Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1853-12-11
PREstpEnT.s MEssAGE.

pubic anticipate the assembling OF Congress ana
the fllGlmeus, on that occasion. Of the duty im-
posed upon President, is one of the best evi
dences Of their capacity TO realize the hopes Of the
founders Of political system, at once complex and
symmetrical While the different branches Of the I
are, TO seertan extent, independent of
each other the duties Of all alike have direct refer
ence to the source Of power Fortunately, under /
this system no is so high, and hone so hum |
bic IN the scale of public station to escape from
the scrutiny, or to be exempt from the responsible
ty, which aliSafhcia functions imply
Upon the justid IND intelligence of the masses
in government thus organized is the sole reliance
OF the confederacy and the only security Tor honest
and earnest devotion to its interests. against the
usurpations and encroachments of power on the
one hand and the assaults of personal ambition on
the other ~ 04'
The interest, of which have spoken is INSOFAR
able from an inouiriDg, sell-goyerning community,
but stimulated, doubtless at the present time by
the unsettled condition ofour relations with several
foreign powers by the new obligations resulting
from sudden extension of the field of enterprise;
By the spirit with whiehthat field has been entered
and the amazing energy with which Its resources
for meeting the demands Of humanity have been
developed
Although disease, assuming at one time the char
acteristics of a widespread and devastlng pesh-
lence has left its sad traces upon some portions OF
our country we have still the most abundant cause
for reverent thankfuness to God for accumula-
ton of signal mercies showered upon us as nation.
It is well that consciousness of rapid advancement
and increasing strength be habtually associated
with an abiding sense of dependence upon Hum
who holds in his hands the destiny Of men and OF
nations. -..
Recognizing the wisdom of the broad principle
of absolute religious liberation proclaimed IN our
fundamental law, and rejoicing in the benign intiu-
ence which it has exerted upon our social and poti-
cal condition, should shrink from clear duty did
fail to express my deepest conviction that we can
place no secure reliance upon any apparentprogress
If it be not sustained by national 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 how promptly disaster made true neghbors Of
districts and cities separated widely from each 9TH
er and cheering to watch the strength of tIat COM
| mon bond of brotherhood, which untes all hearts,
in all parts of this Union, when danger threatens
| from abroad or calamity impends over US at home.
Our diplomatic relations with foreign powers
| have undergone no essential change since the ad-
| journment of the last Congress With some Of
! them questions Of disturbing character are still
pending but there good reasons to believe that
! these may all be amicably adjusted. 90
| For some years past, Great Britain has so con-
strued the first article of the convention of the Goth
! of April 1918, in regard to the fisheries on the
northeastern cOaSl as TO
some of the fishing grounds, to which they freely
| resorted for nearly quarter of century SUISSE
ouent to the date ofthst treaty. The United States
have never acouiesced n this construction bnt have
always claimed for their fishermen ell the rights
! which they had so long enjoyed without mo!esta-
ton With a view to remove all difficulties on the
! subject, to extend the rights of our fishermen be-
yond the limits fixed by the convention Of 1878 and
TO regulate trsde between the United States and the
| British North American provinces, a negotiation
has been opened, with fair prospect OF favorable
! result To protect our fishermen in the enjoyment
of their rights and prevent collision between them
| and British fishermen, | deemed it expedent to
station naval force in that quarter during the fish
ing season.
Embarrassing questions have also arisen between
the two governments in regard to Central America
| Great Britain has proposed to settle them by an
alnicable arrangement and our minister at London
is instructed to into negotiations on that sub
ject.
A commission for adjusting the claims ofour citi-
zens against Great Britain and those of British sub
iects against the lited States, organized under
the convention of the 9Th Of February last IS now
sitting in London for the transaction OF business.
It's in many respects desirable that the boundary
! line between the United States and the British
provinces in the northwest, as designated in the
| convention of the 18th june 1896 and especially
that part which separates the Territory Of Wash
| ington from the British possessions on the north
| should be traced and marked. therefore present
! the inject to your notice.
! With France our relations continue on the most
| friendly footing. The extensive commerce between
the United States and that country might it is con-
ceived be released from some unnecessary restric
tions, to the mutual advantage Of both parties
With view to this object, some progress has been
made in negotiating treaty of commerce and nav
igstion.
Independently of our valuable trade with Spain,
we have important political relations with her
growing out of our neighborhoodto the islands of
/ Cuba and Porto Rico. am happy to announce
that since the last Congress no attempts have been
made by unauthorized expeditions within the Uni
ted States against either of those colonies Should
auy movement be manifested within our limits, all
the means at my command will be vigorously
erted to repress it Several annoying occurrences
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-lying as it does, in the track of trade be-
tween some of our principal cties,-Rnd the suspi-
cious vigilance with which foreign Intercourse, par
ticularly that with the UuUed States is there guard
ed, repetition of such occurrences may well be APP
pretended As no diplomatic intercourse is allowed
between our consul at Havana and the Captain
| General of Cuba. ready explanations cannot be
made or prompt redress afforded, where injury has
resulted All complaint the part Of our citizens,
under the present arrangement must be, in the first
! place, presented TO this government and then re-
ferred to Spain Spain again refers it to her local
authorities in Cuba for investigation, and postpones
an answer till she has heard from those authorities
| To avoid these irritating and vexatious delays
! proposition has been made to provide for direct
appeal for redress to the Captain General by our
! consul in behalf Of our injured fellow-ctzens.-
Hitherto, the government of Spain has declined to
! enter into any such arrangement. This course on
her part is deeply regretted for without some ar
| rangement of this kind, the good understanding be-
tween the two countries may be exposed TO occa
sional interruption. Our minister at Madrid is in
structed to renew the proposition, and to press it
again upon the consideration of her Catholic Ma
jesty s government
For several years Spain has been calling the at
tenton of this government to claim for losses, by
some of her subjects, in the case of the schooner
Amistad. This claim is believed to rest on the OBJ
legations imposed by existing treaty with that
country Its justice was admitted, our diplomatic
correspondence with the Spanish government, as
early as March, 1847 and one of my predecessors,
in his annual message that year, recommended that
provision should be made for its payment In Jan
uary last it again submitted to Congress by the
Executive EEIt has received a favorable considera-
ton by committees of both branches, but as yet
there has been no final action upon it. conceive