Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1853-12-16
Presidents Message



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AM " III" MUSE ~ "''"'S'H t'SHS
The interest, with which the people of tn,
Republic antici pate the asscii bling of Congress
and the tuliillmcnt, on thAl occasion. of TIN
duty imposed upon Il n1., President, is on
of the best evidences Of their caplcitv to re-
alizr tn, hopes of the founders of a rolitira
system, at once compile and Svstcmutical -
While the different branches of the govern
incnt are, to Il certain extent. independent o
each other, the duti of all. alike have ii
rect reference to Lh,.! source Of power For
tunatc,v. under this system. no man is 5,
high. and none 50 humble. in the scale o
public station, as to escape from the scrutiny
or to he exempt from the rcsponsl ilitv, which
all official functions imply
Upon the Justice and intcllircncn Of the
masses. in a government thus orraniznd. i,
the sole reliance Of the conlcdcrlrv. and III,
only security for honest and earnest devotion
t. it's interests against the usurlations and
encroachmcnts Of power on the one hand. and
the assaults OF personal amhtlln on the other
The interest, OF which | have spoken. i, in
s.parah'c rrom an inquring. s.il-roycrning
communit, but stimulated. doubtless. at the
present time bv the unsettled condition Of
our relations with several foreign powrrs: hy
the new obligations resulting from Il suddci,
extension Of the field of rntcrlrise: bv the
su;rit with which that field has been entered.
and the amazing energy with which its re-
s,urcc. for meeting the demands of humanity
have been developed.
Although lseis :. ASSUMING ut one time the
characteristics of Il widespread and ocyusta-
ting rcstilcncc. has left it's sad traces u,,,l,
rnmc portions Of our country, we have still
the most abundant cause for reyrrcnt thank
tulnrss to God for an accumulation of signal
lncrces showrrrd upon US as Il nation. 1t is
well that u consciousness of rapid advance
.,nnt aud increasing strength be- ;mhituullv
associated with an abiding sense rdrprndcnrc
upon Him who holds in Ills hands the destiny
of men and of nations
Rccognisn. the wisdom Of the broad prin-
,iplc of absolute religious liberation pro-
claimed in our fundamental law. and rejoicing
an the benign influence which it has rXcrtrd
upon our social and political condition.
should shrink from q clear duty, did fail tc
express nv deepest conviction, that we car
place no secure reliance upon any apparent
',rogrcss if it be not sustained BY uAt,Gna
INTEGRITY. resting upon the great truths ui.
tirmcd aud illustrated hv divine revelation. -
In the midst of sorrow for the afflicted anc
suffering, it has been c1nsoling to see how
PROMPTLY disaster made true nrighbors of dis
hricts and cities separated widely from cacl
other. and cheering to watch the strength o
that common bond of brotherhood, whicl
unitcs all hearts, in all parts Of this lnlon
when danger threatens from abroad, or CT.
lamitv impcnds over us at home.
Our Diplomatic relations with foreign power
have undergone no essential change since til
adjournment of the last Congress. With som
of them. questions of disturbing charactc
are still pending, but there are good reason
to believe that these may all he amicabl, ad
iustcd.
, For some wears past Great Britain has 5
construed the first article OF the Convcntio
pf the 2Oth Of April, 1918, in regard to tn
fisheries on the northeastern coast, as to cy
cludc our citizens from sp,ne Of the tishin
grounds, to which they freely resDrtcd f.
nearly a quarter OF n century subs s,qucnt
the date Of that treaty. The United Stat,
have never arquicsceu in tAiS c.natructiol
but have always claimed fc" their iishcrmc
ull the rights WhicI they hdtl so long enjoyo
without molestation. With view to rrmo'
all difficulties ON the SUBJECT, to extend t.
rights of our fishermen beyond the limi
liked by the ccnyenttoh Of lis, and to req
late trade between the United States and Il
british North American provinces, a neg
tiation has been opened with fair proslc
of favorable result
To protect our fishermen in the cnjoymcl
Of their rights, and prevent collision betwcc
them and British fishermen, ! deemed 1t Z"
pcdient to stationa naval force in that quartz