The Ohio union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1849-1854, 1853-12-14
MESSAGE,
10 Mc Senate and
rf House of Representatires:

Ho IepuOHc anticipate tne assembling oil
Congress, and the fulfillment on thar occa.
sion Of The duty imposed upon anew Pres.
ideni, is one ofsIhe besteyidences Of their
capacity 10 realize the hopes Of the found,
ers Of political system, at once complex
and syslemaiical. While the different
branches OF Government are to a,certain
extent independent of each other, the du.
ties of all alike have direct reference 10 The
Source Of Power. .e,p
Fortunately, under this system, no man
is SO high and none SO humble in ihe scale
OF public station, as 10 escape from the
scrutiny, or 10 be exempt from the respon.
sibiliiy which all official functions imply.
Uponthe justice and intelligence of the
masses in governments thus organized, is
the sole reliance of the conlederacy. and
the only security for honest and earnest
devotion 10 its interests, against the usur.
pa,ions and encroachmenIs of power on
The one hand, and the assaults ol personal
ambition on the other, ~
The interest Of which ! have spoken is
insepurable from an inquiring, self-goyern-
ing community but stimulated, doubtless,
atihe present time by the.nnseillea condi-
ton Of ourarelaton with several foreign
powers, by the new obligations resulting
from a sudden extension ofthe field of en-,
erprise, by the spirit with which that field
has been entered, and the amazing energy
with. which its resources for meeting the
demands Of humanity, have been developed,
although disease, assuming al one time
the characteristics Of a wide spread and
devastating pestilence, has left lis sad trace
upon some portions Of our country, we have
still The most abundant cause for revereni
thanks to God for our accumulation Of sig.
mol mercies showered upon US as nation.
Itis wellthata consciousness of rapid ad-
| yancement and increasing strength be asso.
lciated. with an abiding sense OF dependence
upon Him who. holds ip his hands the des.
tiny of,men and of nations. Recognizing
The wisdom Of the broad principles of alb.
solue religious toleralion proclaimed in our
fundamental law, and rejoicing in the be
nign influence which il has. exerled upon
our social aud political condition. Ishould
shrink from a clear duty did Iiail 10 ex.
press my deepest conviction that we can
place no secure reliance upon any apparent
progress, if it he not sustained by national
integrity, resting upon the. great truth al.
6rmed and illustrated by divine revelation.
In The midst Of our sorrow for the afflicted
and suffering, il has been consoling TO see
how promptly disaster made irne neigh
bors Of districts and cilies,seParated widely
from each other, and cheering 10 watch the
stEenglh of that common bonds of brother.
hood (which uniIes all hearts in all parts of
this Union when danger hreaIens from
abroad, or calamity inpends over us al
home. ,.6,t.-..
Our diplomatic relations with foreign
powers have undergone no essential change
since the adjournment of the last Congress.
With some ot. them, questions Of disturb.
ing characlen are still pending, but there are
good reasons 70, believe that those may all
| be amicably adjusted. q 9
For some years past, Grea, Britain has
so construed the first article of The conven-
ton Of The 20th Of April, 1918, inregard to
the fishery on the, north eastern coast, as
10 exclude our citizens fIom some Of the
| fishing grounds lo,which they freely re.
sorted for nearly quarter Of century
subsequent 10 the date Of that treaty. The
United Siaes have never acquiesced in
this construction, but have always claimed
| for their fishermen all the rights which
I, they, had SO long enjoyed without moles-
taiion, With view TO remove Sall diff.
cultes on the subject, 10 extend the right
of our fishermen beyond The limits Fixed
4 bv the convention Of 1918, and 10 regu.
late trade between the United States and
the British North American provinces, a
negotiation has been opened with fair
prospect ofa favorable result. TO pro,
iect our fishermen in the enjoyment OIL
their rights and prevent collision between
them and British fishermen, I deemed il
expedient to station naval force in1hat
quarter during the fishing season. En-.
barrassng questions have also arisen bo,
tween the two Governments in regard 10
Cen;ral America. Great Britain has pro,
posed 10 settle them by an amicable ar.
rangement, and our Minister at London is
instructed 10 enter into negotiations on
That subject. A Commission for adjust,
ing the claims ofour citizens against Grea
Britain and those of British subjects a,
gainst the United States, organized under
the Convention Of 9Th of February last
is now sitting in London for the transac.
ton Of. business. il is in many respect:
desirable that the boundary line between
the United States and the British Prov.
inces in,the, northwest as designated il
The Convention Of the 10Th June. ls46
and especially that part which separate;
the territory Of Washington from the Brit
ish possessions on the north should bl
traced and marked. ! therefore presen
& the subject 10, your notice. M agtgl
i With France our relations continue OF
the most'friendly footing The CONNER
cial relations between the United State,
and that country might, il is con
ceiyed, be relieved from some unnecessar,
restrictions to The mutual advantage o
I, both parties. With ayiews TO this obiec
. some progress has been madein negotia
4 ting treaty ofcommefce and navigation
4 N independently OF ourirade with Spain