Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1852-12-08
PRBS|DENT'S MESSAGE.

Gentlemen Of tie Senaie N
and House Of fRspreseatdtaues:
The brief space which has elapsed since the
close of our lastsession has been marked by no
extraordinary political event. Theq quadrepni.
al election of Chief Magistrate has passed off
with than tie usualexcaement. However
individuals and parties may have been disap-
pointed in the result, it is nevertheless Subject
Of national congratuaiion that the choice has
been effected by the Independent suhrages Of
OF free people. undisturbed by those influeh-
ces which in other countries have too often af-
fecied the putty Unpopular elections. zz-e -.
Our grateful Thanks due TO an All-mer-
ciful Providence, not only for staying the pest-
ience which ia different forms has dpsolnled
: some Of our cities but. for crownng the labors
OF The husbandman with an abundant harvest,
and the 7naiion generally with the blessing OF
.yee ~ peace aud prosperity. 3H5=s*i-. :
7c Within o. few weeks the public mind has
: been afflicted by the death Of Daiiel W ebser,
filling his abseneet'.e, office Of Secretary of
State. His associates in the executive govern
,s ment have sincerely sympathsed with his iami-
tasa slsly andihe public generally ON this monrhtu
=, ~ OCCASION lis commanding ,le,ts, his great
poll cal and professional Semneiicet his well
tried patriotism, ard his long and faithful serv-
ces in the most inporlan, public trnss. have
zs causedshis death to be lamented throughout the
couhtry ,nn1 have earned for bin lasting place
= f our history. st7}s7e ~ = -
In the course oi the last summer considefoole
anxiety was caused for shor. time by an OH
@'=4 cai in imaiion from Great Briain that orders
80 a had been given Tor the rejection of the fisher
les upon the coast Of the Bi sh Provinces in
~ 3 Moth mefica against the aliedged e7eroach-.
ments Of The fshing vessels OF the United States
md France The shorness Of this notice ana
S ihe season OF the year seemed TO make II a mat
Ter of urgent importance. 1t at fist appte-
.se hended hat an increased naval force had been
e ordered oihe fishing grounds to carry ih'o ef-
I.ct The Brit sh interpretation of those aproys-s
ions in the concentraannE Of 1918, in reference
10 The true intent Of which The two governments
differ. Ii was soon discovered that such wns
% moi the design of Gre NJ Bfiain, and sa l,acto;
Nv explanations of the real objects oil the nIeas
#,s slas have been given both here and in London
lhs unadjus: ed difference however, between
the two goyermnens,as to the Interpretation OF
the first itice of The Convention. of 1878, is
sill a matter of importance. American fishing
vessels within nine or fen years, have been ex'
cludsds from waters TO which they had free ac-
cess for twenty five years after the negotiation
of the treaty. In 1916 this exclusion was re-
laxed so far as concerns the bay of Funday but
the Just and liberal intention of the home gov
erhInen, in campinc with what We think the
true construction of the. convention, 10 open all
the outer bays TO our fishermen. was abandoned
in consequence of the opposition of athe colonies
~ Notwithstanding this the United States have
since the Bay Of Fanday was reopened 10 our
fishermen in 1S45, pursued the most liberal
course towards The colonial fishing Interests
- BY The revenue law Of l546, the duties on col
onitl fish enteiing our ports we're very greatly
e. REDUCED; and by the warehouslng act II is al,
lowed TO be entered in boEd without payment Of
duty. ! In this s~ay colonial fish has acquired
the monopoly of the export trade in our market
and is enteringo some extent into the home
consumption, These facts were among those
which increased the sensibility OF our fishing
inieres, at the moment in question
These circumstances and the incidents above
alluded TO have led me to think thefn6ment ia
vorable for reconsideration of the entire sub
jsct of The fisheries on the coast OF the British
provinces, with view 10 place them upon
more liberal footing Of reciprocal pliylleges.-
A willingness 10 meet us in some arrangement
i OF this kinds understood to exist on the part
3 of Great Britain, witha desire on her part to
include in one comprehensive settlement, as
well this subject as the commercial intercourse
between the Uned States and the British
provinces have thought that whatever ar
rangelnents may be made on these two subjects,
it is expedient thai they should be emhraced in
separate conventions. The illness and death
OF the late Secretary of State prevented the
commencement Of the contemplated negotiation,
Pains has been taken 10 collect the information
required for The details Of such arrangement.
The subject is Intended with considerable diff
Guilty. If it is found practicable 10 come To-
an agfeement mutually acceptable to the two
parties, conventions may be concluded in the
course of the presents wlniers The control Of
Congress over all the provisions of such an ar
rangament, affecting the revenue. will Of course
be reserved. . zs . sssssssx r. ID
The affars Of Cuba formed prominent topic
in my last annual message. They remain in
an uneasy condition, and feeling Of alarm and
irritation sefl the part Of Cuban authorities ap-
pear to exist. This feeling has interFered with
the regular commercial intercourse between the
United States and The Island, and led to some
acts of which we have right to, complain
But The CaptanGeneral OF Cuba is clothed with
no power 20 treat with foreign governments
nor is he 10 any degree under The control of the
Spanish Minister at Washington.
Any communication which he may hold with
IN agent Of q foreign power is informal and
matter OF courtesy. Anxious to put an end to
the existing ioconyeniences, (Which seemed to
rest on misconcepion,) directed the newly
appointed Minisier t, Mexico TO visit Havana.
on bis way To- Vera Cruz. He was respectful
ly received by The Captain General, who con-
ferred with him freely on the recent occur rens
ces; but no permanent arrangement was affect
ed zg..esz-zs y ...szt -. s.szss =
In the mean Time the refusal OF The Captain
Generalto allow passengers and a mail to be
landed in certain cases,fo a reason which does