New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1852-12-09
NEW ORR 1EA
\ THuR sDAY NOR d !, ECEMBEHo o, 1852.
PRESIDENT S I'M q ii
gFeilo,o Oitisens " ne Senate

Inc prlel space Willch mas elapsed since the
close OF your last session has been marked by no
extraordinary political event The quadrennial
election Of Chief Magistrate has passed off with
less than the usual excitement. However inl-
+ yidlals and parties may have been disappointed
IN the result, it is nevertheless a subject Of ma
tional congratulhtion that the choice las been
effected BY the independent suffpages Of a free
people, undisturbed BY those influences which in
otller countries have too often affected the puri-
7 W OF popular elections. Ss 80
Our great thanks are due to an All-mercifuI
Frovidences MT only for staying the pestiienee
which IN different forms has desolated some of
our cities, but for browning the labors of the
husbandnian witt an abundant harvest, and the
= nation generally with the blessings of peace and
prosperity. ssf9-s131 ,s.sFl
Within q few weeks the public mind has been
deeply affected by the death Of Daniel Webster,
filling at his decease the office Of Secretary of
State. His associates in the Executive Govern.
nent have sincerely sympathised with his family
ana the public generally on this mournful occa-
slon His commanding talents, his great polti-
cal and professional eminence, his we'll tried pa
trlotism, and his long and faithful services, in
the most important public trusts, have CAUSED
his death to be lamented throughout the co,1n-
try, and have earned for Him lasting place in
Z our history.
In the course Of the last summer considerable
anxiety was caused for d short time by an off
ciaf intimation from the government of Great
{ Britain that orders had been given for the pro-
lection Of the fisheries upon the coasts of the
British provinces in North Americn against the
alleged encroachments Of the fishing vessels of
the United States and France The snortness
OF this notices and the season OF the year seemed
to make it a matter Of urgent Importance. II
was at first .apprehended that an increased na-
val force had been ordered to the fishing grounds
TO carry into effect tile British Interpretation Of
those provisions in the convention of 1873 IN
reference to the true intent of which the two
governments differ, 1t was soon ascertained
thatsuch was not the design Of Great Britain,
and sati factory explanations of the real objects
OF the measure have been given both here and
in London. -. - ..t.. !.
The unadjusted difference. however, between
the two governments as to the Interpretation of
the first articleof the convention of 1878 is still
u matter OF importance. American fshing ves-.
sells within nine or ten years have been excluded
from waters to which they had free access for
twenty five years after the negotiation Of the
treaty. In lS45 this exclusion was relaxed so
far as concerns the Bay of Fundy, but the Just
and liberal Intention of the Home government
IN compliance with what we think the true con-
struction OF the conventions to opeirall the other
outer bays to our fishermen, WAS abandoned in
consequence Of the opposition of the colonies
notwithstanding this, the United States have,
Il
fishermen in 1916, pursued the most liberal
course tow1rd the colonial fishing interests By,
the resenne law of 1916, tie duties on colonial
flsh cntereng our ports, were very greatly re-
dnced, and by the warehousing act it is allowed
to be entered in bond without the payment of
duty. In this way colonial fish has acquired
the monopoly of the export trade in our market
and is entering to some extent into the. home
consumption. These facts were among those
which increased the sensibility of our fishing
interest, at the movement in question =
These circumstances and incidents above al
luded to have led me to tlrink the moment ia
vorable for q reconsideration of the entire sub
]ect OF the fisheries on the coasts Of the British
Provinces with view to place them upon
more liberal footing of reciprocal privilege A
Willingness to meet us in some arrangement of
this kind is understood to exist, on the part OF
Great Britain, with desire on her part to in
clude IN one comprehensive settlement as well
this subject as the commercial intercourse be-
tween the United States and the British PROV
inces., have thought that whatever arrange
ments may be made on these two subjects, it is
expedient that they should be embraced in sep
arate conventions. The illness and death of the
late Secretary of State prevented the commence
ment of the contemplated negotiation. Pains
have been taken to collect the information re-
quired for the details OF such an arrangement
The subject is attended with considerable Diff
Guilty. II it is found practicable to come to an
agreement mutually acceptable to the two par
ties, conventions may be concluded in thecou
OF the present winter The control of Congress
over all The provisions of such an arrangement,
affecting The revenue, will of course be reserved
The affairs Of Cuba formed prominent topic
in my last annual message. They remain in an
uneasy condition, and u feeling of alarm and If
ritation on the part Of the Cuban authorities
appears to exist. This feeling has interfered
with the regular commercial intercourse be-
tween the United States and the Island, and led
to some acts of which We have right to com
plain. But the Captain General of Cuba is
clothed with no power to treat with foreign gov
ernments, nor is he in any degree under the
control of the Spanish Minister at Washington.
Any communication which be may hold with an
agent OF a foreign power is informal and matter
OF courtesy. Anxious to put an end to the ex-
listing Inconvenience, (Which seemed to rest on
a fnisconception,) | directed the newly appoint
ed Minister to Mexico to visit Havana, on his
way to Vera Cruz. He was respectfully receiv-
ed by the Captain General, who conferred with
him freely on the recent occurrences; but no
permanent arrangement was effected
3 In the mean time, the. refusal of the Captain
General to allow passengers and the mail to be
landed in certain cases, for reason which does
not furnish in the opinion of this Government
even a good presumptive ground for, such pro
hibition, has been made the subject of serious
remonstrance at Madrid; and have no reason
to doubt that due respect will be paid by the Go
'vernment of Her Catholic Majesty to the repre-
sensations which our Minister has been in
structed to make on the subject.
1t is injustice to the Captain Geeeral to add,
that his conduct towards the steamers employed |
to carry the mails of the United States to Ha-
vana has, with the exceptions above alluded to,
been marked with Kindness and iberality, and
indicates no general purpose Of interfering 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 Eng
land, 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 should seyerally and !
collectively disclaim, now and for the future all
intention to obtain possession of the Island of
Cuba, and should bind themselves to discounte-
nance ell attempts to that effect on the part of
any power, or individual whatever This invi- |
tation has been respectfully declined, for rea-
sons which it would occupy too much space in
this communication to state in DETAIL but which |
led me to think that the proposed measure would !
be of doubtful constitutionality impolitic, and
unavailing, have, however, in common with !
several Of my predecessors, directed the Minis
tiers of France and England to be assured that
the United States entertain No design against |
Cuba; but that on the contrary, should re-