They reverse the principle
of Common Law, that "in any question under the Constitution, _every
word is to be construed in favor of liberty_."
The third compact is:
"A person charged in any State with treason, felony, or other
crime, who shall flee from justice, or be found in another
State, shall, on demand of the Executive authority of the
State from which he fled, be delivered up, to be removed to
the State having jurisdiction of the crime."
It has never been pretended that Congress has any power to act in
such cases. There is no clause _delegating any power to the United
States_; consequently, all proceedings on the subject have been left
to the several States.
The fourth compact is:
"No person held to 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 to whom such service or labor may be due.
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