Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1853-12-15
d 4,olI'litii.lttia.l.. iii til |. r :. !
PRESHDENT,s MESSAGE

I
IssoU sE ryau aWot-------oieei q! Fl 51adj
sllo,U-citizeas Of The Senate and House Of Rep
q Tesent0taveS :t3o al ni a9}uara Wat .
The interest with which the people2of the
republic anticipate the assembling of Congress
and the fulflment, on that occasion, of the du-
ty imposed upon new President, is ione OF
the best evidences of their capacity to realize
the hopes the founders of political system
4 at once complex and symmetrical While the
different branches of the government are, to a
certain extent, independent of each other. the
duties of ALL 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 to escape from
the scrutiny or to be exempt from the respon-
sibility, which all official functions imply.
| Upon the justice and intelligence Of the
| masses, ina government thus organized, is the
sole reliance of the confederacy, and the only
security for honest and earnest devotion to its
interests against the usurpations and encroach-
ments Of power on the one hand, and the as
saults of personal ambition on the other.
| The interest, of which have spoken, is in
separable from an inquiring, self-governing
community, but stimulated, doubtless, at the
present time, by the unsettled condition of our
relations with several foreign powers !; by the
new obligations resulting from sudden ex-
tension of the field of enterprise !; 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 developed. e a.fE 4" at ri..I.t tltltlg
| Although disease, assuming at one time the
| characteristics of widespread and devastating
| pestilence, has left its sad traces upon some
portions of our country, we have still the most
abundant cause for reverent thankfulness to
God for an accumulation of signal mercies
shOwered upon us as nation. 1t is we'll
that consciousness of rapid advancement and
increasing strength be habitually associated
with an abiding sense of dependence upon
Him who holds in his hands the destiny of
men and of nations.
Recognizing the wisdom of the broad princi-
pie of absolute religious liberation proclaimed
in our fundamental law, and rejoicing in the
benign influence which it has exerted upon our
social and political condition, II should shrink
from clear duty, did fail to express my
deepest conviction that we can place no secure
reliance upon any apparent progress, if it be
not sustained by national integrity, resting up
on the great truths affirmed and illustrated by
divine revelation. In the midst of our sorrow
for the afflicted and suffering, it has been con-
soling to see how promptly disaster made true
neighbors of districts and cities separated wide
ly from each other, and cheering TO watch the
strength of that common bond of brotherhood,
which unites all hearts, in all parts of the
Union, when danger threatens from abroad, or
calamity impends over US at home. i-on. l.0
Our diplomatic relations with foreign pow
ers have undergone no essential change since
the adjournment of the last Congress With
some of them questions of disturbing charac-
ter are still pending, but there are good reas-
ons to believe that these may all be amicably
adjusted. r laIE. M
For some years past, Great Britain has so
construed the first article Of the convention of
the Goth Of April, 1918, in regard to the fish
cries on the northeastern coast as to exclude
our citizens from some of the fishing grounds,
to which they freely resorted for nearly quar-
ter of a century subsequent to the date of that
treaty. The United States have never acqui-
esced in this construction, but have always
claimed for their fishermen all the rights which
they had so long enjoyed without molestation.
With a view to remove all difficulties 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 Uni
ted States and the British North American
provinces, negotiation has been opened, with
fair prospect of favorable result To pro-
tect our fishermen in the enjoyment of their
rights, and prevent collision between them and
the British fishermen, deemed it expedent
to station naval force in that quarter during
the fishing season. W. 78i-i9 glT oa as iilH
Embarrassing questions have also arisen be-
| tween the two governments in regard to Cen
trail America. Great Britain has proposed to
settle them by an amicable arrangement. and
our minister at London is instructed to enter
into negotiations on that subject 1Aie I9-t
A commission for adjusting the claims of
our 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. z.su01 rt5t
1t is in many respects desirable that the
boundary line between the United States and
the British provinces in the northwest, as des-
ignated in the Convention of the 18th of June,
1916, and especially that part which separates
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
merce between the United States and that
country, might, il is conceived, be released
from some unnecessary restrictions, to the mu-
tual advantage Of both parties. With a view
to this subject, some progress has been made
In negotiating treaty of commerce and navi-
cation.
independently of our valuable trade with
Spain, we have important political relations
with her. growing out of our neiebborhood to
the Islands OF Cuba and Porto Rico. am
happy TO announce, that since the last Con-
gress no attempts have been made by unau-
thorized expeditions within The United States.
against either of those colonies. Should any
movement. be manifested within our limits. all
the means at my command will be vigorously
exerted to suppress it'd Several annoying oc.
currences have. taken place at Havana, or in
the vicinity of the island of Cuba, between oar
citizens and the Spanish authorities. Consid-
ering the proximity of that island to our shores
Lying, as it does,v in the track of trade be-
tween some of our principle cities-ahd tile
suspicious vigilance with which foreign inter,
course, particularly that with the United
States, is there guarded, repetition of such
occurrences may well be apprehehded. AS nc
diplomatic intercourse is allowed between our
consul at Havana and the captain-genefal oi
Cuba, ready explanations cannot be made, OF
prompt redress afforded, where injury has re-
suited
All lcomplaiut on the part Of our citizens,
under the present arrangement, must be, in
the hrst place, presented to this government