suance of an advertisement by q committee 81
the Senate, no one was found 10 De et'''e'Y
satisfactory, and it was therefore deemed adyi-
sable to combine and adopt the advantages OF
several.
The great object to be accomplished was to
make such an addition as would afford ample
and convenient halls for the deliberations Of
the two Houses of Congress, with s''tiicient
accommodations for spectators, ana sui'ao'e
apartments for the committees and Officers III
the two branches of the Legislature. IL was
time the work has advanced with comh1ehoa-
bic rapidly, and the foundations OF ooth wings
are now nearly complete ,
again commend to your favorable regard
the interests OF the District OF Columbia, ana
deem it only necessary to remind you, that al
though its inhabitants have no voice IN the
choice of representatives in Congress, they are
not the less emitted to n just and liberal con-
sideration in your legislation. My opinions
on this subject were more fully expressed IN
my last annual communication.
Other subjects were brought to the atten-
ton. Of Congress in my last annual message
to which | would respectfully refer. But tilere
was one of more than ordinary interest 10
which | again invite your special attention. l
allude TO the recommendation for the appoint
ment of acommission to settle private claims
against the United States. Justice to individ-
uals as well as TO the Government lmperatlyely
demands that some more convenient and eXpe-
.ditious mode than an appeal to Congress
should be adopted.
it is deeply to be regretted that in several
instances officers ofthe Government, in attemp- |
ting to execute the law fot the return of fugi-
&ives from labor, have been openly Resisted,
and their effor is frustrated and defeated by law
less and violent MODS; that in one case such re-
~sistance resulted in the death of an estimable
citizen, and in others serious injury .ensued to
those officers and to individuals who were using
their endeavors to sustain the laws, Prosecu-
tons have been instituted against the alleged
offenders, SO far as they could be identified, and
are still pending. | have regarded it as my
duty in these cases, to give all aid legally in
my power to the enforcement ofthe laws, and
| shall continue to do SO wherever and when
ever their execution way 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 10 service or labor in one State, under the
laws thereof, escaping into another, shall, in
consequence Of any law or regulation therein.
be discharged from such service Or labor, but
shall be delivered up on claim of the party 10
whom such service or labor, may be due" This
constitutional provision is equally obligatory
upon the Legislative, the Executive and Judi. /
cal 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
proceedings necessary to ascertain that the per-
son Is a fugitive, and the means to be used for
his restoration 10 the claimant. This was done
by an act passed during the first term of Pre>i-
dent Washington, which was amended by that
enacted by the last Congress, and it now re-
mains for the Executive and Judicial Depart
ments to take care that these laws be faithfully
executed. This INDUCTION of the Const tuition
Is as ~peremptory and as binding as any other {
1t stands exactly on the same foundation as |
that clause which provides for the return of }
from Justice, or that which declares
That no bail OF attainder or &c past jacto law y
khal! be passed, or that which provides for an
OF taxation, according TO the census,
or the clause declaring That all duties shall be
Uniform throughout the United States, or the il
important provision that The trial of all crimes +
shall be by jury. These several articles and l
clauses OF the Constitution, all resting on the >
authority, must stand or fall together. q
Some objections have been urged against the t
details OF the act for the retu n Of fueiIives from u
labor; but 1t Is worthy of remark that the main Il
opposition is aimed against the Constitution it. 2
SELF, and proceeds from persons Or Glasses of
persons, many OF whom declare their wish to :,
see that Constitution overturned. They ayow IL
heir hostility to any law which shall give full
and practical effect 10 this requirement. of the
Fortunately, the number of 5
'hGse persons is comparatively small, and is /
aellesed to De daily diminishing, but the issue .
which they present is one which involves the
supremacy and even the existence of the Con-
b.
Cases have heretofore arisen In which indi- Il
iduals have denied the binding authority Of i
cts OF Congress, and even States have pro- ;,
,osed to sniIity such aots, upon the ground q
hat the Constitution was the supreme law of ST
ne land, and that those acts of Congress were
epugnant to that instrument; but notification
; now aimed, not SO much against particular
W as being Inconsistent with the Constitu- ID
ION as against the Constitution itself; and it is W
OF to be disguised that a spirit exists, and ci
as been actively at work, to repd assunder ~
his Union, which is our cherished inheritance :,
'om our revolutionary fathers. In
In my last annual message | stated that al
onsiGered The series Of measures, which had tn
cen adopted at the previous session, in re. CO
,refce TO the agitation growing out ofthe ter.