The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1852-12-15

consequence VI tlc opposition OF the colo
nies. Notwithstanding this, the United
States have, since the Bay of Fundy was
reopened to our fishermen in lS45, pur-
sued the most liberal course toward the
colonial fishing interests. BY the revenue
law OF 1916. the duties on colonial fish en-
terlng our ports were very greatly reduc-
ed, and by the warehousing act, it is al
lowed to be entered in bond without pay
ment 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.
| lhesc facts were among those which in
creased the sensibity of our fishing in
terest, at the movement in question.
These circumstances and the incidents
| above alluded to have led me to think the
moment favorable for reconsideration of
the entire subject of the fshcrie, on the
coats of the British provinces, with q view
to place them upon y more liberal footing
of reciprocal privilege. a willingness to
meet It's in some arrangement of this kind
Is understood to exist, on the part of Great
britain, with 4 desire on her part to in
cIudc in one comprehensive settlement rs
well this subject as the commercial inter
course between the United States and the
British provinces. ! have thought that
whatever arrangements may lie made
on these two subjects, it is cxpcdicnt that
they should be embraced in separate con.
ventons. The illness and death of the
late Secretary of State prevented the com
mcncement of the contemplated ncgotia-
ton. Pains have been taken TO collect
the information required for tn, details of
such an arrangement. The subject is at
tended with considerable difficulty. fit
Is found practicable to come to an agree.
ment mutually acceptable to the two par
ties, convention may be concluded in the
course of the present winter The con-
troll OF Congress over all the provisions of
such an arrangement, affecting the rcye-
nue. will OF course be reserved
The affairs Of Cuba formed n prominent
topic in my last annual message. They
remain in an uneasy condition, and feel
inS ofalarm and irritation on the part of
the Cuban authorities appears to exist.
This feeling has nterlcrred with the rcpu
lar commercial Intercourse between the
United States and the Island, aud led TO
| some acts of which we have right to
complain. But tho Captain General of
Cuba is clothed with no power to treat
with foreign governments. nor is he in
any degree under the control of the Span
ish Minister at Washington. ANY coin
muuicatiou which he may ho'd with an
agent Of - foreign power is informed ami
matter ot courles,. Anxious 'a v.. ao
md 70 the existing iuyow,u'"nccs, ,wh1rH
SCENE! 10 r"st ON '1.courcptinuO | ,lj-
rcctei the newly appointed Minister to
Mexico, to visit Havana, on bis way TO
| Ve.a Cruz. lIo was respectfully received
by the Captsin General, who conferred
with him freely on the recent occurrences:
but no permanent arrangement was cifcc-
ted.
In the mean time, the refusal of the
! Captain General to allow passengers and
| the mail to be landed in certain cases. for
"A reason which does not furnish in the
| opinion of this Government even q good
presumptivc ground for such prohibition
has been made the subject of serious
rcmonstrancc at Madrid; and have no
reason to doubt that due respect will be
paid by the government OF Her Catholic
Mcjcsty TO the representations which our
| Minister has been instructed to make on
the subject.
1t is but justice to the Captain General
to add, that his conduct toward the stea
mers employed to carry the mails of the
| United States to Havana has, with the
exceptions above alluded to, been marked
with kindness and liberaity, and indicates
no general purpose of interfering with the
commercial correspondence and inter
course between the Island and this coun-
| try.
Early in the present year official notes
were received from the Ministers of France
aud England, 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 severally and collectively
disclaim, now and for the future, all inten-
ton to obtain possession Of the Island of
Cuba, aud should bind themselves to dis
contcnauce all attempts to shat eject OH
the part OF any power or individual what
evcr.--This invitation has been respectful
| ly declined, for reasons which it would
occupy too much space in this communi-
cation TO state in detail, but which led me
to think that the proposed measure would
be Of doubtful constitu.ionality, impolitic,
and unayailing. have, however, in COM
mon with several Of my predecessors, di-
rected the Ministers Of France anu Eng
land TO be assured that the United States
entertain no designs against Cuba; bnt
that, on the contrary, should regardits
incorporation into the Union at the pres
ent time as fraught with serious peril
Were this island comparatively desti-
tute Of inhabitants, or occupied by kin
drcd race, should regard it, II voluntari-
| lv ceeded hv Snain. rs q most desirnhle