Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1852-12-15
PRESIDE Presidents rs. Message age

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.FellolC- Citizens ofathe Senate, and Of the
House of Representatives Jio IT, n,5li
The brief space which has elapsed since
the close of your last session has been
marked by no extraordinary political
event The quadrenial election Of Chief
Magistrate has passed off with less than
the usual excitement. However individ-
uals and parties may have been disapoint-
ed in the result, it is nevertheless sub
ject of national congratulation that the
choice has been effected by the independ-
ent suffrages ofa free people, undisturbed
by those influences which in other coun-
tries have too often affected the purity of
popular elections. @ .Fa al--t
Our grateful thanks are due to an ALI
merciful Providence, not only for staying
the pestilence which in different forms has
desolated some e'of our cities, but for crown
ing the labors of the husbandman with an
abundant harvest, and the nation general
ly with the blessings of peace and prosper
ity.
Within few weeks the public mind
has been deeply affected by the death of
Daniel Webster, filing at his decease the
office of Secretary ofState. His associates
in the Executive government have sin
cerely sympathized with his family and
the public generally on this mournful oc-
casion His commanding talents. his
| great political and professional eminence,
his well-tried patriotism, and his long and
faithful services, in the most important
public trusts. have caused his death to be
iamented throughout the country, and
have earned for him lasting place in
our history.
In the course of last summer consider
able anxiety was caused for short time
by an official intimation from the govern
ment of Great Britain, that orders had
been given for the protection ofthe fisher
les pom the coasts ofthe British provinces
in North America, against the alledged
United States and France. The shortness
of this notice, and the season of the year,
seemed to make it matter of urgent i'm
portance. 1t was at first apprehended
that an increased naval force had been
! ordered to the fishing grounds to carry
into effect the British Interpretation of
those provisions in the convention of 1915,
in reference to the true intent of which
the two governments differ. It was soon
discovered that such was not the design
Of Great Britain, and satisfactory explana-
tions of the real objects of the measure
have been given both here and in Lon
don.
The unadiusted difference, however, be-
tween the two Governments as to the in
depreciation of the first article of the
convention of 1918 is still matter of I'M
portance. American fishing vessels, with
in nine or ten years, have been excluded
from waters to which they had free access
for twenty-five years after the negotiation
of the treaty In 1845 this exclusion was
relaxed so far as concerns the Bay of
Fundv, 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 outer bays
to our fishermen, was abandoned, in con-
sequence of the opposition of the colo
nies.
Notwithstanding this, the United States
have, since the Bay of Fundy was re-
opened to our fishermen in 1845, pursued
the most liberal course toward the colo
nial fishing interests. By the revenue law
of 1916, the duties on 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 colonial fish has ac-
quired the monopoly of the export trade
in our market, and is entering to some ex-
tent into our home consumption. These
facts were among those which increased
the sensibility of our fishing interest, at
the movement in question.
These circumstances and the incidents
above alluded to have led me to think
the moment favorable for q .reconsidera-
tion of the entire subject of the fisheries
on the British provinces, with view to
place them upon a more liberal footing of
reciprocal 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 in
clude in one comprehensive settlement, as
we'll this subject as the commercial inter
course between the United States and the
British Provinces. have thought that
whatever arrangements may be made on
these two subjects, it is expedient that
they should be embraced in seperatc con-
Yentions.
The illness and death Of the late Secre-
tary Of State prevented the commence
ment of the contemplated negotiation
Pains have been taken to collect the in
formation required for the details of such
an arrangement. The subject is attend
ed with considerable difficulty. IF it is
found practicable to come to an agreement
mutually acceptable to the two parties.
conventions 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 reve-
nue., will Of course, be reserved.
The affairs of Cuba formed Appointment
topic in my last annual message. They