The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1853-12-14
THE
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Feilop Citizens Of the Senae and ct the
Washington, Dec. 6

best evidences their capacity 10 realize VIC
hopes of the founders ola political system at
once complex and symmetrical. Winnie the
different branches of tie Government are TO
certain extent independent of each ether, tie
duties of all alike have direct reference to the
$ ouices of power. Fortunately under 'hs
system no man is 50 high and none go humble
IN the scale O p iblic station as to escape IRON
the scrutiny, or To be exempt from the respo'-
sibili,y which all official functions imply Up
on the justice and intelligence OF thu misses, IN
government thus organized, is The sole rcii-
ance OF the con.ederacv and the "nly sscuF "
tor honest and earnest devotion IL Is interese
aganst the usurpa'ion and encroa;htue"is "'
power on the hand and the assaults oi per
snnaI ambition on the other.
The interest Of which have spoken Is IN
separable from an nquirirg self-aoverin 8 COM
mnnity, but $ imuacd, doubtless, AT tn pres
en-, time by the unsettled condition "i our rela-
items with several foreign powers, 10y the new
obligations resulting from sudden extension
of the field of enterprise, by the spira with
which that field has been entered and the anna
ling energy with which It's resources TOR meet
ins The demands of humanity were developed
Althuuc disease at one time assuming the
characteristics of wdesp read devastaiilVEp pes
thence has left its sad traces upon some portions
# our country we have still The most abundant
cause for revereut thankfulness t. God tor an
accumulation of sigma! mercies showered upon
| Us as nation 1t is well that CONSCIOUSNESS
of rapid advancement, and increasing strength
be habiiually associated with abiding sense
Of dependence upon Hin who holds IN his
hands the destiny of men and nations
Recognising the wisdom of the broad prInci-
pies of absolute religious liberation proclai'n-
ed in our fundamenl al law, and rejoicing in the
benign influence which it has exerted upon
our social and political condition, should
| shrink from clear duty, did II fail to ex
press my deepest conviction tina: we can place
1 no secure reliance upon any apparent progress
if il be not susta ined by National integrity, res
| ting upon the grand truths affirmed and Illus
traled by Divine Revelation. In the midst OF
our for the afflicted and suffering, ii has
been consoling to sec how promptly disaster
made true neighbors OF districts, and cities
separated widely from each other, and cheering
to watch the strength of that &C nmon bond OF
brotherhood which unite all hrarts in all
parts of the Union, when danger threatens
from abroad or calamties impend over us at
home.
Our diplomatic relations with foreign Pow
ers have undergone esseniai change since
the adjournment Of the last Congress. With
some of them questions of disturbing charac-
ter are still pending but there are good reasons
to believe that they may be amicably adjusted
For some years past, Great Britain has SD con-
strued the first article of the Convention of the
I Goth of Apr ISIS in regard to the fisheries OF
the Northern Coast as 10 exclude our citizens
from some o:the fishings to which they freely
resortca for near century subsequent to the
date Of that treaty. The United States have
I never acquiescd in this construction but always
claimed for their fishermen all the ri yhts which
they had SO long enjoyed without moleslation
With view 10 remove ali difficulties on the
subject 10 extend the rights Of our Fishermen
beyond the limits fixed by the Convention Of
1878, and to regulate trade between the U. S =
and the British North American Provinces, Q
negotiation has boon opened with fair pros
pect Of favorable result. To protect oui
fishermen in the enjoyment If their rights aud
to prevent collisions between them and British
fishermen, deemed it expedent to station q
naval force in that quarter during the fishing
season.
Embarrassing questions have also arisen be
tween the two Governments in regard to Cen
trail America. Great ritain has proposed tc
settle these by an amicable arrangement, ant
= our minister at London is instructed to ente
|. into negotiation on that subject A commits
sion for adjusting the ella inns # our citizens
against Great Britain and those of British sub
jects against the U. S. organized under thu
convention Of the 9Th of Feb. last is now 81,
, ting in London for the transaction Of business
1t is in many respects desirable that th'
boundary line between the u. s. and the Brit
isi Provinces IN the northwest as defined in tn,
convention Of June IS, lS46, especially tina
E part which separates the Territory of Washin
ton from tina British Posses .ions on the mort!
should be traced and marked, and thesef ri
present the subject for your notice.
Win France our relations are on tie mos
friendly footing. The extensive Commercial
intercourse between the ". s. and that counir,
might il is conceived be released from SOME ,,n
!, necessary restrictions 10 the mutual advai;tag,
1 OF both parties. With view 10 this object
some progress has been made ir negotiating
treaty of commercial navigation.
independently of our valuable trade will
Spain, we have important political relations will
her, growing out Of our neighborhood to 'tht
islands Of Cuba and Porto Rico.
= I am happy to announce that since the last
: Congress, no attempts have been made by un
/. authorized expeditions within the u. S. againj
any of these colonies. Should any such move.
ment be manifested within OUR limits, all THE
means at my command will be vigorously cx-
I tended TO repress it. Several annoying occur
rences have taken place at Havana, or in the
vicinity Of the island Of Cuba, between citi
zens and the Spanish authorities Considering
the proximity OF that island to our shores, lying
as it does in the track Of trade between some
of our principal cities, and the suspicious vigil
ance with which foreign intercourse particularly
that with the u S. is there regarded repeti.
ton ef such occurrences will be apprehended
7 as diplomatic intercourse is allowed between
our Consulate at Havana and the Capt. Gen
eral OF Cuba, ready explanations cannot be
made or prompt redress offered where injury
has resulted
}, All complaints on the past of our citizens I'M
der the present arrangement must be in the Il rst
dlace presented TO this Government and then
referred TO Spain Spain again refers it to her 10
cal authorities in Cuba for investigation, and
postpones an answer until she has heard from
those authorities To avoid these irritating and
vexations delays proposition has been made
TO provide for direct appeal for redress to the
Captain General by our Consul in behalf Of
our injured felIow-ctiz.ns.
i Hitherto the Government Of Spain has de-
clined TO enter into any arrangement. This
course OF her part is deeply regretted for with
out sono arrangement OF this kind, the good un-
Outstanding between the two countries may be
exposed to occasional in'crrup' ions. Our Min
lister at Madrid is instructed 10 renew the prop
position and press il upon her Majesty Gov
ernmcnt
For several years Spain has been calling the
attention OF this Government TO claim for loss
es by some Of her subjects, in the case of the
schooner Amisted. This claim is believed to
rest on the obligations imposed by our exis ing
treaty with that country. Its justice was ad
mitted in our diplomatic correspondence with
the Spanish Government early as March
lS47, and one # my predecessors, in his annual
message in that year recommended that provis-
ion should be made for its payment.
In January last it was again submit ID TO Con
1 gress by the executive. II has received ia
vorable consideration by committees Of both
branches, but az yet there has been final &C.
ton upon it. consider that good faith requires
its prompt adjustment, and present it to your
early consideration.
i Martin Costa, the Hungarian by birth, came
to this country in 1880, aud declared his inten-
ton in due form Of Law to become a citizen Of
the United States.
I After remaining here nearly two years, he
visited Turkey; while a, Smyrna he was forci-
ely seized, taken on board an Austrian brig Of
waa, lying in the harbor of that place, and then
confined in irons, with the avowed design To
take him to The dominions OF Austria. Our con
sui al Smyrna and Legation in,erposed for his
reense; bat their efforts were Intellectual. While
thus Imprisoned, Commodore lnghram, with the
United States sloop of war 81. Louis, arrived a,