Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1853-12-21
force in that quarter during the fishing

Scn pGLhtSn Vic tMO SofCIuLUSuIS Will
regard to Central America. Great Bri
tain has proposed to settle them by ar
amicable arrangement, and our ministe,
at London is instructed to enter into ne
gotiations on that subject.
A commission for adjusting tha claims
of our citizens against Great Britain, and
those of British subjects against the Uni
ted States, organized under the conven-
ton of the 9th of February last, is now
sitting in London for the transaction OF
business.
1t is in many respects desirable that the
boundary line between the United States
and the British provinces in the north
west, as designated in the convention oi
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 mark
ed. 1 therefore present the subject for
your notice.
With France, our relations continue on
the most friendly footing. The exten-
sive commerce between the United States
and that country, might, it is conceived,
be released from some unnecessary re-
strietions, to the natural advantages OF
both parties. With view to this sub
ject, some progress has been made in ne
gotiating treaty of commerce and nayi-
cation.
Independently of our valuable trade
with Spain. we have important political
relations with her. growing out of our
neighborhood to the islands of Cuba and
Porto Rico. L am happy to announce,
. hot l,a last C0nurasS att :
have been made by unauthorized expedi-
tions within the United States, against Ell
ther of those colonies. Should any move
ment be manifested within our limits, all
the means at my command will be vigor-
ously exerted to repress it. Several an
noying occurrences have taken place at
Havana, or in the vicinity of the island OF
Cuba, between our citizens and the Spa
nish authorities. Considering the proxi-
nifty of that island to our shores-lying
as ii does, in the track oftrade between
some of our principal cities,-and the
suspicious vigilance with which foreign
intercourse. particularly that with the
United States, is there guarded, a repeti,
ton of such occurrences may well be ap-
pretended. As no diplomatic intercourse
is allowed between our consul at Havana
and the Captain General of Cuba, ready
explanations cannot be made, or prompt
redresses afforded where injury has result
ed
All complaints on the part of our citi-
zens under the present arrangement, must
be in the first place presented to this GO
vernment, and then referred to Spain
Spain again refers it to her local authori.
ties in Cuba for investis CATION. and post
pones an answer till she has heard from
those authorities. To avoid these irrita-
ting and vexatious delays. proposition
has been made to provide for direct ap
peal for redresses to the Captain General
by our consul, in behalf Of our injured
fellow-citizens. Hitherto, the government
of Spain has declined to enter into any
such arrangement. This course on her
part is deeply regretted; for without some
arrangement of this kind. the good under
standing between :he two countries may
be exposed to occasionalinterruption. Oul
minister at Madrid is instructed to renew
the proposition. and to press it again up.
on the consideration of her Catholic Ma
iesty's government.
For several years Spain has been cal
ling the attention of this government to a
claim for losses by some of her subjects
in the case of the schooner AmiStad-
This claim is believed to rest on the obi
cations imposed by our existing treaty
with that country. Its justice was admit
ted, in our diplomatic correspondence
with the Spanish government, as early a.
March, 1887; and one of my predecessors
in his annual message of that year, re-
commended that provision should be made
for its payment. In January last, it wa!
again submitted to Congress by the Exc
cutive. 1t has received a favorable con
sideration by committees of both branch
es, but as yet, there has been no final ac
ton upon it. conceive that good faitl
requires its prompt adjustment. and 1 pre-
sent it to your early aud favorable consi
deration.
Martin Koszta, Hungarian by birth
came to this country in 1850. and decla-
red his intention, in due form of law, t
become citizen of the United States
After remaining here nearly two years, h,
visited Turkey. While at Smyrna ht
was forcibly seized. taken on board ar
Austrian brig of war then lying in the
harbor of that place, and there confined il
irons. with the avowed design to take hin
into the dominions of Austria. Our con
sui at Smyrna and legation at CONSTANT
nople interposed for his release, but thei
efforts were Intellectual. While thus i'm
plisoned, Commander Ingraham, with tn,
United States ship of war, St. Louis. ar
rived at Smyrna, and after inquiring int
the circumstances of the case, came to tn
conclusion that Koszta was entitled to tn
protection of this government, and tool
energetic and prompt measures for his re
| lease. Under an arrangement betweel
the agents of the United States and Aus
tria, he was transferred to the custody o