The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1852-12-15
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
Gentlemen Of the Senate snela
and of The House Of Representatives.

/, The brief space which has elapsed since
The close Of your last session has been
marked by, no extraordinary political
svsnt., The quadrennial election Of Chief
Magistrate has passed off with less than
the usual excitement. However individ.
uals and parties may have been disappoint.
Cd in the result, il is nevertheless a subject
Of national congratulation that the choice I
has been effected by the independent sui.
fragss, Of a free people, undisturbed BY
those influences which in other countries
have too often affected tho purity Of pop
ular elections. a saB 81 s3s
Our grateful thanks are due to an ALL
merciul Providence, not only for staying
the pes,ilence, which, in different forms
has ,desolatsd some Of our cities, but for
browning the labors Of the husbandman
with an abundant harvest, and the nation
generally with blessings Of peace and
prosperity. a.e
Within few weeks the public mind has
been deeply affected BY the death Of Dan.
iel Webster, filling at his decease the Of
fee Of Secretary Of State. His associates
in the executive government have sincere.
ly sympathised with his family and the
public generally on this mournful occasion.
His commanding talents-his great polili-
cal and professional sminencs, his well
tried patriotism, and his long and faithful
services in the most important public
trusts, have caused his death to DO lament.
ed throughout the country, and have earn
ed for him a lasting place in our history.
In the course of the last summer con.
siderable anxiety was caused for short
time by an official intimation from the gov.
ernment of Great Britain that orders had
been given for the protection Of the fishe.
ries upon the coasts OF the British provinces
in North America. against the alleged en-.
croachmen,s- of the fishing vessels Of the
United States and France. The shortnsss
of this notice and the season Of the year
seemed to make it matter Of urgent i'm
portancs. ltwas at first apprehended that
an increased naval force had been order
cd to the fishing grounds to carry into Of.
feot the British Interpretation Of those pro.
visions in the convention Of 1873, in refer.
ence 10 the true intent Of which the two
governments differ. 1t was soon discov.
cred that such was 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 unadjuste6 difference, however. be.
tween the two governments as to the in.
terpretation Of the first article Of the con-
vention of 1918. is still matter Of i'm
portance. American fishing vessels within
nine or ten years have been excluded from
waters 10 which they had free access for
twenty Eve years after the negotiation Of
the treaty. In l845 this exclusion was
relaxed so tar as concerns the Bay Of Fun
dy. but the Just and liberal Interpretation
Of the Home government. in compliance
with what we think the true construction ol
the convention, to open all the outer bays
to our fishermen, was abandoned in con.
sequence Of the opposition Of the colo.
nies. Notwithstanding this. the United
States have, since the Bay Of Fundy was
reopened to our fishermen in l845. pur.
sued the most liberal course toward the
colonial fishing interests. By the revenue
law Of l846 tho duties on colonial fish
entering our ports were greatly reduced
and by the warehouse act it is allowed to
be entered without payment OF duty. In
this way colonial fish has acquired the
monopoly Of the expor, trade in our mar
ket. and is entering in some extent into
the homo consumption. These facts were
among those which increased the sens eiii
ty Of our fishing interest. al the movemen
in question.
| These circumstances and the incidents
above alluded to, have led me 10 think III,
moment favorable for reconsideration
of the entire subject Of the fisheries on thu
coasts Of the British provinces. with avisv
to place them upon more liberal footing
Of reciprocal privilege. A willingness Il
meet us in soms arrangement OF this kint
| is understood to exist, on the part Of Grea
i Britain. with desire on her part to in
clude in one comprehensive settlement. a
well This subject as, the commsrcial inter
course between the United States and tn
British, provinces have thought tina
whatever arrangements may be made oil
these two subjects, tits expedisnt that the.
should be embraced in separate convsn
tons. The illness and death Of the lat
Secretary Of State prevented the com
mencement OF the contemplated negotia
tion. Pains have been taken to collect III
information required for the details oi sue
an arrangement. The subject is attende'
!, with considerable difficulty. Ifitis foun'
practicable to como to an agreement mu
iually acceptable to the two parties, con
ventions may be concluded in the cours
Of the present winter. The control 3
d Congress over all the provisions Of sue
an arrangement, affecting the revenue, wi
! Of course be reserved.
The affairs Of Cuba formed = prominer
n topic in my last annual message. The
. remain in an uneasy condition, and . fee
! ing Of alarm and irritation on the part I
shs Cuhsn authorities anpears 10 oxis