Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1852-12-18

Fellosc Citizens Of Me Senate
and NDnSp uf RenrpseHi0iirpS .

HHu AAHSf y hetHEAtHuEttES.
The brief space which has elapsed since the
close Of your last session has been marked by
, no extraordinary political event. The qnnd
renniaI election Of Chief Magistrate has pa~~c,
off with less than the usual excitement. How.
ever individuals and parties may have been dis.
appointed in the result, it is nevertheless q
subject of national congfatulation that the
choice has been effected by the independent
sutlragcs Of free people, undisturbed by
those Influences which in other countries have
too often affected the purity Of popular clec-
tions.
Our great thanks are due 10 an AIl-merciful
Providence, not only for staying The pesti 'encc
which in different forms hus desc oated some OF
our cities, but for crowning the labors of the
husbandman with an abundant harvest, and the
nation generally with the blessings Of peace
and prosperity.
Within few weeks the public mind has
been deeply affected by the death Of Daniel
Webster, filing al his decease the Office of See
retary of State. His associates in the Execu-
tive Government have sincerely sympathzed
with his family and the public generally on this
mourntul occasion. His commanding talents,
his great political and professional emnence,
his welI-tried PATRIOTISM and his long and faith
ful services, in the most important public trusts,
have caused his death to be lamented through
out the country, and have earned for him Il
lasting place in our history.
nthe course of the last summer consilera-
BILE anxiety was caused for short time by an
official inimation from the Government of
Great Britain that orders had been given for
the protection Of the fisheries upon the coasts
Of the British provinces in North America
against the alleged encroachments of the fish,
ING vessels of the United States and France.
The shortness of this notice, and the season Of
the year, seemed to make it matter Of urgent
importance. 1t was at first apprehended that
an incre ased naval force had been ordered to
the fishing grounds to carry into effect the Bri-
tsh Interpretation Of those provisions in the
convention of 1918, in reference to the true
intent of which The tw" governments differ
tt was soon ascertained that such was not the
design of Great Britain, and satisfactory expla-
nations Of the real objects Of the measure have
been given both here and in London.
The unadiusted difference, however, between
the Two governments as to The Interpretation
of The first article of the convention of 1918
is still matter Of importance. American tlsn-
ing vessels within nine or ten years have been
excluded from waters to which they had free
access for twenty-five years after the negotia-
ton of the treaty. In lS45 this exclusion was
relaxed so far as concerns the Bay of Fundy,
but the just and liberal intention of the Home
government n compliance with what we think
the true construction of The convention, TO
open all the other bays to our fishermen, was
abandoned in consequence of the opposition of
the colonies. Notwithstanding this, the United
States have, since the Bay of Fundy was re-
opened to our fishermen in 1915, pursued the
most liberal course toward the colonial fishing
interests. BY the revenue law OF 1916, the
duties on colonial fish entering our ports were
very greatly reduced, and by the warehousing
act it is allowed to be entered in bond without
the 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 were
among those which increased the sensibility of
our fishing interest, at the movement in ques-
ton.
These circumstances and incidents above al
luded 10 have led me to think the moment ta-
yorabie for & reconsideration of the entire SUBJ
ject of the fisheries on the coasts of the British
provinces, with a view to place them upon
more liberal footing Of reciprocal privilege.
willingness to meet US in some arrangement OF
this kind is understood to exist, on the part of
Great Britain, with q desire on her part to in
clude in ore comprehensive settlement, as well
this subject as the commercial intercourse be-
tween the United States and the British provn-
ces. have thought that whatever arrange
ments may be made on these subjects, it is ex-
pcdient that they should be embraced in separ-
ate conventions. The illness and death of the
late Secretary of State prevented the com
mencement of the contemplated negotiation.
Pains have been taken to collect the informa-
ton required for the details of such an ar-
rangement. The subject is attended with con-
siderable difficulty. If it is found practicable
to come to an agreement mutually acceptable
to the two parties, conventions may he concIu
dcd in the course of the present winter. Tie
control of Congress over all the provisions of
such an arrangement, affecting the revenue,
will of course be reserved.
The affairs of Cuba formed u prominent to-
pic in my last annual message. They remain
in an uneasy condition, and a feeling of alarm
and irritation on the part of the Cuban auho-
rites appears to exist. This feeling has inter-
fered with the regular commercial intercourse
between the United States and the Island, and
led 10 some acts of which we have 4 right to
But the Captain General of Cuba
is clothed with no power to treat with foreign
governments, nor is he in any degree under The
control Of tbe Spanish Minister at Washington.
Any communication which he may hold with
an agent of \ foreign power is informal and
matter of courtesy. Anxious to put an end
to the existing Inconvenience, (Which seemed
TO resi- on misconception,) directed the new
ly appointed Minister to Mexico to visit Hava-
ma, ON his ayto Vera Cruz. He was respect.
fully received by the Captain General, who
conferred with him freely on the recent occur
renee; but no permanent arrangement was ef-
fected.
In the mean time, the refusal of the Captain
General to allow passengers and mail to be land
ed in certain cases, for reason which does not
furnish in the opinion Of this Government even
Il