, 1854-02-18
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
.LOv-cnrzExs or TIE sESArE

IhLNlDLNI MENOhuBs
FE1LOW-CrrfZENs or THE SENATE
AND or THE HOUsE OP REPRESENTATIVES:
The interest with which the people Of the
Republic anticipate the assemblage Of Con
rress. and the fulfllment, on that occasion,
Of the duty imposed upon a new President,
is one Of the best evidences Of their capaei-
ty to realize the hopes Of the founders Of a
political system, at once complex and sym
metrical. While the different branches OF
the government are, to q certain extent,
independent Of each other, the duties Of all,
alike, have direct reference to the source Of
power. Fortunately, under this system, 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-
sibiIity, which all ofIicial functions imply.
Upon the justice and intelligence Of the
masses, in a government thus organized, is
the sole reliance Of the confederacy, and
the only security for honest and earnest
devotion to its interests, against the usurpa-
tons and encroachments Of power on the
one hand, and the assaults Of personal am
bition on the other.
- The interest, Of which have spoken, is
inseperable from an inquiring, selfgovern-
ing community, but stimulated, doubtless,
at the present time, by the unsettled condi-
ton of our relations with several foreign
powers; by the new obligations resulting
from sudden extension Of the field Of en-
tcrprisc; 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.
Although disease, assuming at one time
the characteristics Of a widespread and de
vastating pestilence, has left its sad traces
upon some portions Of our country, we still
have the most abundant cause for reverent
thankfulness to God for an accumulation Of
signal mercies showered upon us as q ma
ton. 1t Is well that consciousness Of rap
ia 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 fnations,
Recognizing the wisdom Of the broad
principles Of absolute religious federation
proclaimed in our fundamental law, and re-
joicing IN the benign influence which it has
exerted upon our social and political condi-
tion, should shrink from a clear duty, did
Ifail to express my deepest conviction, that
we can place no secure reliance upon any
apparent progress, II 1t 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 con-
soling to see how promptly dnAster made
true neighbors Of districts and cities sepa-
rated widely from each other, and cheering
to watch the strength Of that common
bond Of ofbrOtherhood, which unites 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 adjournment Of Congress. With
some Of them, questions Of q disturbing
character are still pending, but there are
good reasons to believe that these may all
be amicably adjusted.
For some years past, Great Britain has
30 construed the first article Of the conyen-
, ton Of the goth Of April, 1918, in regard
to the fisheries on the northeastern coast,
as to exclude our citizens from some Of the
hshing grounds, to which they freely resort
ed for nearly a quarter Of a century subse-
qhent to the date Of that treaty. The
United States have never acquiesced in this
construction, but have always claimed for
their fishermen all the rights which they
had 50 long enjoyed without mOlestation
With view to remove all difficulties on
the subject, to extend the rights Of our
fishermen beyond tho limits fixed by the
convention Of 1918, and to regulate trade
between the United States and the British
North American provinces, negotiation
has been opened, with fair prospect Of a
favorable result To protect our fishermen
in the enjoyment Of their rights, and pre-
vent collision between them and British
fishermen, l deemed it expedient to station
naval force in that quarter during the
fishing season.
Embarrassing questions have also arisen
between the two governments in regard to
Central America Great Britain has pro-