Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1852-12-09
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

Il ncDFete1tQttIfSs
The brief space which has elapsed since the close Of
your last has been marked by extraordinary
political event. The qasdrsnnial election Of Chief
Magistrate has passed of With less than the usual OK
citement. However individuals and parties may have
been disappointed in the result nevertheless sub
ject Of national oongratnaton that the chsce has been
elected by the independent sufrages OF free people,
undlsurbed by those nasnces which in other countries
have often affected the purity Of popular elections
Our grateful thanks due to A-merciful Provi.
dence, not only for staying the pestlence which in DIFF
crownng the labors II the hasbaadman with abun-
dant harvest and the nation generally with the bless
lings OF peace and prosperity
| Within a few weeks the public mind has bsen deeply
affected By The death Of Daniel Webster, filing at his
decease the Office OF Secretary of sate His
In the Executive have sincerely sympathz
ed with his family and the public generally on this
mournlal occasion His commanding talents, his great
political and professional eminence bis weltried patri
osm asd his long and faithful services, in the i'm
portant public trusts, have caused his death to be la
msnted throughout tho country and have earned him
lasting place In cur history.
Ia the course Of the last summer considerable anxiety
was caused for short time By official intmation
from the government of Great Britain that orders had
been given Tor the protection Of the fisheries upon the
of the British provinces North America against
the aedged sncroschmens oil the fishing vessels OF the
United States and France. The shortness Of this
tce and the OF the year seemed to make it mat
ter OF urgent Importance. Ii 1rst apprehendcd
that increased naval force had been ordered the
fishing grounds TO carry into effect The British nerpre-
reference 10 the intent Of which the govern
ments differ. IL soon discovered that such
the design of Great Braia, and satisfactory explana-
tions objebts been given
| both here aud in London.
The unadjusted difference however, between the two
as TO the Interpretation Of the nrst article
Of the convention Of 1918 still matter Of Importance
American fishing vessels within yenrs have
been excluded from 9 which they had free
for twenty-five years after the negotiation OF the
treaty. In lS45 this exclusion relaxed far as
he Ray of but he US in
tention of the Home government, in compliance with
what think the trno construction oil the convention TO
open all the other bays fishermen,
abandoned in consequence of the opposition OF the col
onies. Notwithstanding this, the United States have
since the Bay Of Fuady re-opened fishermen
in 1885, pursued the liberal the colo
NAL fishing Interest," By the revenue law OF 1876, the
duties colonial fish entering ports very
greatly reduced and by the warshousns act it is al
lowed to lie entered in bond without payment Of duty
In this way colonial tsh has acquired the monopoly
Of the export trade in Market and is entering
some extent into the home consumption These facts
among those which Increased the sensibty OF our
fishing interest, at the movement In question.
These circumstances and the Incidents above alluded
to have led me think the ent favorable for
consideration Of the entire subject Of the fisheries on tho
BRITISH Pross1ees with view to place them %RGn
ness TO meet IN arrangement OF this kind IS un
derstood to exist, onthe part of Great Britain, with
desire her part include in comprehensive set
Element, as well this subject the commercial inter-
between the United States and the British pro-
vinces. have thought that whatever arrangements
may be made these two subjects, il is expedl-
that they should be embraced separate conven
tons The lines. aud death of the late Secretary Of
State prevented the commencement of the contemplated
negotiation Pains have been taken collect the IN
formation required for the details OF such arrange
nsent The subject is attended with considerable di-
Guilty If is found practicable to to an agree
ment mutually acceptable to the two parties conven-
tons may be concluded in the Of the present
winter. The control OF Congress over all the provis.
OF course be reserved.
The affairs Of Cuba, formed prominent topic in my
last annual message, They remain in uneasy condi
ton, and feeling oE alarm and rritaan the part oil
the Cuban authorities appears exist. This ieelng
has ntsrfersd with the regular commercial intercourse
between the United States and the Island and led TO
acts of which have a right complain But the
Captain General of Cuba clothed with no power to
treat with foreign governments is he IN any degree
under the control Of the Spanish Minister at Washing
ton. Any comm unication which he may hold with an
agent Of foreign power is informal and matter oil
courtesy Anxious to put end to the existing incon
venences, (Which seemed to upon msconeePton)
directed the newy-appolnted Minister TO Mexico TO
visit Havana, his way Vera Cruz. He was re-
specially received by the Captain General who con-
erred with him freely the recent occurrences; but no
permanent arrangement was effected.
In the meantime the refusal of the Captain General
allow passengers and the mail to be landed In certain
cases. for which does not furnish in the opinion
of this Government even good presumpve ground Tor
such prohibition has been made the subject oil serious
4 MadrId
due respect will be paid by the government of Her
Catholic Majesty the representations which our Min
ster has been instructed to make on the subject
1t but justice the Capitals General to add, that
his conduct toward the steamers employed 10 carry ne
mails of the United States Havana has wilh the ex
ceptious above alluded to- been marked with kindness
and berality, and indicates no general purpose oil In
erering with the commercial correspondence and In
tercourse 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 ripartte Convsn-
ton virtue of which the three powers should sever
ally and collectively discIam, and for the uture
all intention obtain possession of the Island OF
Cuba and should bind themselves discontenance all
attempts that effect the part OF any power or nd
vidna whatever This invitation has been respectfully
declined, for reasons which 1t would occupy too mecn
space in this communication To state aeta but whcn
led 10 think that the proposed measure would he oil
doubtful constitutonality, impoltc, and unavaing
have, however in common with several oil my Prede.
cessors directed the Ministers oil France and England
to be- assured that the United States entertain no de-
signs against Cuba; but that, the contrary should
regard its Incorporation into the Union at the present
time Taught with serious peril.
Were this Island mparatively destitute of inhab
tants occupied by kindred race, should regard it,
il voluntarily ceded by Spain, most desirable &C.
QUESTION. But under existing circumstances, should
lock uPonts Incorporation INTO our Union very haz
ardous II would bring into the Conederacy
a population OF different national stock speaking a
different language and not likely TO harmonze with the
other members. IL would probably affect in preIudl-
cial manner the Industrial interests oil the South and
il might revive those conflicts OF opinion between the
different sections Of country, which lately shook
the Union its center, and which have been so hapPi
ly compromised. ~
The rejection Of the Mexican Congress Of the Con.
vention which had been concluded between that Repub
lie and the United States for the protection oil tran
way the Isthmas OF rehuanepeo and Of the
Of these citizens of tho United States who had
become propretors OF tho rights which Mexico had con-
ferred one of her citizens in regard to that