The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1853-12-07
BY J. A. COWARDIN.
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Fslo~ citizens Of the Senate
- of she f{,,use of pens-e

<1s duty imposed upon a new President, is
nne OF lhe best evidences of their capacity to
Yps,ize the hcpes of the founders of politi.
ssl system, at once complex and symetrical.
While The different branches of the govern
n,ay,t are, to Il certain extent, independent of
each other, the duties of ALL alike, have di
ract reference to the source of power For
turstelY, under this system, no man is so high,
ara none so humble, in the scale of public
station, as to escape from tho scrutiny, or to
BE- exempt from the responsibility which all
Official functions imply.
aou the justice and intelligence of the
masses, in government thus organized, is
the sole reliance of the confederacy, and the
cnly security for honest and earnest devotion
to iss interests, against the usnrpations and
enc-oachmeats of power on the one hand.
snd The assaults of personal ambition on the
oshog.
The interest Of which have spoken. ia in.
separa Die, from an inquiring selfrovernine,
community. but stimulated, doubtless. at the
present time. by the unsettled condition of
our relations with several foreign powers bv
tie Obligations resulting from sudden ex
tension Of the field of enterprise by the spi.
nj with which that field has been entered,
sni the amazing energy with which its re-
sources for meeting the demands of humani-
~ bay e been developed
Although disease, assuming at one time the
characteristics of a wide spread and devasta-
ting peotilence. has left its sad traces upon
some portions of our country, we have still
the most abundant cause for reverent
thark,rinesS to God for an accumulation
of signal mercies sEowered apon us as a
nation. Ii is well that a consciousness of ra-
pid advancement and increasing strength be
hahitually associated with an abiding sense
OF dependence upon Him who holds I'm his
hands the destiny of men and of nations.
Recognizing the wisdom of the broad prin-
cipa of absoluse religious federation pro-
o-aired in our fundamental law, and reioi-
cling in the benign influence which it has ex-
erted upon our social and political condition.
should shrink from q clear duty, did fail
20 express my deepest conviction, that we
can place no secure reliance upon any appa-
rent progress, If 1T be not sustained by ma
tl0ual integrity, resting upon the great truths
affirmed and illustrated by divine revelation
In the midst Of our sorrow for the afflicted
and suffering, it has been consoling to see
bow promptly disaster made true neighbors
of districts and cities separated widely from
each other, and cheering to watch the
streE EgthR II that common bond ofbrotherhood
"hlcl uMtes all hearts, in all parts of this
Union. when danger threatens from abroad
Or calamity impends over us at home
Oar diplomatic relations with foreign pow
eys have undergone no special change Since
the aujournment of the last Congress. With
some OF them, questions of disturbing char
acter are stin pending, but there are good
reasons to believe that these may ali be ami
C4oly adjusted.
For some years past, Great Britain has so
Col5tr1ed the first article of the convention
nff f,.A Of Al
hEh61es on the northeastern coast, as to ex-
ciUde our citizens, from some of the fishing
grounds, to which they freely resorted for
nearly . quarter OF q century subsequent to
the date of that treaty. The United States
have never acquiesced in this construction,
but have always claimed Tor their fishermen
ali the rights which they had 80 long enjoyed
without molestation With n view to remove
all difficulties On the subject, to extend the
rights of our fishermen beyond the limits fix
ed by the convention of 1913, and TO regulate
t-aie between the United States and the Bri-
ttsh Forth American provinces, a negotia-
ton has been opened, with fair prospect of
a favorable result. To protect our fishermen
IN the enjoyment of their rights, and prevent
collision between them and British fisher
men. deemed it expedient to station naval
force in that quarter during the fishing sea
s1c.
Embarrassing questions have also arisen
between the two governments in regard TO
Central America. Great Britain has proposed
20 settle them by an a1nicable arrangement,
ana our minister at London Is instructed to
eatet into negotiations on that subject
A commission for adjusting the claims OF
oar citizens against Great Britain, and those
of British subjects against the United States,
organized under the convention OF the 9Th OF
February last, is now sitting in London for
the transaction of business.
1t is in many respects desirable that the
boundary between the United States and the
British provinces in the northwest, as desig-
mated in the convention of the 18th of June,
1916, and especially that part which sepa-
rates the territory of Washington from the
British possessions on the north, should be
traced and marked | therefore present the
subject to your notice.
With France our relations continue on the
most friendly footing. The extensive com
mecce between the United States and that
county, might it is conceived, be released
from some unnecessary restrictions, to the
rautua. advantage of both parties With a
view TO this object, some progress has been
made ID negotiating a treaty of commerce
and navigation.
Independently of our valuable trade with
spain, we have important political relations
w,ta her, growing out of our neigh hborhoodt to
the Islands Of Cuba and Porto Rico. | am
happy TO announce, that since the last Con
grees 10 attempts have been made by unau-
tEOrized expeditions within the u. s., against
either of those colonies. ShouId any move
ul8ut be manifested within our limits, all the
lgeans at ny command viii be vigorously
exor.ed to repress il. Several annoying oc.
cUrrences have taken place at Havana, or IN
the vicinity of the island OF Cuba, between
Our citizens and the Spanish authorities
Considering the proximity of that island to
our shores, living, as il does, in the track OF
trade between some of our principal cities,
and the suspicious vigilance with which fo-
reign Intercourse, particularly that with the
United States, is there guarded 3 repetition
Of such occurrences may well be apprehend-
ed. Asno diplomatic intercourse is allowed
between our consul at Havana, and the Cap
tainGeneral of Cuba, ready explanations
c;nD0t be made, of prompt redress afforded
where injury has resulted. All complaint on
the part of our citizens, under the present ar
rangement, must be, in the first place, pre-
seDted to this government, and then referred
TO Spain. Spain again refers il to her local
authorities IN Cuba for investigation, and
postpones an answer till she has heard from
those authorities. To avoid those irritating
ana yexatious delays, proposition has been
made to provide for direct appeal for re
oreoe to the Captain General by our consul,
\ behalf OF our injured fellow citizens. III,
uerto, the government of Spain has declined
toeuter into any such arrangement This
cot,se ON her part is deeply regretted ior'
&c ty ytxad