The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1853-12-13
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

the republic anticipate the assembling o
Congress, and the fulfllment on that oc
casion of the duty imposed on new Pres
ident, is one of the best evidences of thci
capacity to realize the hopes of the found
ers of a political system, at once complies
and systematical. While the different
branches of government are to certain
extent Independent of each other, the du
ties Of all alike have direct reference to til,
Source Of Power
Fortunately, under this system, no MAJ
is SO high and none so humble in the scale
OF public station, as TO escape from tn,
scrutiny, or to be exempt from the respon
sibility which all official funclionaries i'm
ply.
Upon the justice and intelligence of tn,
mass in a government thus organized, i:
the sole reliance of the coniederacy, anC
the only security for honest and eagnes
devotion to its interests, against the usur4
palions and encrcachments of power OF
the one hand, and the assaults Of persona
ambition on the other.
The interest of which have spoken i:
inseperable from an inquiring, self-govcrn
ing community, but-siimulated, doubtless
at the present time by the unsettled condi
ron of our relations with several foreign
powers. by The new obligations resulting
from sudden extension of the field oi en-
terprise, by the spirit with which that field
has been entered, and the amazing energy
with which its resources for meeting the
demands of humanity, have been devel
oped.
Although disease assuming at one time
the characteristics of wide spread and
devastating pestilence, has left its sad
trace npon some portions of our country
we have still the most abundant cause for
reverent thankfulness to God for our accu-
mutation in signal mercies showered upon
us as nation. I srsff
1t is well that a consciousness of rapid
advancement and increasing strength be
associated with an abiding sense of depen-
dence upon Him who holds in his hands
the destiny of men and Of nations. Rec
ognizing the wisdom of the broad princi-
Piles of absolute religious liberation pro
claimed i'll our fundamental law, and reoi-
cling in the benign influence which it has
exerted upon our social and political con-
dition, should shrink from a clear duty
did | fail to express my deepest conviction
that we can place no secure reliance upon
any apparent progress, if it be not sustain
ed by national integrity, resting upon the
great truths affirmed and illustrated by di-
vine revelation. In the midst of our sor-
row for the afflicted and suffering, it has
oeen consolinS 10 sce nU" promptly uisos
ter made true neighbors of the districts
and cities separated widely from each 9th
er, and cheering to watch the strength ol
that common bend of brotherhood which
unites all hearts in all parts of the Union
when danger threatens from abroad or ca
lamity lmpedes over us at home.
Our diplomatic relations with foreign
powers have undergone no essential
change since the adjournment of last Con-
gress. With some of them questions of a
disturbing character are still pending, but
there are good reasons to believe that
those may all be amicably adjusted.
For some years past. GreaI Britain has
so constructed the first article of the con-
yention of the Goth of April, 1918, in re-
gard TO the fishery on the northeast coast,
as to exclude our citizens from some of the
fishing grounds TO whichthey freely resor-
ted for nearly quarter of century sub
sequent to the date of the treaty. The
United States have never acquiesced in
this construction. but have always claimed
for their Fl hermen all the rights which
they have so long enjoyed without molest-
alton. ro .H.I.rs ..u rrss
/. With view to remove all difficulty on
the subject, to extend the rights of our
fishermen beyond the limits fixed by the
convention of 1918. and to regulate trade
between the United States and the British
North American provinces, a negotiation
has been opened with a fair prospect for
favorable result. To protect our fisher
men in their rights and prevent collision
between them and the British fishermen,
deemed il expedient to station naval
force in that quarter during the fishing
season. Embarrassing questions have al
so arisen between the two Governments in
regard TO Central America. Great Brit
ain has proposed TO settle them by an am
icable agreement, and our Minister at
London is instructed to enter into negotia-
tons on the subject. A Commissioner
for adjusting the claims of our citizens "a
gainst Great Britain and thosc of British
subjects against The Unied States, organi-
zed under the Convention OF the 9th of
February last is now sitting in London for
the transaction of business. Il is in ma
ny respects desirable that the boundary
between the United States and the British
Provinces in the northeast as designated
in tie convention Of the 18Th June, 1916,
and especially that part which separates
the Territory of Washington from The Brit
isl, possessions on the north, shouIl be
traced and marked. / therefore present
The subject TO your notice.
With France our relations continue on
the most friendly footing The CONNER
clal relations between the United States
and that country might, it is conceived, be
relieved of some unnecessary restrictions
to the mutual odvantage of both parties.
With view to this object some progress
has been made in negotiating treaty. Of
commerce and navigation. ~
Independently ofour trade with Spain we
have important political relations with her,
growing out of our neighborhood to the
Islands of Cuba and Porto Rico. ] am
II