The daily union., 1852-12-07
PREsIDENI's MESSAGE.

The bTef space which has elapsed since The close OF
political The quadre election OF Chief Mags
fale has passed of with less than the usual excitement
However individuals and parties may have been dsap
poinled IN the RESULT y 10 nevertheless subject o. ma
tonal generalization that the choice has been effect
ed by the independent suiages OF free people, undis
iurbed by those influences which In other countries
have too ofen affected the purity OF popular elections
Our grateful thanks due AlI-mercifui POW
dence, not only Tor staying the pestience which in df-
erent forms has desoated OF our Cities but for
crowning the abors oil The husoanlman WIN an aoun-
dan harvest and the nation generally with the blessings
OF peace aud prosperity.
Within few weeks the public mind has been deeply
affected by the death of Daniel Webster, filling at his de-
cease The Office OF Secretary of Slate His associates in
the executive government have sincerely sympathize1
with his family and the public generally this mourn
fu occasion. His commanding talents, his great political
and professional emnence. his well tried patriotism and
hs long and faithful services in the most important pub
lie trusts, have caused his death to be lamened through
out the county, and have earned Tor him lasting place
in history
In the OF the last summer considerable anxiety
caused for short time by official inlimation from
the OF Great Britain that orders had been
given for the protection OF the fisheries upon the coasts
OF the British provinces in North America against the al
legged encroachments of the fishing vessels OF the United
States and France The shorness OF this noce and The
season of the year seemed make II matter OF urgent
importance twas at first spprehended that increased
naval force had been ordered 10 the fishing grounds TO
carry into effect the British Interpretation OF those pro
visions in the convention OF 1885, in reference 10 the tue
in en OF which the two governments differ II was 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.
The uHadjusled difference, however, between the two
governments 10 the Interpretation OF the first article
OF the convention OF 1918 still matter OF importance
American fishing vessels within nine or ten years have
been excluded from waters to which they had free ac
for twenty five years after the negotiation OF the
treaty In lS45 this exclusion relaxed far con-
the bay OF Fundy; but the Just and liberal inten
ton OF the home government, in compliance with what
think the construction OF the cenvenlon TO open
all the oher outer bays TO hshemen was abandoned
in consequence OF the opposition OF the colonies. Not
wihslandng this the United States have since the bay of
FundY was reopened to our fishermen IN lS45, pursued
the most liberal course toward the colonial hshBg inter-
BY the revenue law of 1916 the duties colonial
fish entering ports very greatly reduced and by
the Warehousng il is allowed 10 be entered in bond
without payment OF duty In this way colonial fish las
acquired the monopoly OF the export trade IN our MARKET
and is entering some extent into the home consump-
ton. These facts among those which increased the
sensbility of our fishing interest at the movement in
question.
These circumstances and the incidents above alluded
to have led me TO think the moment favorable for
consideration oil the entire subject OF the fisheries on the
OF the British provinces with view place them
upon more liberal footing OF reciprocal privilege.
willingness TO meet IN arrangement OF this kind
is understood 10 exist on the part OF Great BraD with
desire her part include in comprehensive set
Element well this subject the commercial intercourse
between the United States and the British provinces
have thought that whatever arrangements may be made
on these two Subjects il IS expedient that they should
be embraced in separate conventions The illness and
death OF the late Secretary OF State prevented the
mencemen Of the contemplated negotiation Pains have
been taken TO collect the information required for the
details OF such arrangement The subject is attended
with considerable difficulty. Ii it found practicable 10
come 10 an agreement, mutually acceptable 10 the two
parties, conventions may be concluded in the OF
the present winter The control Congress all the
provisions Of such arrangement, affecting the reve.
nue., will OF course be reserved
The affairs OF Cuba formed a prominent topic in my
last annual message They remain uneasy condl-
ion and feeling OF alarm and irritation on the part OF
the Cuban authorities appears to exist This feeling has
nteiered with the regular commercial intercourse be-
the United Stales and the island, and led 10
acts OF which we have right to complain But the
capian-general OF Cuba is clothed with no power 10
treat with foreign governments, nor is he IN any degree
under the control OF the Spanish minister al Washing
ton. Any communication which he may hold with an
agent OF foreign power IS informal and matter OF cour.
tesy. Anxious 10 put an end to the existing ineonye
niences (which seemed 10 rest on misconceptions d
reced tie newly appointed minister 10 Mexico to visit
Havana bis way TO Vera Cruz lie was respectfully
received by the captain general, who conferred with him
freely the recent occurrences but no permanent ar
rangemeni was ELECTED.
10 the mean me the refusal Of the captaln-ge
allow passengers aud the mail to be landed IN certain
cases for reason which does not furnish, IN the opin.
ion Of this government, good presnmptive ground
for such prohibition, has been made The subject OF
rious remonsirance at Madrid and have 10
doubt that due respect will be paid by the government
minister has been instructed to make on the subject
Ii is but justice TO the cspaitgeneral TO add that his
Of the United States TO Havana has, with the exceptions
above alluded TO- been marked with kindness and ber.
alty, and indicates general purpose Of interfering with
the commecia correspondence and intercourse between
the island and this country.
Early in the present year Official notes received
from the ministers OF France and Eng land inviting the
government OF the United States TO become party with
Great Bulain and France iriparie convention, IN
virtue Of which the three powers should severay and
collectively disclam, and for The future, all neu-
ton 10 obtain possession Of the island Of Cuba. ard
should bind themselves dscounenance all attempts TO
that effect on the part OF any power or individual what
This invitation has been respectfully declined, for
communication 10 state in detail, but which led me 10
think that the proposed measure would be OF doubtful
constitutonality lmpoie, and unavalling. have,
however in common with several OF my predecessors,
directed the ministers Of France and England 10 be
sured that The United States entertain designs against
corporation into the Union al the present time as Taught
with serious peril
Were this island comparatively destitute OF nhah
tans, occupied by kindred acce should regard ~
II voluntarily ceded by Spain, mos, desirable acqn
sinon Bot, under existing circumstances, should look
upon its incorporation into Union as very hazard
Gus IL would bring into the confederacy pop
ulaon OF different national stock, speaking diGefent
language and not likely TO harmonlze with the other
members. IL would probably affect IN preudicia
the industrial interests OF the South and Il might revive
those conf cts OF opinion between the different sections
Of the country which lately shook the Union 10 lis
tfe and which have been so happily compromised
The rejection by the Mexican Congress OF the con
yeniion which had been concluded between that republic
and the United States, for Ihe protection oil transit
way across the istbmus OF Tehuanepec and OF The ner
ess OF those citizens OF the United States who had be-
come proprietors OF the rights which Mexico had con-
fered on one OF her own citizens in regard TO that transit
A - tio tfnff fha utfn