The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1853-12-15

and the British North American proyin
ces, a negotiation has been opened, witt
a fair prospect of favorable result. I,
protect our fishermen in the enjoyment 0
their rights, and prevent collision betweel
them and British fishermen, ! deem it ex
pedient to station naval force in tha
quarter during the fishing season.
Embarrassing questions have also ari
sen between the two Governments in re
gard to Central America. Great Britail
has proposed to settle them by an AMIGA
BILE arrangement, and our Minister at Lon
don is instructed to enter into negotiation
on that subject.
A commission for adjusting the claim
of our citizens against Great Britain, anc
those of British subjects against the Uni
ted States, organized under the conyen
ton of the 9th of February last, is nov
sitting in London for the transaction o
business.
1t is in many respects, desirable tha
the boundary line between the Unitet
States and the British provinces in tn,
northwest, as designated in the conven
ton of the 18th of June, l846, and es
pecially that part, which separates tn,
Territory of Washington from the Brit
ish possessions on the north, should b,
traced and marked. I therefore presen
the subject to your notice.
With France our relations continue OF
the most friendly footing. The extensive
commerce between the United States anC
that country might, it is conceived, be re
leased from some unnecessary restrictions
to the mutual advantage of both parties
With view to this object, some progress
has been made in negotiating a treaty o.
commerce and navigation.
Independently of our valuable trade
with Spain, wehave important political re.
lations with her, growing out of our neigh.
borhood to the islands of Cuba and Porte
Rico. l am happy to announce, thai
since the last Congress no attempts have
been made, by unauthorized expeditions
within the United States. against either oI
those colonies. Should any movement be
manifested within our limits, all the means
at my command will be vigorously exert.
ed to repress it. Several annoying oc-
curences have taken place at Havana,
orwithin the vicinity of the island of Cuba,
between our citizens and the Spanish au-
thorities. Considering the proximity OF
that island to our shores-lying, as it
does, in the track of trade between some
of our principle cities-and the suspi-
cious vigilance with which foreign inter-
course, particularly that with the United
States, is there guarded, repetition of
such occurrences may well be apprehen-
ded.
AS no diplomatic intercourse is allow
ed between our Consul at Havana and
the Captain General of Cuba, ready ex-
plantations cannot be made. or prompt re-
dress afforded, where injury has resulted.
All complaints on the part of our citizens,
under the present arrangements, must be,
in the first place, presented to this gov
ernment, and then referred to Spain
Spain again refers it to her local author
tiles in Cuba for investigation, and post
pones an answer till she has heard from
those authorities, 70 avoid this irrita-
ting and vexatious delays, a proposition
has been madet provide for redress to the
Captain General by our consul, in behalf
of our injured fellOw-c 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 understanding between the
two countries may be exposed to occa-
sional interruption. Our minister at Ma
drid is instructed to renew the PROPOSE
ton, and to press it again upon the con-
sideration of her Catholic Majesty's
government. .sa..5.
For several years Spain has been cal.
ling the attention of this government 10
a claim for losses, by some of her sub.
jects, in the case of the schooner Ami
stad. The claim is believed to rest on
the obligations imposed by our existing
treaty with that country. Its justice was
admitted; in our diplomatic correspon-
dence with the Spanish government, as
early as March, 1847; and one of my
predecessors, in his annual message of
that year, recommended that provision
should be made for its payment. In jan
uary last it was again submitted to Con-
gress by the Executive. 1t has received
a favorable consideration of committees Of
both branches, but as yet there has been
no final action upon it. ! conceive that
good faith requires its prompt adjust
ment, and l present it to your early and
favorable consideration. .".
Martin Koszta a Hungarian by birth
came to this country in 1850, and de-
clared his intention, in due form Of law,
to become a citizen of the United States.
After remaining here nearly two years,
he visited Turkey. While at Smyrna,
he was forcibly seized, taken on board
an Austrian brig Of war, then lying in
the harbor at that place, and there con
fined in irons. with the avowed design
10 take him into the dominions of Au'
stria. Our consul at Smyrna and lega
ton at Constantinople interpoSed for MS
release, but their efforts were ineffectu
al. While thus imprisoned, Comman
der Ingraham, with the United States
ship of war ST. Louis, arrived at Smyr
ma, and after inquiring into the circum
stances of the case, came to the conclu
sion that Koszta was entitled TO th'
protection Of this government, and tool
energetic and prompt measures for hi
release. Under an arrangement between