Columbus Democrat. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-18??, 1852-12-18
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Fellow-citizens Of tie Senate

and of the House Of Representatives.:
The brief space which has elapsed since the close
of your last session has been marked by no ex.
traordinary political event. The quadrennial
election of Chief Magistrate has passed off with
less than the usual excitement. However indi-
yiduals and parties may have been disappointed
inthe result, it is nevertheless subject of nation
al concratulation that the choice has been effected
by the Independent suffrages of free people, un-
disturbed by those influences which in other
countries have too often affected the purity of pop
uar elections.
Our grateful thanks are due to an All-merciful
Providence, not only for staying the pestilence
which in different forms has desoated some of
our cities, but for crownng the abors of the hus-
bandman with an abundant harvest, and the ma
ton 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,
filling at his decease the office of Secretary of
State His associates in the Executive govern
ment have sincerely sympathized with his family
and the public generally ON this mournfu occa-
SION His commanding talents, his great polit-
cal and professional eminence his well-tried pa
trotism and his long and faithful services, in the
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
anxiety was caused for short time by official
intimation from the government of Great Britain
that orders had been given for the protection of
the fisheries upon the coasts of the British provin-
cesin North America against the alleged encroach-
ments of the fishing vessels of the United States
and France. The shortness of this notice and the
season of the year seemed to make it a matter of
urgent importance 1t was at first apprehended
that an increased naval force had been ordered to
the fishing grounds to carry into effect the British
Interpretation of those provisions in the conven-
ton of 1873 in reference to the true intent OF
which the two governments differ. 1t was soon
discovered that such was not the design of Great
Britain, and satisfactory explanation of the real
objects of the measure have been given both here
and in London.
The unadiusted difference however, between
the 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 for twenty
five years after the negotiation of the treaty. In
ls45 this exclusion was relaxed so far as con-
Germs the Bay of Fundy, but the just and
liberal intention of the Home government in
compliance with what we think the true eonstruc-
on Of the convention, to open all the other outer
bays to our fishermen, was abandoned in oonse
quence of the opposition of the colonies Not
withstanding this the United States have, since
the Bay of Funday was re-opened to our fisher
men in 1s45, pursued the most liberal course to-
wards the colonial fishing interests BY the reve-
rue law of 1916, the duties on colonial fish enter
ing our ports were very greatly reduced, and by
the warehousing act it is allowed to be entered in
bond without 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 are among those which increased the sensi-
bility of fishing interest at the movements in
question.
These circumstances and the incidents above
alluded to have led me TO think the moment favor
able for reconsideration of the entire subject of
the fisheries on the coasts of the British provinces
with view to putting them on more liberal
footing Of reciprocal privilege. A willingness to
meet US in some arrangement of this kind is un-
derstood TO exist on the part of Great Britain.
with desire on her part to include in one CON-
prehensiye settlement, as well this subject as the
and the British provinces. have thought that
whatever arrangements may be made on these
two subjects, it is exredient that they should be
embraced in separate conventions. The illness and
death Of the late Secretary Of State prevented the
commencement Of the contemplated negotiation.
Pains havs been taken to collect the information
required for the detail of such an arrangement
The subject is attended with considerable Difficult
ty. If it is found practicable to come to an agree
ment mutually acceptable to the two parties, I
conventions may be concluded in the course 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 fesling Of alarm and ir-
ritaton on the part Of the Cuban authorities ap-
pears to exist. This feeling has interfered with /
the regular commercial intercourse between the
United States and the island, and led 10 soms acts
Of which we have right to complain. But the
Captain General Of Cuba Is clothed with no pow
er TO treat with foreign governments. nor Is he in