Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1852-12-10
THE WILMINGTON JOURNAL.
wILMINeToN. n. o.. MoNpAY. DEC. Q. 1ssa.
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.


and Of the House Of Representatives:
The brief space which has elapsed since the close
of your last session has been marked by no extraor
binary political event The quadrenial election of
Chief Magistrate has passed off with less than the
usual excitement. However individuals and parties
may have been disappointed in the result it is new
ertheless subject of national congratulatou that
the choice has been effected by the independent su
RACES of free people, undsturbed by those infuen
ces which in other countries have too often affected
the purity of popular elections
Our grateful thanks are due to an All-mercful
Providence, not only for staying the pesence which
in different forms has desoated some of cities,
but for browning the labors of the husbandman with
an abundant harvest and the nation generally with
the blessings of peace and prosperity.
Within a few weeks the public mind has been
deeply affected by the death of Daniel Webster, fill
ing at his decease the Office of Secretary of State
His associates in the Executive government have sim
cerely sympathized with his family and the public
generally on this mournful occasion. His comman-
ding talents his great political and professional
inence his well-ried patriotism, and his long and
faithful services in the most important public trusts
have caused his death to be lamented throughout
the country, and have earned for him lasting place
in our history
In the course of the last summer considerable anx-
iety was caused for short time by official init
nation from the government of Great Britain that
orders had been given for the protection of the fish
cries upon the coasts of the British prov nces in North
America against the alleged Entertainments of the
fishing vessels of the United States and France. The
shorness of this notice and the season of the year
seemed to make it matter of urgent Importance
1t was at first apprehended that increased naval
force had been ordered to the fishing grounds to
ry into effect the British Interpretation ofthose pro-
vinces in the convention of 1913, in reference 10 the
true intent of which the two governments differ. It
soon discovered that such not the design of
Great Britain, and satisfactory explanations of the
real objects of the measure have been given both
here and in London.
he tod bok,v 4bo
two governments to the Interpretation of the first
article of the convention of 1918 is still matter of
Importance. American fishing vessels within nine
or ten years have been excluded from waters to
which they had free access twenty five years after
the negotiation of the treaty In 1916 this exclu-
sion relaxed so far concerns the Bay of Fun
dy, but the just and liberal intention of the Home
government, in compliance with what we think the
true construction of the convention to open all the
outer bays to our fishermen was abandoned, in con-
sequence of the opposition of the colonies Notwith-
standing this the United States have, since the Bay
of Fundy was re-opened to our fishermen in 1915,
pursued the most liberal toward the colonial
fishing interests. By the revenue law of 1916, the
duties colonial fish entering ports very
greatly reduced, and by the warehousing act it is al
lowed to be entered in bond without payment of du-
ty. In this way colonial fish has acquired the mo-
nopoy of the export trade in market, and is
tering to extent into the home consumption ~
These facts were among those which increased the
sensibity Of our fishing interest, at the movement
in question.
These circumstances and the incidents above allu-
ded to have led me to think the movement favorable
for consideration of the entire subject of the she-
ries the coasts of the British provinces, with a
view to place them upon more liberal footing OF
reciprocal privilege. willingness to meet US in
arrangement of this kind is understood to exist
on the part of Great Britain, with desire on her
part to include in comprehensive settlement as
we'll this subject as the commercial intercourse be-
tween the u. States and the British provinces.
have thought that whatever arrangements may be
made on these two Subjects it is expodent that they
should be embraced in separate conventions. The
illness and death the late Secretarof State proven
ted the commencement of the contemplated negotia
ton. Paine have been taken to collect the informa
ton required for the details of such arrangement
The subject is attended with much difficulty. If il
is found practicable to come to agreement mutu
ally acceptable to the two parties, conventions may
be concluded in the course of the present winter
The control of Congress over all the provisions O
such an arrangement, affecting the revenue, will o
course be reserved.
The affairs of Cuba formed prominent topic il
my last annual message. They remain in an unea
say condition, and feeling alarm and irritation OIL
the part of the Cuban authorities appear to exist -
This feeling has interfered with the commercial in
tercourse between the United States and the island
and led TO some acts of which have a right t
complain. But the Captain General of Cuba is clio
thed with no power to treat with foreign govern
ments, nor is he in any degree under the control
nication which he may hold with the agent of fol
eign power is informal and matter of courtesy An5
ious to put an end to the existing Inconvenience
(Which seemed to rest miseonception,) diret
ted the newly appointed Minister to Mexico to Wis
Havana, on his way to Vera Cruz. He was respec
fully received by the Captain General, who confer
red with him freely on the recent occurrences; BIT
no permanent arrangement was effected.
In the mean time, the refusal of the Captain Ger
eral to allow passengers and the mail to be landed
certain cases, for reason which does not furnish
the opiuion of this government even good presuml
tive ground for such prohibition, has been mao
the subject of serious remonstrance at Madrid: an
have no reason to doubl that due respect will |
paid by the government of Her Catholic Majesty
the representation which Minister has been il
structed to make on thesu5ject
1t is but Justice to the Captain General to ad
that his conduct toward the steamers employed
carry the mails of the u. States to Havana has, wit
the exceptions above alluded to, been marked Wi
kindness and lberality, and indicates gener
purpose of interfering with the commercial CORE
pondence and intercourse between the island al
this country. -.
Early in the present year official notes were recei
ed from the Ministers of France and England in1
ting the Government of the United States to becou
tite Convention in virtue of which the three powe
should severally and collectively disclaim, now
for the future, all intention TO obtain possession
the Island of Cuba. and should bind themselves
dscountenance nil attempts to that effect the pa
of any power or individual whatever This inyit
ton has been respectfully declined, for reasons viii
it would occupy too much space in this commune
tion to state in detail but which led me to think tn
the proposed measure would be of doubtful constit
,ionality mpolitic and unavailing have, howe
err, in common with several of my predecessors,
rected the Ministers of France and England to