Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-12-11
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

following Message:
FsllosO- Citizens Of the Senate
0nd.cf the House of Representation:
The brief space which has elapsed since the close of
your last session been " no extraordinary
political The quadrennal election Of Chief Ma
gstrste has passed off with less than the usual excite
ment However individuals and parties may have been
disappointed in the result . neverthsle snhisct n
nnona1 dat tEe choice mas been effected
by the Independent suages Of free people, undsturb
ed by those influences which in other countries have
often affected the purity of popular elections.
Our grateful thanks due to an Almerciful Provi-
dence only for staying the pestlence which in differ
ent forms has desolaed some Of Cities for
ing the abors of the husbandman with abundant har
vest and the nation generally with the blessings of
and prosperity.
Within few weeks the public mind has been deeply
affected by the death of Daniel Webster filling his de-
the Office of Secretary of State His associates in
the Executive Government have sincerely synpathized
with his family and the public generally this
ful occasion. His commanding talents his great polit
cal and professional emnence, his wetried 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 last
ing place in our history.
In the of the last considerable anxiety
was caused for short time by an official intimation
from the Government Of Great Britain that orders had
been given for the protection of the fisheries upon the
of the British provinces in North America against
the alleged encroachments of the fishing vessels of the
United States France The shortness of this notice
and the season of the year seemed to make it matter Of
urgent Importance was first apprehended that an in
creased naval force had been ordered to the fishing grounds
to carry into effect the British Interpretation Of those
pro in 70 he
true intent of which the Governments differ 1t
discovered that such the design of Great
Britain and satisfactory explanations of the real objects
of the have been given both here and in London
The unadusted difference, however, between the two
Governments the Interpretation of the first article
the convention of 1918 is still matter of Importance
American fishing vessels, within nine years. have
been excluded from waters to which they had free
for years after the negotiation of the treaty
In 1845 this exclusion relaxed the
Bay of Eundy but the just and liberal intention Of the
Home Government, in compliance with what think
the true construction of the convention open all the
other outer bays to fishermen, abandoned in
sequence of the opposition of the colonies Notwith-
standing this the United States have since the Bay
Fundy re-opened to fishermen in 1916, pursued
the most liberal toward the colonial fishing in
terests By the law Of 1846 the duties colo
nia fish entering ports were very greatly reduced
the Warenouslng IL allowed be entered
bond without payment of duty In this way colonial fish
has acquired the monopoly of the export trade in
market and is entering to extent into the home
sumption These facts were among those which increased
the sensiby of our fishing interest at the movement in
question.
These and the incidents above alluded to
have led to think the moment favorable for
sderaton of the entire subject of the fisheries the
coasts Of the British provinces with view to place them
upon more liberal footing Of reciprocal privilege A
willingness to meet us in arrangement of this kind
is understood to exist the part of Great Britain with
desire her part to include in comprehensive set
temen well this subject the commercial intercourse
between the United States and the British provinces.
have thought that whatever arrangements may be made
these Subjects ii is expedient that they should
be embraced in separate conventions The illness and
death Of the late Secretary of State prevented the COM
of the contemplated negotiation. Pains have
been taken to collect the information required for the de-
tails Of such arrangement The subject is attended
with considerable difficulty. II it is found practicable to
come TO an agreement mutually acceptable to the two
parties conventions may be concluded in the of
the present winter The control Of Congress all the
provisions of such arrangement affecting the revenue
will of course be reserved.
The affairs of Cuba formed prominent topic in my
last annual message They remain in uneasy condi-
ton and feeling Of alarm and irritation the part of
the Cuban authorities appears to exist This feeling has
interfered with the regular commercial intercourse be-
the United States and the island and led to
acts of which have right to complain But the Cap
tain General of Cuba is clothed with power treat
with foreign Governments is he in any degree under
the control Of the Spanish Minister Washington Any
communication which he may hold with agent OF a
foreign Power is informal and matter Of courtesy Anx
ous put end to the existing inconvenience, (which
seemed TO rest misconcepton, directed the newly
appointed Minister Mexico to visit Havana, his way
to Vera Cruz He respectfully received by the Cap
tain General who conferred with him freely the
cent occurrences; but permanent arrangement was
effected
In the mean tme the refusal Of the Captain General
to allow passengers and the mail be andedn certain
cases. for which does not furnish in the opinion
OF this Government good presumptve ground for
such prohibition, has been made the subject Of serious
remonstrance Madrid; and have to doubt
that due respect win be paid by the Government Of her
Catholic Majesty to the representations which Minis
ter has been instructed to make the subject.
IL Is but justice to the Captain General to add that
his conduct toward the employed carry the
mails OF the United States Havana has, with the
ceptons above alluded been marked with kindness and
hoeraty and indicates general purpose Of interfer
ing with the commercial correspondence and intercourse
between the island and this country
Early in the present year official notes were received
from the Ministers Of France and England inviting the
Government Of the United States to become party with
Great Britain and France to tripartite Convention In
virtue of which the three Powers shoud severav and
collectively disclaim and for the future all nten
ton obtain Of the Island Of Cuba and should
bind themselves to discounenance all attempts to that
effect the part Of any Power individual whatever
This invitation has been respectfully declined for reasons
which IL would occupy too much space in this communi-
cation in detail but which led think that
the proposed measure would be Of doubtful consttu-
tonality, impotc, and unavailng. have however, in
with several OF my predecessors, directed the
Ministers Of France and England to be assured that the
that the contrary should regard Its incorporation