Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1853-12-22
Presidents Message.
%elloD- Cifisens Of the Sfnofe,
and House Of Represenf0fivts:

The interest with which the people OF
the Republic anticipate the assembling of
Congress, and the fulfiIlmeni. on tha,
occasion, Of the duty imposed upon q
new President, TO- one OF The best evi.
dencss Of their capacity TO realize the
hopes of the founders o. . political sys.
TEN n once complex and sysiematical.
While the diferent branches of the Gov.
ernmeus are, 10 . certain extent, indie.
pendent Of each other, the duties of oil
alike have direct reference TO the source
of power. Fortunately. under this sys-
TEN. no man is so high. and none SO
humble in the scale Of public station, as
10 escape from the scrutiny, or be ex.
emp, from The responsibility, which all
official functions imply.
Upon the justice and intelligence Of
the masses in The Government, thus or
gsnized, 10 the sole reliance Of the con
federscy. and The only security for hoe.
es, and earnest devotion TO The interests,
sgains. the u,urpations and encroach.
ments Of power. on The one hand, and
she assaults Of personal ambition on the
ether. a.......
The interest Of which I have spoken
10 inseparAble from an inquiring, self
governing community. but stimulated,
doubtless, al the preseni time, By the TN.
settled condition Of our relations with
re,era! foreign powers; by the new OBJ
legations resulting from a sudden exten.
sion Of the field of enterprise; by The
spiril with which ,ha, field has been en-
,ersd. and the amazing energy with
which ito RESOURCES fm meeting the te.
mand. Of humanity. have been develop.
ed.
Although disease. assuming at one
time the characteristics OF de-spread d
and devastating pestilence, has lett it's
blight upon some portions Of our coun-
try, we have had the most abundant
cause for reverent ,hankfulness to God.
fur Nh accumulation OF signal mercies
showered upon us az nation. II is well
that a consciousness OF rapid advaLce.
ment and increasing strength be habi'u.
ally associated with an abiding sense ol
dependence upon Him who holds in his
hand The destiny Of men and Of na
,ions.
Recognizing the wisdom Of the b. Dad
principle Of absolute religious ,o.eraiion
proclaimed la our fundamental law. and
rejoicing in the benign influ, noes which
j, has extended upon our social and po
li,ical condition. / sioald shrink from a
clear duty did fail to express my deep,
est conviction. that we can place no Sc
cure reliance upon any apra ent pro
gress, if il be not sustained by national
integrity resting upon the great truths
affirmed and illustrated by DI inc Reve,
lation.
In the midst of our sorrow for tie af
flicied and suffering, il has been consol.
ing to see how promptly disas or made
true neighbors Of districts and cities sep.
srsted w,dely from each other. an,l
cheering 10 watch the strength of that
common bond of brotherhood which
uni.es all hearts, in all parts o. this Un,
ion. when danger threatens from abroad
or calamity impends over US a, home.
Our diplomatic relations with foreign
powers have undergone no ,ssen,ia'
change since The Adjournmen, Of the las,
Congress. With some of them. qnes-
,iohs Of a disturbing character are slill
pending. but there are good seasons TO
believe ,ha, these may all be amirably
adjusted.
For some years pasi, Great Briinin
has 90 construed the frs, article Of the
Convention Of the 20lh Of August, 1918,
in regard to the fisheries on the North
eastern coast, as to exclude our citizens
from some Of The fishing grounds 10
which they freely resorsed for nearly n
quarter Of q century subsequent to the
date Of that treaty. The United States
have never acquiesced in lhis conslruc
tion: bus hcse always claimed fur Their
fishermen all The rights which they ha. e
90 long enjoy ed without moles,a,ion.- -
With dcslre TO remove oil difficulties
on the subject; 10 extend The rights of
our fishermen beyond The limits fixed by
she Convention Of 1918. and 10 regulate
trade between the United States and the
British North American provinces, . ne
gc,ia.ion has been opened, with . fair
prospect Of favorable result.
To project our fishermen in The enjoy.
nsnt Of their rights. and prevent coliis.
ions between them and British fisher.
men. ! deemed il expedient 10 station a
naval force in that quarter during the
fishing sekson.
Emharassing questions have also aris.
ep between tha Two Governments in re-
gard 10 Central America. Great BIi.
ain has proposed TO settle them by aa
amieable arrangement. and our Minister
q, London 10 instructed to enter into nc
go,iations on thai subject.
A commission for adjusting the claims
Of ouI cisizens against Great Britain,
land those Of British subjects sgains. the
United States. organized under the con-
yenupn Of the 6,h Of February last. 10
now sitting in London for The transaction
Of business.
], is in many respects desirable. that
the boundary line between the Uniled
E,stes and the British Provinces on the
Nesihsesi. - designated in ,he Conven-
- - ~ "a In