The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1852-12-14
eS T'sy ;NHEssAGE.
escns of Tie Senate
+ Me. Hoaee of Representdtit

brief space which has elapsed
the close of your last session has
soeen marked by no extraordinary po-
A1itical event. The quadrcnnial elcc-
ton of Chief Magistrate has passed off
with less than the usual excitement
However individuals and parties may
have been disappointed in the result, it
is nevertheless subject of national
congratulation that the choice has
been effected by the independent sui.
fragcs ola free people, undiSturbcd hy
those Influences which in other coun-
tries have too often affected the purity
Unpopular elections.
Our grateful! thanks are due to an
&ll-mcrciful Providence, not only
for staying the pestilence which in diff:
tercnt forms has dcsolated some Of
our cities, but for crowning the labors
of the husbandman with an abund-
ant harvest, and the nation generally
with the blessings Of peace and pros
perity.
Within n few weeks the public
mind has been deeply affected by
the death Of Daniel Webster, filling at
his decease the office Of Secretary Of
State. His associates in the Execu-
tive government have sincerely sym
pathizcd with his family and the pub
lie generally on this mourntul occa-
sion. His commanding talents, his
great political and professional en-
inencc, his well-tricd patriotism, and
his long and faithful services, i'll the
most important public trusts, have
caused his death to be lamented
throughout the country, AMI have
earned for him lasting place in
our history.
In the course of the last summer con.
siderable anxiety was caused for a
short time by an official intimation
from the government Of Great Britain
that orders had been given for the pro-
lection of the fisheries upon the coasts
of the British provinces in North Am
erica against the alleged encroach
ments of the fishing vessels of the
United States and france. The short
ness of the notice and the season Of
the year seemed to make it q matter
of urgent importance. 1t was at
first apprchcnded that an increased
naval force had been ordered to
the fishing grounds to carry into cf-
feet the British Interpretation of those
provisions in the convention Of 1918, in
reference to the true intent of which
two governments differ. 1t was soon
discovered that such was not the dc.
sign Of Great Britain, and satisfactory
explanations Of the real objects Of the
measure have been given both here
and in London.
The unadjustcd 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 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 lS45 this exclusion was
relaxed SO far as concerns the Bay of
Fundy, but the just and liberal intcn-
tion Of the Home government, in com
pliancc with what we think the
true construction Of the convention, to
open all tho other bays to our fisher
men, was abandoned, in consequence
Of the opposition of the colonies Not
withstanding this. the L. States have,
since the Bay of Fundy was rc-opcncl
to our fishermen in 1915, pursued the
most liberal course toward the colo
NAL fishing interests. BY the rcvcn-
tic law Of 1916, the duties on colo
nial fish entering our ports were very
greatly reduced, and by the ware
housing act it is allowed to bc enter
cd i'll bond without duty. In this
way colonial fish has acquired the
monopoly 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 scnsibility of onr fish,
ing interest, at the movement in qucs-
ton.
These circumstances and the in
cidcnts above alluded to have led me
TO think the moment favorable for n
reconsideration of the entire subject of
the fisheries on the coasts of the Brit
ish provinces, With q view to place
them upon a more liberal footing of
reciprocal privilege. willingness to
meet us in some arrangement Of this
kind is understood to exist, on the
part of Great Britain, with a desire on
ITer part to include in one comprehen.
sive settlement rs well this subject as
the commercial intercourse between
the United States and the British
provinces. have thought that what
ever arrangements may be made on
these two subjects, it is expedient that
they should be embraced in separate
conventions. The illness and death of
the late Secretary Of State prevented
the commencement of the contcmpla-
ted negotiation. Pains have been
taken to collect the information re-
quirod for the details of such an ar
rangcment. The subject is attended