Loudon free press. (Loudon, Tenn.) 1852-1855, 1853-12-16
Fsllo,c-citizcns Of the Senate

READ IN CONGRESS, TUESDAY, DEC. 9Th, 1858.
Fallor-citizens of the Senate
and Of tie HjHse Of Representatives.
The interest with which the people of the Re-
public anticipate the assembling Of Congress,
and the hIflment on that occasion of the duty
imposed upon a new President, is one of the
best evidences of their capacity to realize the
hopes of the founders of a political system at
once complex and symmetrical. While the djf
ferent branches of the government are. tn a
certain rxteHt, indepcndept Of each other, the
duties Of all, alike, have direct referece to the
source of power. Fortunately under this sys
TEN, no man is so hi yh, and none so humble, in
the scale of public station, as to escape from the
scratiny,or TO be exempt from the responsibility,
which al! of :ial functions imply.
Upon the Justice ami Intelligence of the mas
seS, in government TINS or r;lnized, is the sole
reliance of the coufi.deracv, and the only secu
rity for honest and earnest devotion to its inter
estS, against the uSurpations and encroachments
of power ON the one hand, and the assaults of
personal ambition on the other,
The interest, of which have spoken, is inSep-
arahle from an in1uiring. self governing com,
munity, hut stimulated, doubtless at the pres
ent time bv the unsettled condition of our rela-
tions with several fnreign powers; by the new
Obligations r.sultugp from sudden extension
of the fell of enterrise; by the spirit with
which that field has been entered, and the anna
Ziny energy with whichitS resources for meeting
tle demand of humanity have been developed.
Afhnurh diSeaSt, ASSUMING at one time the
characteristics of wide spread and devastating
pestence, has left-its sad impress upon some
portions of our country, we nave still the most
.hundamt cause for reverent thankhllneSS to
Col for an accumulation of 81 rIal m ercieS
shnwereA up1n us as n nation. 1t Is well that
n consciousness of rapid Advancement aud in
crea$in siren rth he hahltnally ASS Dciated with
an abiding sense of dependence upon Him who
holds in his hands the destiny of men and of
nations arasss1 s11easlnsunn,.
rlla Af .lh<..l-..->-l:-- 'E [E S{1 RI:
in onr fundamental law I1 III .A zI1
benirn influence which iss0 30
social aud political condition, sAonld shrink
fr1m clear duty, did fail tn express my deep
est conviction. that We can place no secure reli'
aace up'n any apparent progress, if 1t be not
sustainad nv national inte gritty, resting upon the
great truihs affirmed aud illustrated by devine
revelation. In The midst Of our s.,rr1w for the
afflicted and suffrinr. it has been cUnsnlny to
see how promptly disaster made true nei .hbOrs
ofdiSiricts aud cities separated wid:ly from each
other, and cheering 10 watch the strength that
common bond Of brotherhood which uniteS all
hearts, in a parts of this Union, when ,%,,h ger
threatens from abroad, or calamity impendS
over MS at home.
Our diplomatic relations with foreign powers
have undergon no essential change since the
adjournment of the last Congress. With some
Of them questions of disturbing character are
still prnlinr. bnt there are good reasons to be
,,o,- oil l.o
For some wears past, Great Britain has so
Construed the first article of the convention of
the 10th of April, 1918, in regard to fisheries
on the nor heaStern coast. as to exclude our cit
izens from some of the 6shing grounds, to which
they freely reSOrted for nearly quarter of
century subsequent to the date Of that treaty.
The United States have never acquiesced in this
construction, hut have always claimed for their
fishermen all the ri ghts which they had SO long
enioved without moestation.
With view to remove all difficulties on the
suhiect,to extend the ri ghts of our fishermen be-
yond the limits fixed by the convention of 1918.
and to re ylate trade between the United States
and the British North American provinces,
ne .otatinn has been opened, with fair pros
psct of favorable result. To protect our FISH
ermen in the enjoyment of their rights, AMI
prevent collision between them and British
fishermen, deemed it expediert to station
naval force in that quarter during the fishing
season.
Embarrassing questions have also arisen be-
tween the two governments in regard to Cen
trail America Great Britain has proposed to
settle them bv an amicahe arrangement, and
our minister in London is instructed to enter in
to negotiation On the subject.
A commission fIr adjusting the claims of our
citizens against Great Britain, and those of
British subjects against the United States. or
ganized under the contention of the 9Th Feb
ruary hast is now sitting in London for the
transaction of business.
II is in MANY respects desirable that the boun-
dary line between the United States aud the
British provinces in the northwest. as designa-
ted IN the convention of the 18th of June,
lS46 and especially that part which separates
the Territory of Washington from the British
possessions on the north, Should he traced and
marked. ] therefore present the subject to your
notice.
With France our relations continue on the
most Friendly forming The extensive commerce.
between the United States and that country
mi yht, 1t Is conceived, be released from some
unnecessary restrictions. to- the mutnlt gdvan-
tage of 10th parties. With view to this object
some progress has been made in nerotiating a
treaty of commerce and navigation.
Independently of our valuable trade with
Spain, we have important porrfeaI relations with
her, growing out of oir Apighborhnod TO the
Islands of Cuba aud Porto Rico. am hanpy
70 announce that since the last Congress no at
tempts have been made bv unauthorized expe-
ditions within the United States against either
of those colonies ShoHld any movement he
manifested within our limits. all the means at
nv command will be vigorously exerted tn re-
press it. Several annoying occurrences have
ssken place at Havana, or in the vicinity of the