Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1852-12-16
PRESIDENTS
M q S S A E /.
FeIio,o Citizens offhe Senate and
House of Representatives.:
&C WASHINGTON, Dec. 6, 1852.


House of Representatives.:
The brief space which has elapsed
since the close OF your last session, has
been marked by no extraordinary politi.
cal event. The quadrennial election OF
Chief Magistrate has passed of with less
than the usual excitement. However
individuals and parties have been disap.
pointed in the result, il is nevertheless
the subject of national congratulation
that the choice has been effected by the
independent suff'rages of free people,
undisturbed by those influences which,
in other countries, have too often effect
ed The purity of popular elections.
Our grateful thanks are due to an all
merciful Providence not only staying the
pestilence which in different forms has
desolated some of our cities, but for
browning the labors of the hus5andman
with an abundant harvest ard the bless
ings Of peace and prosperity.
Within few weeks the public mind
has been deeply affected by the death of
Daniel Webster. Filling a. his decease
the Office of Secretary of State, his as
rocis,es in the Executive Government
have sincerely sympathized with his
family, and the public generally on this
monrnful occasion. His commanding
,alents-his greet political and profess
ional eminence-his well t-ied patriotism
and his long and faithful services in the
most important public trusts, have caus-
ed his death TO be lamented throughout
the country, and have earned for him a
lasting place in our history.
In the course of the last summer con-
siderable anxiety was caused for short
time by an official inlimaion from the
court of Gieat Britain, that orders had
been given for the protection of the Fish
cries upon the coasts of the British Prov
inces in North America, against the alleg-
ed encroachmen,s of the fishing vessels of
the United States and France. The
shor,ness of this notice and the season
of .he year, seemed TO make il matter
of urgent importance. II was at first APP
pretended that an increased naval force
had been ordered TO fishing grounds, to
carry into effect The British Interpretation
OF these provisions in the Convention of
1918, IN reference 10 the true intent of
which the two Governments differ. Ii
was soon discovered that such was not
the design Of Great Britain, and satisfac.
tory explanations of the real objects of
the measures have been given both here
and in London. .....
The unadjus.ed difference. however,
between the two Governments, as to the
Interpretation of the first article Of the
Convention of 1918. is still manner of
importance. Our fishing vessels within
nine or ten years, have been excluded
from waters TO which they had free ac-
cess for tw eniy- five years after the ne
gotiation OF The treaty. In lS45 the ex-
ciusion was relaxed SO far as concerned
the Bay of Fundy. But the jus, and lib
eral intention OF the home governments in
compliance with what We think the true
construction of the Convention, to open
all The other outer bays to our fishermen,
was abandoned in consequence of the OPP
position of the colonies. Noiwithstand-
ing, the United States has since the Bay
of Fundsy was re. opened TO our fisher
men, in ls45, persued the most liberal
course toward the colonial fishing inter
est. BY the revenue law of 1916. the
duIes on colonial fish entering our ports
was greatly reduced, and by the ware
housing act is allowed TO be entered
with bond, Wi hous payment and duty.
In This way colonial fish has acquired
the monopoly of,he expert trade in our
market, and IS entering to some extent
into the home consumption. These
facts were among those which Increased
The sensibilisy Of our fishing interests at
the moment in question. These cir
cumstances and the incidents above al
luded to have led me 10 think the mo-
ment favorable for reconsideration of
the entire subject of The fisheries on the
coas; of the British PROVINCES. with a
view to place them on a more liberal
footing Of reciprocal privilege. A will
lingness TO meet US in some arrangement
of this is understood to exist on the par.
VI otCos Diitoius WIN UCouC ou hCt
part to include, in one comprehensive
settlement as well this subject, as the
commercial intercourse between the u.
States and The British provinces. have
thought that whatever arrangement may
be made on these subjects, it is expedi-
ent that they should be embraced in sep.
perate conventions. The illness and
death Of the late Secretary Of State pre-
vented the commencement of the contem
iemplaied negotiation. Pains have been
taken to collect the Information required
for The details of such an arrangement
The subject 10 attended with considera-
BILE difficulty. II il is found practicable
to come TO an arrangement mutually ac-
cep,able to parties, conventions may be
concluded in the course Of the present
winter. The control of Congress over
all the provisions of such an arrange
men. efec.ing the revenue. will Of course
be reserved.
The affairs of Cuba formed a promi.
nent topic in my last annual message.
They remain in an uneasy condition
and feeling of alarm and irritation on
the part Of the Cuban authorities appears
to exist. This feeling has interfered