Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1852-12-07
pRHs1pnNTs A1EssAGR 3
Fslis.. eitisen. q q. Sand

ton Of Chief Magistrate has pissed OF with less
tthsn the usual excitement. However individuals
and parties have been disappointed in the RESULT
nisueVertheless subject ofinational congratuls-
ton that the choice has been effected by the indie
pendent suftageS Of a free people, undistuTbed by
those influences which in o:her counties have TOO
often affected the purity Of popular elections.
Our grateful thanks are due TO an All-merciIul
Providence, not only for staying the pestilence
'Rkiehin different forms hes desolated some of our
GitSs, but for GROWING the labop Of the husband
=nanaEiEh an abundant harvest, aud the nation gen.
sally With the blessings ofpeaee and prosperity.
Within few weeks the public mind has been
deeply affected by the death Of Daniel Webster,
flinE at his deceaSe the Office of Secretary Of State.
His associates in the Executive government have
sincerely synpathized with his family and the pub
lie generally on this mOurnful occasion. His CON-
handing talents his great political and professional
eminence, his WelI-tTied patriotism, and his long
and faithful services, in the most important public
trusts, have caused his death to be lamented thro'
cut the county, and have earned for him lasting
place in our history
1nthe course Of the last summer considerable anx-
iety caused for a short time by an official init
NATION ,fron the government Of Great Britain that
orders had been given for the protection of the fish
efieS upon the coasts Of tue British provinces in
North America against the alleged entertainments
q. Of the fishing vessels Of the United States and
FsRee. The ShortnesS Of this notice and the sea-
-son Of the year seemed TO make It matter of uT-
gent importance. ItWas at filst apprehended that
an increased naval fjrce had been ordered to the
fishing grounds to carry into effect the British
Interpretation Of those provisions in the convention
of 1875 in reference to the true intent of which the
two governments 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 Lon
e don.
The unadjuSted difference, however, between
the two governments TO the Interpretation of the
frSt article of the convention of 1918 Is still mat
ter ofimportance. American fishing vessels with
in nine or ten years have been excluded from wa
tiers to which they had free access for twenty-five
years after the negotiation of the treaty, In 1S46
this exclusion was relaxed so far as concerns the
Bay Of Fundy, but the just and liberal intention of
the Home government, in compliance with what we
think the true construction Of the convention, to
open all the outer bays 10 our fishermen was aban-
doned, in consequence ofthe opposition of the COL
onies- Notwithstanding this, the United States
have, since the Bay Of Pundy was reopened to our
fishermen in 1S45, pursued the most liberal course
toward the colonial fishing interests BY the reve-
nue. law OF 1876, the duties colonial fish enter.
ing our ports were very greatly reduced and by the
Warehousing act it IS allowed to be entered in bond
without payment of duty. In this way ccl-nial
fish haS acquired the monopoly of the export trade
IN our market, and is entering to some extent into
the home Of consumption. These iacts were among
those hich increased the senSbility of our fishing
interest, ct the movement in question.
These circumstances and the incidents above
alluded to have led me to think the moment faYnra-
BILE for reconsideration Of the entire subject ofthe
fisheries onthe coast Of the British provinces with
Nl6h V pldC6 b0Su upon more liberal footing
ofTsciprocal privilege. A willingness to meet US
In some arrangement Of this kind IS understood to
exist on the part of Great Britain, with desire on
part to include IN one comprehensive settlement
asWeu this subject as the commercial intercourse
between the United States and the British pro-
VineeS. l have thought that, whatever arran-
geuaents may be made on these two subjects il IS
s1peient that they shout be embraced inr separate
conventions. The illness and death of the late
Secretary Of State prevented the commencement
Of the contemplated negotiation. Pains have been
taken to collect the information required by the
dstal Of such IN arrangement. The subject is at
tended with cOnSiderab difficulty. If il is found
practicable 10 come TO an agreement mutually ac-
ceptable to the two parties conventions may be
concluded in the course of the present winter
The control Of CongreSS over all the provisions of
such an arrangement, affecting the revenue, will
Of eouTSe be reserved.
The Affairs of Cuba formed prominent tonic in
my last annual message. They remain in an un-
easy condition, and feeling OF alarm and irrita-
lion on part the Cuban authorities appears
70 exist. This feeling has interfeIed with the re-
gular commercial intercourse between the United
States and the island and led to some acts of which
We have night to complain. But the Captain
9ensIal Of Cuba i clothed with no power to treat
with toEeign Governments, nor is he, in any degTee
under the control OF the Spanish Minister at
Washington. Amy communication which he
may hold with an agent of a foreign power is
informal and matter Of courtesy. Anxious to
put an end 10 the existing inconvenience,
(Which seemed to rest on a misconception), |
directed the newly appointed Minister to Mexico
TO visit Havana, on his way to Vera Cruz. He was
Iespeeh9lly received by the Captain General who
conferred with him freely on the recent occur
Iencesi but no permanent arrangement was eff
fscted.
In the meantime, the refusal Of the Captain Cen
GIai 70 allow passengers and the mail TO be landed
In certain cases, for reason which does not fur
yntsh, IN the opinion of the Government, even a
good preSumptive ground for such prohibition has
been made the subject of a serious remonstrance
at Madrid; and have no reason to doubt that du.
respect will be paid, by the Government Of Her
catholic Majesty, to the representations which our
Minister has been instructed to make on the sub
jeet.
It is but justice to the Captain General to add
that his conduct toward the cleaners EMPLOYED to
eany the mails of the United States to Havana
has, with the exceptions above alluded to, been
marked with kindness and liberaIity and indicates
no general purpose Of interfering with the com
meroial correspondence and intercourse between
the island and this country.
Early in the PIesen year official noIes were re-
ceiyed from the Ministers Of France and England,
Inviting the Government of the United States to be-
come party with Great Britain aud France to a
tpartite Convention, in virtue of which the three
powers should seyerally and collectively disclaim,
now and for the future allintentions to obtain pos
session Of the Island of Cuba, and should bind
themselves to discountenance all attempts to that
effect on the part ofany poweror individual what
ever. This invitation has been respectfully de.
cline ,foEreaSonS which it would occupy too much
space in this communication to state in detail but
which led me to think that the proposed measure
would be ofdoubful consiiutionaIity impoIitic and
unAyaiIing. have, however. in common with
several my predecessors, directed the Ministers
Of France and England to be assured that the Uni-
ted States entertain no design against Cuba; but
that on the contrary, should regard its incorpor-
alton into the Union at the present time as fraught
with serious evilE
Were this island comparatively destitute in
habitantG, occupied by a kindred race, should
regard IT, if voluntarily ceded by SPAIN, as most
aeSrnble acquisition. But under existing circum-
stances, should look upon its incorporation into
our Union as q very hazardous measure. Itwould |
IHPE into the ConfedeEscy a population of a diff