Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1853-12-19
Reported byTeegraph to Milwaukee Sent'l.
PRESIDENTS
MI 8 - .AGE.
Delivered Dec. 3. 1853.
WAsHrNeroN, Dec. 5.
FELLOW Citizens of the Senate
Delivered Dec. 8, 1858.

and house Of Representatives. /:
The interest with which the people
of the Republic anticipate the assem-
bling of Congress, and the fuliilment on
that occasion Of the duty imposed upon
a new President, is one of the best evil
dences of their capacity to realize the
hopes of the founders Of political sys-
TEN, at once complex and systematical,
while the different branches of govern
ment are, to certain extent, indepen-
dent of each other. The duties OF all
alike have direct reference to the sue
cess of power. Fortunately, under this
system, no man is so high and mono so
humble in the scale of public station as
10 escape from the scrutiny, or to be ex-
empt from the responsibility which all
official functions imply. Upon the JUS
tice and intelligence of the masses of
government thus organized, is the sole
reliance of the confederacy and the only
security for honest and earnest devotion
to its interests against the usurpation
and encroachment of power on the one
hand and the assaults of personal ambi-
ton Oh the other. The interests of
which [ have spoken, are inseparabl e
from an enquiring, selfAgoverning Gem
munity but stimulated doubtless at the
present time by the unsettled condition
Of our relations with foreign, powers,
by the new obligations resulting from
sudden extension Of the field Of enter
prise, by the spirit with which that field
has been entered, and the amazing en-
ergy with which its resources for uni
ting the demands of humanity have been
developed,
Although disease, ASSUMING at one
time the characteristics of wild .-spread
devasting pestience has left its sad track
upon some portions of our country, we
have still the most abundant cause for
reyerent thankfulness to God for an ac-
emulation of signal ,nercies, showered
upon us as a nation. It is well that q
consciousness of rapid advancement ard
increasing strength be habltually associ-
ated with an abiding sense Of dependence
upon Him who holds in his hahds the
destinies Of men and nations. Recogni-
zing the wisdom of the broad principle
Of ,bsolute religious federation proclaim ..
ed in our fundamental law, and rejoicing
in the benign Influence which it has ex-
erted upon our social and political con-
dtion, ! should shrink from closer du-
ty did fail TO express my deepest con-
ylcti5n that we can place no secure re-
lance Oh any apparent PrnsreAa7 Is ii
be not sustained by national integrity,
resting upon the great truths affirmed
and Illustrated by divine revela ION. In
the midst of our sorrow for the afflicted
and suffering, it has 6eeu consoling to
see how promptly disaster made true
neighbors Of districts and cities separa-
ted widely from each ether, ard cheer
ing to watch the strength of that COM
mon tond Of brotherhood which unites
all hearts Of this Union, when danger
threatens from abroad, or calan.ities i'm
pend over rs at home.
Qrr Diplomatic relations with foreign
powers, have undergone no essential
changes since the adjournment of the
!a't congress-. With some Of them,
questions of disturbing character are
still pending, but there are good reasons
10 believe that these may be amicably
Adjusted. For some years past Great
Britain has so construed the first article
\ of the convention, of the Goth of April,
1878 in regard to the Fisheries of the
northeastern cSasts, as TO exclude our
citizens from SONS, of the fishing grounds
to which they freely escorted for nearly
aquarter of a century subsequent to the
date of that treaty. The limited states
have not acquiesced in this construction,
ol! always claimed for their fishermen
oil the rights which they had so long en-
dyed without moestation. With a view
\ Nremove all difficulties on the subject
70 extend the rights of our fisher men
leyoSd the limits fixed by the oonven-
ion Of 1873, and to regulate trade be-
n tween the Unsed States and the British
f North American Provinces, negotia-
lion has been opened, with fair pros
4 pct Of q favorable result. 70 protect
cur fishermen in the enjoyment OF their
tights, and TO prevent collisions be-
Ween them anu ID itASh ASS' '"'Ai
&sued it expedien to station naval
force in that quarter during the fishing
season. Embarrassing questions had al
"arisen between the two governments
intesard to Central America. Great
Britain has proposed to settle them by
uamicable arrangement, and our min
lister to London is entrusted to enter IN
negotiations on that subject.
A commission for adjusting the claims
d our citizens against Great Britain
and those Of British subjects against the
United States organized under the Con-
veNiiOn Of the 9Th of February, is now
sitting in London for the transaction OF
BUSINESS. 1t is in many respects desl-
h0le that the Boundary Line between
Ne United States and the British Prov
@(es IN the North West, as designated
II @1e Convention of the 10Th January,
Sa6, specially that part which sepa-
,T'' The territory of Washington from
NE British Possessions on the North,
%ouia be surveyed and marked, and
T"ve'e, present the su bject TO your
WI VIVA France our relations are on the
1 ~. friendly footing. Commercial IN