The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1852-12-08
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Fllae eitisrns IF the Senate and

# The House Of Representatives. /:
The brief space which has elapsed
since the close of your last session has
been marked by no extraordinary po-
litical event. The quadrcnnial cleo
ton of Chief Ma sistratc has passed of
with less than usual excitement. How
ever individuals and parties may have
been disappointed i'll the result, it is
nevertheless subject of national con.
graduation that the choice has been
effected by the Independent suffrages
of free people, undisturbcd by those
influences which in other countries
have too often affected the purity Of
popular elections.
Our grateful thanks are due to an
All-mcrciful Providence, not only for
staying the pestilence which in differ
cnt forms has dcsola'cd some of our
cities, but for browning the labors OF
the husbandman with AN abundant har
vest, and the nation generally with the
blessings Of peace aud prosperity.
Within a few weeks the public mind
has been deeply affected by the death
of Daniel Webster, filling at his de-
cease the Office of Secretary of State
Ills associates in the Executive govern.
mcnt have sincerely sympathized with
his family and the public generally on
this mournful occasion. His command.
ing talents, his great political and pro-
fcssional emineuce, his well tried pat
riotism. and his long and faithful ser
vices, in the most important public
trusts, have caused his death to be la
mcntcd throughout the country, and
have earned for him lasting place in
our history.
In the course of the last summer
considerable anxiety was caused for a
short time by all official intimation from
the government Of Great Britain that
orders had been given for the protec-
ton Of the fisheries upon the coasts
OF the British provinces in North
America against the alleged cncroach-
ments Of the fishing vessels of the
United States and France. The short.
ness of this notice and the season Of
the year seemed to make it a matter
OF urgent Importance. 1t was at first ap-
pretended that an increased naval force
lad been ordered to the fishing grounds
to carry into effect the British inter-
probation of those provisions in the con
vention of 1918, in reference to the
true intent Of which the two govern
mcnts differ. 1t was soon discovered
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 unadjusted difference, however.
between the two governments as to the
Interpretation OF the first article of
the convention Of 1918 is still mat.
ter Of Importance. American fishing
vessels within nlne or ten years have
been excluded from waters to which
they had free access for twenty-five
years after the negotiation Of the trea
t.. In 1915 this exclusion was relax
Ell so far as concerns the Bay of Fun
; dy, but the just and liberal intention
OF the Home government, in compli-
cnce with what We think the true con
struction Of the convention. to open all
the other outer bays to our fishermen
was abandoned, in consequence of the
opposition Of the colonies. Notwith
standing this, the United States have
since the Bay Of Fundy was reopcned
to our fishermen in 1915, pursued the
most liberal course towards the colo
NAL fishing interests. BY the revenue
law of 1916, the duties on colonial fish
entering our ports were very greatly
reduced, and by the warchousing act
it is allowed to be entered in bond with
out payment Of duty. In this way
colonial fish has acquired the monopol,
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 SEN
sibility of our fishing interest, at the
movement in question.
These circumstances and the incl
dents above alluded to have led me to
think the moment favorable for a re-
consideration Of the entire subject Of
the fisheries Oh the coasts of the Brit.
ish provinces, with view to place them
upon more liberal footing of recipro-
cal privilege. A willingness to meet us
IN some arrangement Of this kind is
understood to exist, on the part OF
Great Britain, with a desire on her
part to include in one comprehensive
settlement, as well this subject as the
commercial intercourse between the
United States and the British provin-
ces. | have thought that whatever
arrangements may be made on these
two subjects, it is expedient that they
should be embraced in separate con-
ventions. The illness and death of the
late Secretary of State prevented the
commencement of the conteml lated
negotiation. Pains have been taken
to collect the information required for
the details of such an arrangement.
The subject is attended with consid.
cradle difficulty. If it is found prac-
tlcable to come to an agreement mutu-
ally acceptable to the two parties, con,
ventions may be concluded in the
course of the present winter. The