Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1853-12-14
SPEAKER,
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
-Fellou Citizens of the Senate


and HIuse Of Representatives:
The interest with which the people Of tn
Republic anticipate he assembling of Congress
and the fu'filment on that occasion of the du
" imposed upon ne y President, is one of tn
best evidences of their capacity 10 realize tn
hopes of the founders of political system a
once complex & systematical. While the differ
~ent6ranches Of tie government are,toa certai
~cxteut independent OF each other, the duties Q
AL alike have adirect reference to the success
rsthe whole Fortunately, under iris >ysem n
Sanan is SO high, and none so humble in tn
scale OF public station, as to escape fiom tn
sscruhluy or to be exempt from The responsjbi, Ut,
which all official function imply. Uron IN.
Justice and intelligence of the masses in a gov
err ment thus organized, is the sole reliance Of
Nhe confederacy and the only security for hon
>est AUD earnest devotion 10 its in erests against
the usurpaflon and encroachments of poWer On
the one hand, or the assaults OF personal ambi
ton on the other The interest Of " bich have
spoken is inseparable from an inouirinp. sell
governing community, La4 il is stimulated
Ss0aostess at the present time by the unsettled
condition OF our relations with several differen,
foreign powers; by the new obligations result
ing from sudden extension of the fieh Of en-
terprise; by the spirit with which tha, Geld
has been entered and the amazing eaergy with
winch ITS resources fer meeting the demands O,
humanity have been dey eloped
although disease. assuming mt one time the
characteristics OF wide spread devastating
?es.ie9ce. mas left its sad trace upon some por.
uons OF our country, we have still the most
sSundant cause for reverent thankful ess to
God for an accumulation of signal mercies
-showered upon us as a nation.
nj well that consciou sness of rapid nd
~vancement and increasing strength be babi,u.
salty associated with an abiding sense of de.
sPent!ence upon HIM who holds IL Hi. hands
The deslinies Of men and nations.
,Hecognising the wisdom of,he broad prnci-
lples OF absolute religious federation proclaimed
IN our fundamental law, and rejoicing in the
benign influence which il has exerted upon our
social and political condition, / should shrink
ITO" acsear duty did tail to express my deep.
est conviction that We can place no secure re.
lance upon any apparent progress il it be not
sustained by national integrity, resting upon
The srcat truths affirmed and illustrated by di
vine revelation.
In the midst of our sorrow for the afflicted
and suffering, it has been consoling to see how
promptly disaster male true neIghbOrs of dis.
trlcts aud cities separated widely from each
other, and cheering to watch the strength Of
that common bond of brotherhood which upites
all hearts in all paris of this Union v hen dan
ger threatens from abroad ,or calsmilies impend
over us at home.
Our diplomatic relations with foreign pow
ers have undergone essential change since
the adjournment Of the last Congress. With
some Of them questions Of disturbing oh aracter
are stil pending but there are good reasons to
believe that these may be amicably adjusted.
For some years past, Grea. Britain has so
construed the first article Of the Convention of
the goth of April 1873 in regard TO the fishe.
yies Of the North Eastern coasts as 10 exclude
our citizens from some Of the fishing grounds
TO which they freely resore'd for nearly quar-.
ter Of century subsequent to the date oil that
treaty. The U States have not acquiesced /,
that construction. but always claimed for their
aldermen all the rights which they had So long
enjoyed without molestation
With view to remove all difficulties on the
subject. and to extend the right of our fisher.
men beyond the limits fixed by the convention
Of 1878. and to regulate trade between the
United States and the British North American
Provinces, negotiation has been opened with a
fair prospect of a favorable result. To protect
our fishermen in the enjoyment of their rights
and 70 prevent coll sions betw, en- them and
Bsitish fishermen, i deemed it ex D. dent to
station naval force in that quarter during the
fishing season.
Embarrassing questions have also arisen be.
tween the two governments, in regard to u Q
control of Central America. Great Britain has