The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-12-09
No. 80.
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
.;,,-sns of The Senate

~ M
close " l.,ndnarv political event. The quadren-
DO inct;on of Chief Magistrate has passed on
~. :,b les than the usual excitement, however
s, %Tr;duals and parties may have been oltaP p,
p1ntod in the result it is nevertheless su"leos
PSCSotoual congratulation that the choiee mas
a. Elected by the independent surfaces VI .
Dec" Oeonle undisturbed by those influences
nv TIL in other countries have too often aneo'-
o VI the purity OF popular elections.
I'd ~. l,~atcful thanks are due to an All-mer-
~, U'i pr1v;dence, not only for staying the pesti
eau, wbicb in different forms has desolated
Fn'O &C our cities. but for browning the iaoors
Su' L,.handman with an abundant harvest,
va A. ,be Nation generally with the blessings oil
rsace and prosperity, III. .,;,a has
Joenlv affected by the death OF Daniel
w T'I filing at his decease the office OF Sec
w., oc State. His associates in the Execu.
rl~ covernment have sincerely sympathizeu
Nv his family and the public generally on
W. r,ournful occasion. His commanding tai
,"ts his great political and professional emln,
.aca his well-tried patriotism, and his long anu
e:,hGIl services in the most important pupic
.-.s,s have caused his death to be lamented
u.orrbout the country, aud have earned Tor
-, lasting place in our history.
n'I \, tho course of the last summer, consider
,i,onvietv was caused for short time by an
G,oI ;ntimation from the Government OF
V rloot Britain that orders had been given for
u, nrotection of the fisheries upon the coasts
,bo British provinces in North America
ss.us, the alleged encroachments OF the fish-
=, yossels of the United States and France.
IT, sbortness Of this notice, and the season OF
a.. year. seemed to make it matter of urgent
@rcrtanee.- IL was at first appreheDded that
% increased naval force had been ordered to
gs fishing grounds TO carry into effect the Brit
i, INTERPRETATION of those provisions in the con-
,ootion of 1918, in reference to the true intent
- which the two Governments differ IL was
s,oo discovered that such was not the design
cf Great Britain, and satisfactory explanations
az the real objects of the measure have been
oven both here and in London.
The unadiusted difference, however, between
tba two Governments, rs to the Interpretation
of The first article of the convention of 1918,
i sill 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 ne
gOuatOn of the treaty. In lS45 this exclusion
wa, relaxed so far as concerns the Bay of Fun
a, but the Just and liberal intention of the
Home Government in compliance with what
We think the true construction of the conyen-
too to open all the outer bays to our fisher
men was abandoned, in consequence of the
opposition of the Colonies. Notwithstanding
this the United States have, since the Bay of
Elndy was re-opened to our fishermen in
1916, pursued the most liberal course toward
the colonial fishing interests. By the revenue
aw 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 en-
tered in bond without payment of duty. In
this way colonial fish has acquired the monop-
DIV of the export trade in our market and is
entering to some extent into the home con-
SUMPTION These facts were among those
which increased the sensibility of our fishing
interest at the movement in question.
These circumstances and the incidents above
alluded TO- have led me to think the moment
favorable for "a reconsideration of the entire
subject of the fisheries on the coasts of the
British provinces, with a view to place them
upon more liberal footing of reciprocal privi-
ese willingness to meet us in some ar
raDgement of this kind is understood to exist,
60 the part of Great Britain, with desire on
her part to include in one comprehensive set
tement, as well this subject as the commercial
intercourse between the United States and the
British Provinces. have thought that what
ever arrangements may be made on these two
subjects, it is expedient that they should be
embraced in separate conventions The illness
and dea;h of the late Secretary of State pre-
vented the commencement of the contemplated
negotiation. Pains have been taken to collect
The information required for the details of such
NJ arrangement. The subject is attended with
Considerable difficulty. If it is found practica-
Die u come to an agreement mutually ac-
ceptabie to the two parties, conventions may
be conclu1ed in the course of the present win
ti The control of Congress over all the pro-
hons OF such an arrangement affecting the
Ie'enue will Of course be reserved
The affairs of Cuba formed prominent topic
ID my last annual message. They remain in
40 uneasy condition, and feeling of alarm and
irritation 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
ed to some acts of which we have a right to
mPlain, But the Captain General Of Cuba
clothed with no power TO treat with foreign
governments nor is he in any degree under
ne control OF the Spanish Minister at Wash
7lon. Any communication which he may
30 with an agent of foreign power is in
'nal, and matter of courtesy. Anxious to
d an end to the existing Inconvenience,
shch seemed to rest on a misconception,)
lected the newly-appointed Minister to Mex
To visit Havana, on his way to Vera Cruz.
was respectfully received by the Captain
eneral, who conferred with him freely ON the
cent occurrences but no permanent arrange.
bent was effected.
IN the mean time, the refusal of the Captain
neral to allow passengers and the mail to be
"aed IN certain cases, for a reason which
"' not furnish in the opinion of this Govern
eh' even good presumptve ground for such
IGoh'o'non, has been made the subject of
nous remembrance at Madrid; and | have
!1aS"n 10 'oubt that due respect will be paid
'ne Government Of her Catholic Majesty 10
representations which our Minister has
e" Instructed TO make on the subject
II 10 but Justice to the Canta;n General IN
d that his conduct toward the steamers ON.
yea to carry the mails of the United States
',''i'a mas with the exceptions above allu-
!" peeh marked with kindness and liber-
ana indicates no general purpose of in
,T:lns win the commercial correspondence
'aa intercourse between the island and this
antry '''''
~? a'g III the present year. official notes were
,J.ru from the Ministers Of France and
e'"d' inviting the Government of the Uni
a.I - W become party with Great Brit
ana France to tripartite convention, in
NJ ,% o which the three powers should sever
anu collectively disclaim, now and for the
,a al Intention to obtain possession of the
'ul VI Cuba, and should bind themselves to
s'.. all attempts to that effect on
Ptr' OF any Power or individual whatever
INVITATION has been respectfully declined,
u. ''asons which it would occupy too much
10 Tins communication to state in detail,
Nnich led me to think that the proposed