i. <i ■ .i-1' 1 *#" i HI —i- ■ i . ' '■** iLiIM-aw THE STAR OF THE NORTH. * W. WEIRER FRTPMIR.] voETJMinr TUB STAR OF THE NORTH It published every Thursday Morning, by R. . WEAVER. OFFICE—Up stairs in the New Brick building on the south side of Main street, third sftutre be/uto Market. TERMS J—TWO Dollars per annum, if paid within six months from the time of. subacid bingf two dollars and fifty cents if not paid within the year. No subscription received for a'foss period than si\ months: no discon tinuance permitted until all arrearages are .paid, unless at the option of the editors. ADVERTISEMENTS not exceeding one square. will be inserted three times for one dollar, and twenty-fivecentsfor each additional insertion A liberal discount trill be made to those tcho ad vertiu by the year. GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE. To tit* Honorable the Senators and Members of the House of Representatives of the General j Assembly FELLOW CITIZENS: —A renewal of expres sions of gratitude to the Almighty Father, , for his manifold mercies and protecting in fluences duiing'the past year, and the utter- i ance of a prayer "in spirit and in truth," for the continuaiide of these Blessings, well be- ■ como a people who habitually acknowledge the superintending care of a just and merci- i ful God. Thw abundant harvests of the late season, the general exemption ol the eom- , munity from disease, the rapidly improving ! condition of the country, in all things which , confer happiness and rational contentment, | increased the facilities of ediicution, and the enjoyment of religious privileges in its pu- : iest forms, admonish us anew, that tho des tiny of the people and government is direc. j ted by the power of a Supreme Ruler, whose i kindly providences are continually exerted lot their welfare, and well being. The melancholy duty devolves on me, of j formally announcing to the General Assem ) hly, the fact eft the decease of the Chief j Magistrate (tf the Nation, the venerable Za , I chary Taylor, who died at the City of Wash- j I ington, on the Ninth of July last. The soldier whose brilliant achievements j in arms added new lustre to the military ; fame of the country, and the Statesman ! whose policy, as shadowed forth ir. his re commendations to Congress, was that of tho wisest und most generous patriotism, died in j the fufl possession of his great mental facul- j ties, surrounded by endeared relatives, clier- j ished friends, and patriotic members of gov- ] orumeut with the calm resignation becoming j a .Christian soldier, and founded on the faith, : which tenches that death has no terrors for j those Who faithfully endeavor to do their du ty. The American people paid the highest . liibuto o his memory by united and univer sal sorrow. 111 the purity and disiuteresteiWess of his motives, the patriotism of every iinralso as bio public conduct, the perfect sin cerity, ol his desire to act justly to all men, ins winning gentleness of temper as mani fested in his personal deportment, were to bo found trai s of character which bou.id , closely to him his confidential friends, and gave to their sorrow for his deiniso a bitter- j ness which no lapse of time or change ol i circumstauoescaa alleviate. It is recommended thai a suitable expres- 1 siou of respect for the memory of tho de-1 ceased, and of rogrei for our bereavement, j be made by the present Legislature. Oil the death of General Taylor, by the, provisions of tho Constitution, the powers i and dutjea of tho Chief Magistracy were j rested, without the least interruption of the | public busirirUs, in Vico-President Millard | Fillgiore, whose virtuo and patriotism, as j inanifesfeil in the discharge of former trusts. [ ■* as woll as in the ildrniiiistrdtion thus far of; his new functions, justify the confident ex-! pectaticn that the policy of tho Notional ad- : ministration will eminently promote the host j interests of the country. In its avowal of the great principle of protection to American | Industry, it has an especial claim tothe'con fidcnce of Pennsylvania. Resolutions expressive of tho feelings of: iho last legislature on tho death of tho laic j John C' Calhoun, Jiveio transmitted to his , family. I herewith transmit llie correspou , dence. The amendment to the Stale Constitution,! providing for tho election by the citizens of j the judicial officers of tho Commonwealth, | having received the sanction of a majority of | tho people, is now part of the organic law. Your attention is invited to such legislation as may be necessary to carry into complete effect ibis expression of the popular will By the terms of the Constitution, the com missions of the Judges will expire on the first Monday of December, in the year one thousand eight hundred and fifty-one. It is suggested that it will afford a favorable op portunity to roroodel and greatly lessen tlio number of Judioial Districts. At present there are no less than twenty four judicial districts, with District Courts in Philadelphia j and Allegheny Counties. A reference to | of business transacted in j theeo iMSvfismed Courts, affords conclusive ' r evidence that tho in'ercsis of imi" communi- j t f demand their continuance. Should a re duction be made in the number of the Com mon Picas Districts, the salaries now paid to tha Judges ought to-be increased to suoh ex tent as would be a fair renumeration for '.he labor performed and the responsibility incur red in the execution of the duties of their high offices. It is no part of the character of our citizens to require tho labors of oth ers, without adequate compensation. Fair salaries will best saenre the services of lion * est intelligent and competent men, in -that department of government, in the faithful BLOOMSBURG, COLUMBIA COUNTY, PA., THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 1851. administration of which every citizen ia so deeply interested. An increase of the sala ries of the Judges of the Courts of Common Pleas and District Courts, would demand the extension of the same liberality to such gentlemen as may be selected to discharge the higher and more responsible duties of judges of the court of the last resort. | Two annual elections appear to impose j unnecessary burthens upon the citizens. J Expense to the general treasury, and lose o f j time to the voter, could be well saved by i authorizing the elections now held in the ! Spring to be holden at the general election ' in October. To such counties as desire to | try the experiment, the rignt might' be gran -1 ted. I have been furnished with a state ment of the expense incurred by holding Spring elections in Dauphin county, and if the amount is a fair average of the expense to the other counties, the change indicated will save to the people of the Commonwealth annually upwards of thirty thousand dollars. The project of creating an Agricultural Department connected with the State Gov ernment demands the favorable considera tion of the Legislature. In such Depart- j ment might be oollecteri much valuable in formation for the use of the practical farmer, j The recent improvements in the construction J of implements of husbandry, the analysis of earths, improved modes of tillage, and adap tation of manures and seeds to various kinds , of soil, are subjects of absorbing interest to the agricultural classes. Diffusion of knowl edge respecting the best breeds of Horses 1 cattle and other stock, with suggestions in an authorized and relitib'e form, and experi mental expositions of ttie proper modes of rearing anj training livestock of all kinds, ! could not fail to act beneficially on this great interest of the Commonwealth. Should the National Government erect an Agricultural Bureaum conformity with the < suggestion of the President, the State insli- ! tation would be an efficient auxiliary in the j collection of local information, and lor the distribution, here at home, of knowledge aroase'ed in that department from other sour- ' ces.—ln this cvtablishment, the claims of the mining, mechanical, and manufacturing interests on the fostering care ol the Govern ment, might be equally regarded. A pri vate society in our metropolitan city by its ; liberality, activity and learning has done \ much to devalope and encourage the arts and sciences, useful in every-day I fe, and | ha* largely aided our mechanics and manu facturers to gain a reputation throughout the world. Ily the measure proposed, I desire i to accomplish for the advancement of the ! agricultural, mechanical, and mining iudus-1 try of the whole Commonwealth, what the' Franklin Institute has done for those inter- j est*, whichjhaveenjoyed the benefit of itsdis • criminating care. County and township in stitutions would speedily follow the creation i of a State department; and by mutual action ! and counsels, results would ensue, highly j gratifying to tho patriot, and beneficial to the country. Should tho returns of the seventh census of the United States tie transmitted in time, the apportionment of the State into Congres cional districts may become part of our du ty. In such event, it is hoped the custom heretofore purrued of postponing action on important bills of this description to the last hours of the session will be changed. It is a practice utterly (inconsistent with careful and correct legislation, and destructive of the rights of a co-ordinate branch of the Government. The committee charged with the inlro dilution of gas lights into the public buil dings, have complied so far as in their power, wilh the directions of the Legislature. An appropriation to meet these expenses, and to enclose and improve the public grounds should be made at an early day. A complete set of balances, furnished to the State by the General Government, have been deposited in the buildings of the Land office. Tho Commissioners of the several counties ought to be required to have tho weights and measures, under their care, a gain adjusted and regulated. An arrangement of the Geological speci mens belonging to the S'ate, in some conve nient place for general inspection, and the publication of the' Geological reports are de manded alike by the true interests of the State and a just appreciation of her charac ter for enlightened enterprise. My attention has been called to the large body of original papers in the State depart ment, connected with the Colonial and rev olutionary history of the State, and their' ox tremely exposed and perishing condition. These records are worth preservation, as containing authentic information of the ac tion of our fathers in the struggle for nation al existence. In tha Capital of Pennsylva nia, and with the sympathies of her patriotic People, was Independence matured and de clared. Her soldiers were most numerous around tho standard of the nation, and thqre wcro more hatile fields on hor soil than in the same urea elsewhere. Every memorial of those days of devotion and trial should be faithfully preserved. There exists a sin gle copy in manuscript of Iho minutes of the Revolutionary Executive Council a doc ument by tar too valuable to remain longer within the reach of accident or mutilation. It would be gratifying to a large body of our constituents if the Assembly would author ize the employment of a competent gentle man to select and arrange for publication these memorials of an interesting epoch in the history of the Commonwealth. In the esrly spring the buildings of ,lhe In sane Asylum will be ready fcr the reception Troth and Sight—Sod aad our^euiilry. of patients. This work ol charity, worthy of the best care of the philanthropist, from its admirable construction and healthful loca lion, cannot fail to answer the ends of its benevolent founders, It deserves the foster mg care of the Legislature. In the performance of your duties, alien tion is most earnestly directed to the revis ion of the laws in relation to taverns, res taurants, beerhouses and ten-pin alleys. It is alleged that in many instances they are made the common resort of the young, the idle, apd the worthless, to the great detriment of the moral well-being of the rising genera tioa. The suggestions and recommendations of former messages in reference to the equaliza lien of Tax laws, payment of portions of the public debt overdue, the currency, and pub lie improvements, are again pressed on your attention.—The ioan authorized at the last session to redeem the over due public debt, has not been negotiated.^ The financial condition of the Common wealth is exhibited in tho following slate ments .• Amount of funded debt, including amount in the hands of Commissioners of Sinking fund, and also special loan to avoid Inclined Plane at the Schuylkill, on the 30lh of No vember, 1850, was $39,852,914 78 Am't of unfunded debt 1850 912,570 64 Total sum of debt, $40,775,485 24 In this gross sum is included the loan to avoid the Plane at tha Schuylkill as above stated—tho avoidance of the Plane authori sed the sale of that portion of the Columbia Railroad and Viaduct over the Schuylkill, rendered useless by the construction of the new road. A part of the road and bridge was sold for $243,200, which amount is to be applied as directed by the 18th Section of the Act of 10th April, 1849, towards the per manent improvement of the Columbia rail way. The actual cost ol this great improve ment, wheieby the Plane has been avoided, the use of tho public works much facilitated and an annual saving of thirty-one thousand dollars secured to the Treasury, in the disuse of the machinery and labor necessarily con necled with the plane, is shown as follows : Am't of cost of new road, say $400,000 00 Deduct price of old road sold, 243,000 00 The Sinking-Fund operation is exhibited thus : Am't of funds ree'd during year $197,193 74 Am't of stocks purcbas'd •' '■ 343,622 98 Am't in hands of Commissionnrs on 36th Nov., 1850, ' 5,967 60 Whole am't ree'd since commen cement ot system, 423,832 75 Whole amount of stocks purchas cd, 459,122 98 Am't of money in hands on 30th Nov., 1850," 5,967 60 FURTHER EXPOSITIONS OF THE PUBLIC DEBT. . Am't of debt on 30th Novrim her 1850, 40,775,485 12 Am't of stocks and cash' in hands of Com'rs. of Sinking Fund, $465,090 58 Deduct amount of special loan —the interest thereof saved in the discontinuance of the Plane, 400,000 00 865,090 58 $39,910,394 84 Am't of debt on 30th Nov.'4B. Funded, $39,393,350 24 Unfunded, 1.081,386 69 Canal, Railroad, and Motive Power debts re turned in 1849 and 'SO, being debts contract ed prior to Ist Dec. 1848, 373,861 48 Total indebtedness, $40,848,598 41 Actual indebtedness, including Inclined Plane Loan on 30th Nov., 1850, and excluding am't., in hands of sinking fund Commissioner, $40,310,391 84 Actual decrease of public debt since 30th Nov., 1848, $438,203 57 Within the same period, there has been paid from the treasury appropriations, that may be called extraordinary, as follows : Towards completion ol North Branch Canal, $148,500 00 To avoid Inclined Plane, 309,446 02 If these sums, from the payment whereof the Treasury will be relieved by the comple tion of the improvements above stated, be added to the actual reduction of public debt above exbibitedthe conclusion is clear, that at a very early dale, an annual appropria tion of nearly one million dollars may be made towards the reduction of the public debt. Annexed is an estimate of the receipts and expenditures of the presont, with the estimate of last year, and the actual receipts at the Treasury. Estimate Receipts Estimates for 1850 for 1850 for 1851 Lands, if 20,000 $16,378 58 $16,000 Auction Cora. 22,000 19,673 75 20,000 " duties, 50,000 44,898 22 45,000 Tax on bank div'ds, 30,000 154,877 14 160,000 Tax on Corp'n stocks, 160,000 136,510 14 160,000 Tax on Real and Personal Estate, 1,330,000 1,317,821 55 1,330,000 Licenses, Tav'rusSO,OOO 107,427 59 100,000 " Retailers, 160,000 174,062 36 175,005 " Pedlars, 3,000 2,625 05 3,000 "Brokers, 12,000 12,228 73 11 000 " Theatres ft 3,000 2,384 50 2,500 " Ril'rdrooms, 5 000 3,045 81 4,000 " Distillery ft 1,500 3,203 91 5,000 " Eat'gho'sbc 15,000 6,530 97 10,000 " Pat medicine 3,000 2,633 04 3,000 Pamph'lt laws 500 345 50 500 Militia Fines, 2,000 12,953 73 10,000 Tax on Writs 40,000 45,409 47 45,000 " " Officers 20,000 14,047 24 15,00 d " " loans, 125,000 119,358 30 120,000 On Col. Inher itance, 200,000 102,298 07 150,000 CAnal & Road Toils, 1,845,000 1,713,848 U 1,800,000 Sale of old ma j terials, 5,000 6,953 63 5,000 Enrollment of Laws, 11,000 10,270 fO 12,000 Premi u m of Charters, 40,000 39,262 ?4 40,000 Inclined Plain Loan, 270,000 270,000 00 Div 'ds on Turn pike stocks, 2,000 2,460 00 2,000 Nicholson lands, 300 Accrued interest, 4,000 3,674 12 5,000 Refunded cash, 5,000 13,278 $1 5,000 Escheats, 2,000 1,000 Fees of Public officers, 2,000 3.687 SO 4,000 Miscellaneous. 2,000 1,740 13 5,000 Interest on stock purchasdd, 15,000 13,721 27 30,000 Foreign Insu rance Agencies 2,160 83 3,000 $4,566,300,00 4,438,131 51 4,296,000 PAYMENTS; Estimate Payments Estimate for 1850 for 1850 for 1851 Publmp'mts, $640,00081,486 799 745890,000 Exp'e of Gov'mt'23s,ooo 262,899 71 250.000 Militia, 4,000 16,582 25 1 5,000 Pensions, 20,000 17,277 91 15,000 Charitable Insti tutions, 80,000 62,267 85 60,000 Com. Schools 200,000 213,728 49 200,00b 1nt'5t0n10an52,005,0002,005,71451 2 005,000 Guarantees, 32,500 32,500 00 32,500 Domestic cre ditors, ' 10,000 6,387 41 10,000 Dam's on pub. works, 20,000 28,068 34 25,000 Special Com'rs, 2,000 2,556 03 2,000 State Libraiy, 2,000 1,000 00 2,000 Pub. Buildings, 2,000 2,002 78 10,000 Penitentiaries 15,000 14,283 79 15,000 House of Refuge 5,000 6,000 00 5,000 Nicholson Lands 300 192 75 300 Escheats, 2,000 • 1,740 53 2,000 Abate't of State Tax, 40,000 42,525 04 40,01$ Counsel tees & Cortim'rs, 2,000 g,984 15 5,000 Miscellaneous 5,000 8,180 44 5,000 Sinking Fund Comm'rs, 293,000 318,864 03 2 50,000 Inclined P1ane,270,000 90,000 N. B. Canal, 150,000 250,000 Renew a 1 of Relief Notes, 10,000 Expenses of Rev enue Comm'rs, 2,500 $4,036,800 4,553,193 75 4,101,300 In the item of expenditure for public im provements, is included $148,500 paid to North Branch Canal, and $286,446 02 to avoid Inclined Plane. In the amounts received from Canal and Railroad tolls and collateral inheritance tax es, the actual recai>n at' thus last year fall short of tho estimates. In making these es timates, it was supposed the suggestion of a former message in relation to the convey ance of passengers on the Columbia Rail way would have been favorably regarded. It is still believed that a largely increased revenue would attend the adoption of the changes heretofore recommended. That the collateral inheritance tax is inefficiently and carelessly collected in some of the coun ties, and even when collected Irequently retained in the hands of the officers longer than necessary, is demonstrable by the fact of the great disproportion received at the Treasury from counties of equal population, business, and wealth. A statement of the amounts received from the several counties during the last four years, will exhibit much valuable information on the interesting question of inequality ofGxation in the pay ment of the public debt. All items of taxa tion applicable to the sinking fund should be required to reach tho Treasury quarterly under the severest penalties. A reference to reports of the Adjutant General, Auditor General, Surveyor General, and Superintendent of Common Schools, wilt afford dotailed information of the I usiness of their several departments, and furnish views and suggestions of interest to the gen eral weal. The school system, although still imper fect, is rapidly improving in its general con dition, and promises the beneficial results it was designed to accomplish. The education of the people, is the great question of tho age, and as such, it cannot fail to command yoor earnest and enlightened efforts, for its speedy and ultimate success. In the competiiion for trade and travel, no effort for the full repair of the canals and rail roads of the State should be neglected. The deleriorating condition of many of these works, admonish that the system of supervi sion is ineffectual to secure (he return of which their construction gave confident as surance' In a system of divided responsi bility in their management, the difficulty ev idently exisls. On a former occasion it was suggested to divide the State into Canal and Railway districts, and allot to each a Canal Commissioner, to whom its entire control should be given. This project is again re commended, btit should it fail to meet your approbation, the proposition of electing a Superintendent, to whom for his whole time and attention, a compensating salary should be paid, and under whose sole control the public works might be placed, is worthy of consideration. All the evils arising from di vided counsels and shifting responsibilities would be avoided, and tftaPlnergy and skill in their management securedyvhich cannot be expected under the present system. It is alleged this method of supervisiou of public works has succeeded well and beneficially in other States. A commercial connection between Phila delphia arid Europe by Steamships,—an en terprise truly worthy the favoring regards of the whole commonwealth and the coun tenance and aid of the national government by th# extension of mail facilities—-the com pletion of the great Railway communication now in rapid progress of construction to tho navigable waters of the West, the thorough repair of the Cumberland Valley road, and tue erection of various lines of Railway in' the valley of the Susquehanna, must throw an amount of trade on the Columbia Rail toad which will demand for its transit the entire capacity of thrit thoroughfare in a con dition of perfect repair. Every avenue by which the trade of the west, as well as of Central and Northern Pennsylvania reaches Philadelphia, the entire people should feel a lively interest, as identical with the pros perity of the whole State. Whilst the inler ' nal trade is pouring into our metropolis, and her local authorities are doing their part to promote her commerce, it is our duty to de mand from the General Government some portion of its resources for die security and improvement of the harbor of the Delaware. Improvement of the' navigable rivers and protection of the harbors of the Ocean and Lakes ought to be no longer delayed. In this connection I deem it my duty to call your attention to the pending litigation in relation to the bridge over the Ohio River at Wheeling, erected under the authoiity of Virginia, which, it is confidently asserted puts in joopardy large commercial interests. It lias been my care to watch the progress of ttie controversy, and to direct the proper law officer of the Commonwealth, associated with the other distinguished gentlemen who professionally represent the Stale, to protect these interests before the judicial tribunal which has cognizance of the case under the Constitution. In the various Railway projects now sev erally terminating at Philadelphia, Harris burg, and Pittsburg, tho people of the Com monweallh ought never to lose sight of that cither great en'.erpriso which, known as the Sutjbury and Erie Railroad, was meant to connect the Susquehanna, tha Delaware, and the Lakes. Besides the command of tha trade of the Northern Seas secured by its construction, it would bring into market for sale and settlement vast bodies of untenant ed and unimproved lands, and devolope treasures of inexhaustible mineral wealth now wholly inaccessible. The large indebtedness of the State, and the necessity for its reduction, forbid the pol- ! icy on her part, of embarking in these vari- ; ous improvements. The debt of the Commonwealth was in- j curred in the erection of works which were largoly conductive to the settlement and sale ! of 'he dim a. in nf tho UnUod States, and while sho lias secured no part of this inher itance, other States have been liberally aid ed in ;he construction of their internal im provements by donation of public lands. It | is a right on her part to demand a portion of 1 these lands to aid in the completion of the important works partially completed and in contemplation. A system of banking, based upon State stocks, under proper restrictions, is recom - mended to the attention of the Legislature. It is thought that the present banking facili ties are unequal to tho wants oi the business community. The large amount of notes of banks of other States found in circulation a mong our people, tho inability with safety to their credit, to accqmmoda le at all times the active de mands of the country, opera tions in the nature of transacted on severe terms to j demonstrate that increase ! facilitios are de- I inanded to secure a healthy developement of I our resources. Any considerable extension of the present syetem is hardly to be anlici "paled, nor is it desirable, if a more perma nent basis for such operations cart be devis ed. Free banking upon a deposito and pledge of public stocks early recommenddt itself to favor. It is not liable to sudden ex pansions and contractions—more secure from failure—less obnoxious to counterfeit ing and fraud, and offers undoubted recuri jty to the note holder. Should the stock re quired be the loans of tho Commonwealth, it would do predate their value, and also have a tendency to withdraw them from foreign countries, to which are annually sent millions of the public money to pay interest. A recall of these stocks, and the discharge of the interest to tho residont citizens, would lead to the expenditure of an equal amount at home, thereby affording employ ment to the people in tho improvement tho State, in the erection of industiiat insti tutions, and in various works of beauty and taste. If this system is favorably regarded, a relinquishment of a portion of the inter est on the stocks pledged would be directly advanlageous to the Treasury. The confidence felt in the security, and the desire to use the relief notes, when kept in good condition, justify tho belief that an issue of small notes from the State institu tions, founded on a deposito of stocks, would be highly acceptable to the people. A reference to subjects, under the control of the National Government, has long form, ed part of the annuul messages of the State Executives, and the custom not only by its consonance with the peculiar relations of the Stales to Gov ernment, but in the deep siMHBHF felt by individual citizens in tho action of the latter on questions of pervading and direct inter est to all. From the resolves of their Repre sentatives in the councils of the States, the opinions and wishes of tho people are often well collected, and hence your action is fro quently of great moment. In obedience, therefore, to custom, and in order that the sentiments of our common constituency may have expression either through the Ex ecutive Message or the action of their rep- rcsentalives, it is proper to refer to some of these questions of general interest, the dis posal of which more esgpcial I / belongs to the National Government. A revision and alteration of the Revenue laws, so as to give adequate and permanent protection to the industry of the oountry, are demanded by tha prostrate condition of the mining and manufacturing interests. The propriety of affording full protection to do mestic industry, in the enactment of Tariff laws, has been as fully discussed, that a mere reforencc to former views, is all that is deemed necessary at this time. In a late ef fort to amend the present Tariff, its failure may be fully attributed to the omission of the last Legislature to give expression to the perfectly well understood wishes and expac rations of tho people. It is confidently hop edno such omission will mark the conduct of the present assembly. A reduction in tho rates of postage, and the construction oi railway commmiica'ions tojtlie Pacific, wore urged heretofore as wor. thy of friendly regard. Repetition of the views then presented is unnecessary, as time has only strengthened the conviction of the propriety and Usefulness of tho proposed measures. ; In relation to the extention of slavery and | the duty of faithful observance rif her Federal obligations bytho Commonwealth, the views expressed in former messages remain mi I changed. There is nothing in my judgment, ; in the history of the past, nor in the warn lugs of tho future, to justify tho abandonment !of the principles, sacredly regarded from 1 the foUnd&tion of the Stale, of nonintorven lion in the domestic policy of other commu nities, and of resolute determination of per | mining no interference with our own Fi delity in the discharge of constitutional du ty has distinguished our government and people, and if an opinion exiits within, or has be n mischievously propagated beyond our borders, that such is not the fact, it is conceived in error of our true history, l'enn sylvania, her peopla, and her authorities, always have been loyal to the constitution. They wish it neitherlobe evaded nor amen ded. They will riot permit it to be resisted. It has been intimated that the question connected with the institution of Slavery, and the rendition of fugitives lrom labor, here have been indications of a disregard of her Constitutional obligations. To the clauso of the Constitutional relative to fugitives from labor, and the legislation under it, tKa;e evoi boa I In Pnnn*j.lvi.i*, all her avowed aversion to domestic slavery, implicit obedience. Wilh an earnest desire that, by a free interchange of moderate and yalional opinions, obedience to the law may bo made, not only implicit, but cheerful, it is proper to refer to some of the difficulties in relation to the subject now existing in the public mind. The clauso of the Federal Constitution relative to fugitives from labor involves these propositions: 1. That unvoluntary service Or slavery, may exist in the Stales of tho Union by constitutional recognition. 2. That tko escape of the person so held shall not oper ate as a discharge from such service or la bor. 3. That on the claim of the party to whom such service is- due, there must be a rendition of the fugitive. To interfere by legislative enactment, or otherwise to destroy or in any way affoct the right of property recognized in the first proposition, would be a daring violation of the clear obligations of the Constitution. No human being can pretend that by this Com monwealth such an interference has ever been attempted. Whatever may be the feelings of the people in opposition to tho further extension of slavery, and tho conse quent increase of anti.republican and sec tional representations in the Nation Legisla ture, no effort has ever been made to dis turb or destroy the vested rigtts of citizens of other States; and when thoso righls may i be endangered by the escape of a slave be- I yond iho limits sf tho States, where tho re lation is acknowledged, our citizens have acted on the principle, that no sympathy with individual suffering ought ever to wea ken their sense of duty tb the plain require ments of the organic law. In the adjustment of rights and official du ties under the last proposition, more difficul ty has been fonnd to exist. By whoso agen cy is the fugitive to bo given up? What force is to be givon to the word "claim," as used in the Constitution ? Is not the deliver y of the fugitive to be made or.ly throngh the agency of the National Government ? These have been vexed and mooted ques tions. The final decision of the Supreme Court of the United States in a case to which Pennsylvania was made a parly, and the re cent fugitive slave law, gave a judicial and legislative interpretation to this clause of tho Constitution, which cannot be misapprehen ded. The power and duty of enacting laws to carry into effect the Constitutional direc tion, being ruled to be in Congress and in Congiess only, any inteferenoe on llie part ol the State authorities is authorized and with out binding force. U tho Constitution implies a duty to be performed by both National and State Govi crnments, and vests each with power over the subject, tho framers of that instrument failed to express in clear terms, as in other I cases, tho obligations of tne parties. The | latitude of construction required to givd such powers to the legislatures, would authoriz the passage laws, and the enactments of reg ulations Upon every delegated power of the National Government, without regard to the action on non-action of Congress. The Gen eral Government is admitted to be due of [Two Dollars per ABMHW. NUMBER 51V ascertained powers, but it ceases to do so ilj'o ' ; moment concurrent jurisdiction vesta in State Sovereignities. In the practical workings of j the system of concurrent jurisdiction, mu h evil would arise. Thirty 0110 Sovereignities . might prescribe different rules of acTion— each meant to make effective natio -al legis lation, and the danger rt,su't'ugfrom conilic- I ting enactments, and the coiise<|uont destruc ; tion of harmony arid Older could not !ai' ,'tc i alarm the patriot.—Whenever power over a subject matter is vested by the Constituti ' ** , in Congress, and the po'Ver has been oxer : Cised; 11 10 authority Of the States Ins bee ; judicially <!e. I wed, as above staled, rrer- .1 and abolished This is the rule of law as ' well as .that of common sense. . An Opinion has been expressed bv men of ! ominom logal leairfing and pattioilV. ip.lfr 1 | legislative action on the part of the State t I expedient to aid tn the execution of the pow ers ot the general government. In tliii j opinion I cannot concur. To admit l'< 6 • position would imply an inability on the part of the national government to ckecuto Us powers, and would prove destructive of the theory so zealously maintained by our repuh liran fathers, that the National and S:al6 j Governments ire independent sovereignities, each ac ing within its proper constitutional : sphere. It was doubtless a conviction of the sound HOBS of the foregoing views, which indeed rily predecessor, Governor Shuiik, to sano lion the act of the 3d March, 1817, The power to act upon the subject of :he extradition of fugitive slaves being thus ves ted solely in the .National Governmortt, is the plain duty of tho citizen to submit to its enactments under tho Constitution. To cct differently would be clearly rebellion to the Government If the word "claim" was intended to ex press an ascertained right of property to the person ol the fugitive vested in the claimant, then much of the difficulty surrounding tlio question is settled, and the mere demand for the person of tho fugitive lives his destiny by the terms of the constitution. Hi< tradi tion would be determined d ithoilt proof of ownership on the part of tho claimant a d without evidence df the identity or High: of the person claimed. If, however, the term used in tho' constitution, signifies a challenge of the property, belonging to tho claimant, and withheld from liirn—and the enact ments on the subject requiring proof of right to substantiate the claim, and the concurring uS ix._ fcpaa Pnim. rtnx rots meaning to the terra, then tho question ari ses, how. ai d through whom, sh.ill the clain be made, and by what evidence sustained ! In the adoption of the proper remedy to assert this clear right, patriotic citizens may differ, and the privilege to maintain and ex press that honest diversity of opinion must not be impaired. To surrender it, under vio lent threats and denunciatory clamor, would bo an abandonment of the deeply-cherished privilege of liberty of thought and speech. Whon the enactments of the |national Con gress fail to convince the people of . their justico and propriety, it is their duty to seek their modification and amendment. The recently enacted fugitive slave law, while it remains a statute, demands the support of all the citizens, and unless our written constitu tions are worthless parchments, under the judiciary declare it otherwise, must be estee med a constitutional enactment. Are it* defects of such a nature as to warrant the public in urging its amendment 1 That part of ih law which authorizes the creation of a new and irresponsible tribunal under the name of Commissioners, is liable to exception. Waiving the inquiry whether the Judicial power of thb United States can I be vested anywhere but in regularly organ ' ized courts, with the records of courts, there are objections of serious import to the insti tution of this tribunal. All history shows', j that special tribunals, clothed with discre ! tionary powers over person and property, are I liable to abuse, and have been instruments of oppression. * If in these, the early days of the Repub lic, when no reason of urgent State necessi ty can be invoked, powers of a high judicial nature over the liberty and properly of an individual, are to be vested by appointment of an interior tribunal, in an irresponsible person, iho security of the life, reputation, and liberty of the citi/.en in after times, when new political or social liberties may arise, will depend on a must precarious ie nure. The courts of the United States, whoso Judges have a pride of character, and over whom a controlling influence is exerted by the impeachment clause of the Constitu tion, should alouo be Invested Willi these Ox traordinary powers. Rather than hazard the chances of illegal decisions, and tho cOnse quent irreparable injury of an individual, re suits so full of danger to tho peace and good order Of society, the Judicial power Of tie Nation might wisely be extended, if it be deemed expedient to deity a trial by Jury, and lodge tho adjudication of this of pfoperty iu the breast of a single Judge, tho icind of proof required should be indicated, and a full record of the entire proceedings be mado and preservod. Process issued should be returned, and the extradition of any colored: person, for whose arrest a warrant had issued! without heating hadfirefore the Judge, should be Visited with the penalties of kidnapping. These modifications of the law, while they could not Interfere wiih the rights of the own ers of the fugitive, would greatly tend to perform their constitutional duties. One other matter connected with our Fed oral relations, claims your attention. It is the Union of the States. and the dangej*
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