Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-12-11
WASHINGTON.
" Liberty and Union, now and forever, one and
tnseparable.D
SATURDAY, DECEMBER ii, 1852.
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

II We nave READ through, with unmlxed feelings o
qualification the Message which was on Monda,
transmitted to Congress by the President of tn
United States in the execution Of his constitutions
duty, and which occupies due place in our columns
to-day. Seldom have we met with State Pape
combining, SO admirably as it does, valuable infor
nation as well of the state Of our Foreign Relations
as of our Domestic Interests, with wise recommen
datons in regard to both, and uniting withal the
soundest views of the true interests of our OWL
People, and of the mission of this Government
upon earth.
Recommending most heartily to our reader te
peruse with his whole attention every line of the
Message, shall confne ourselves for the present
to very brief notice of such parts of it as have
most particularly impressed us in the reading.
The sentiments with which the Message opens
as to the result of the Presidential Election to the
blessings which Providence has showered upon us
as People, and to the loss which the Nation has
sustained in the death of Mr.. WEBSTER are such
as worthy Of the occasion, and expressed in
a manner which does honor to the head and the
heart Of the author.
/ The questions in our Foreign Relations which
have attracted most attention within the last few
months are shown to be in state to leave no pre-
tence for continuation of the disquietude and dis
trust which it has been the solictous aim of mis-
chievous men and presses to infuse into the public
mind concerning them. With regard to the Fishe-
ries in adjacent seas satisfactory explanations given
by the British authorities both here and in London
show that there exists no cause of alarm relative
to the present purposes of that Government in
regard to this interest and negotiations are pro-
posed between the British Government and that
of the United States for the adjustment of the diff
ference of construction which has existed for
than quarter of century as to the true mean
ing of the first article of the Treaty Of 1873
The position of this Government in relation to
the Island of CUBA occupies an unexpected promi-
hence in the Message We knew already that
no difficulty remained to obstruct friendly inter-
course between the ports of Cuba and those Of the
United States; and the whole country was very
lately taken by surprise by the information, from
official sources that an effort was made by late
President of the United States to purchase from
Spain at very heavy cost, the sovereignty of the
Island of Cuba and that that effort failed of success
But we did not know, until we derived the informa
ton from the Message before u.s. that early in the
present year, official notes received from the
Ministers of FRANCE and ENGLAND, inviting the
Government of the UNITED STATES to become
purity 10Th Great Britain and France to a tripar-
tte Contention in virtue of which the three Powers
should severaly and collectively dsclaim, now and
for the future, all intention to obtain possession of
the Island of Cuba, and should bind themselves to
discountenance all attempts to that effect on the
part Of any Power or individual whatever This
invitation has been respectfully declined for reasons
that may be readily imagined, which led the
President to think that the proposed measure would
be of doubtful constitutionality, mpoltic and un-
availing In declining this proposition, however,
the President did what had been done before by
several of his predecessors in Office. He directed
the Ministers of FRANCE and ENGLAND to be as
sured that the UNITED STATES eatertam designs
against CUBA but that, on the contrary, he should
regard its incorporation into the Union at the
present time as fraught with serious peril. And
he now frankly declares to Congress and to the
People, that, under existing circumstances, we
should look at the incorporation of Cuba into our
Union as a very hazardous measure. Without any
previous knowledge of the views of the President
on The point in question, it is with no ordinary
satisfaction that the sentiments which this journal
has heretofore at different times hazarded upon this
particular question are in full accord with those
tertained by the present Administration,
The state of our relations and negotiations with
the several Governments Of South America, all of
which look to rivalry in good Offices with them,
and in which we consult their peace and interest
no less than our own, are then succnctly stated !;
and sufficient is disclosed to show that great
of valuable commerce between the southern and
this northern continent yet remain to be explor
ed and worked out with the prospect of inestimable
advantages to all parties concerned. The prompt
settlement of the LoJos Island difficulty with the
Republic Of PERU is as gracefully announced in the
Message as it was well accomplished on both sides
\ The information Of the objects Of the Japan Er-
petition is highly satisfactory Its objects are
friendly and peaceful only, as recapitulated in
the Message and, thus explained, must meet
the cordial appreciation Of the country. Those who
think with us will like it none the less, for the repu-
diation which accompanies this statement ofits pacific
objects Of every idea Of distant colonial dependencies
as being " excluded By orr political system" We
are happy to find this great constitutional principle
. so clearly announced from authority which has
every claim to our respect and confidence