The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1853-12-15

| Should any movement be manifested within
our limits, all the means at my command vii
be vigorously exerted to repress it. sever
al annoying occurrences have taken place a
Havana, or in the vicinity of the island o
Cuba, between our citizens and Spanish au
thorities. Considering the proximity of thai
island to our shores-lying, as it does, il
the track Of trade between some of our prin
cipal cities-and the suspicious vigilance
with which foreign intercourse, particularly
that with the United States, is there guarded
a repetition of such occurrences may well be
apprehended As no diplomatic intercourse
is allowed between our counsul at Havana
and the Captain General of Cuba, ready ex
planation cannot be made, or prompt redres:
afforded, where injury has resulted All com
plant on the part of our citizens, under the
present arrangement, must be, in the frst
place, presented to this government, and ther
referred to Spain.
Spain again refers it to her local authori
ties in Cuba for investigation, and postpone'
an answer till she has heard from those au
thorities. To avoid these irritating and veX-
atious delays, a proposition has been made t
provide for direct appeal for redress to the
Captain General by our consul, in behalf o
our injured d:citizens. Hitherto, the government
of Spain has declined to enter into such an
arrangement. This course on her part is deeply
regretted; for, without some arrangement o.
this kind, the good understanding between
the two countries may be exposed to occa
sional interruption. Our minister at Madrid
is instructed to renew the proposition, and to
press it again upon the consideration Of her
Catholic Majesty's government.
For several years Spain has been calling
the attention of this government to claim
for losses, by some of her subjects, in the case
of the schooner AmiStad This claim is be-
lieved to rest on the obligation imposed by
our existing treaty with that country. Its
justice was admitted, in our diplomatic cor
respondence with the Spanish government,
as early as March, 1S47; and one Of my pre-
decessors in his annual message of that year,
recommended that provision should be made
for its payment In January last it was a.
gain submitted to congress by the Executive.
1t has received a favorable consideration by
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 present it to your early and fa-
vorable confederation.
Martin koszta Hungarian by birth, came
to this country in 1850 and declared his
intention in due form of law, to become a
citizen of the United States. After remain
ing here nearly two years, he visited Turkey.
While at Smyrna, he was forcibly seized, ta-
ken On board an Austrian brig Of war, then
lying in the harbor Of that place, and there
confined in irons with the ayowed design to
take him into the dominions of Austria Our
consul at Smyrna and legation at CONSTANT
nople interposed for his release, but their
efforts were Intellectual While thus imprisen-
ed, Commander Ingraham with the United
States ship of war st. Louis, arrived at Smyr-
ma, and after inquiring into the circumstances
Of the case, came to the conclusion that Kos
zta was entitled to the protection of this gov
ernment, and took energetic and prompt
measures for his release under an arrange
ment between the agents Of the United States
and of Austria, he was transferred to the
custody Of the French consulgeneral at Smy-
rna, there to remain until he should be dis
posed of by the mutual agreement of the con-
Suls of the respective government at that
place. Pursuant to that agreement he has
been released and is now on his way to the
United States. The Emperor of Austria
has made the conduct of our officers who took
part in this transaction subject of grave
complaint Regarding Koszta as still his
subject, and claiming right to seize him
within the limits of the Turkish empire, he
has demanded of this government its consent
to the surrender Of the prisoner, disayowal
of the acts Of its agents, and satisfaction for
the alleged outrage After careful con-
cIusion that Koszta was seized without legal
authority at Smyrna; that he was wrongfully
detained on board of the Austrian brig of
war, that, at the time of his seizure, he was
clothed with the nationality of the United
States; and that the act of our officers un-
der the circumstances Of the case, were justi-
fable, and their conduct has been fully ap-
proved by me- and the compliance with the
several demands Of the Emperor of Austria
has been declined
The condition of China at this time, renders
it probable that some important changes will
occur in that vast empire, which will lead to
a more unrestricted intercourse with it. The
commissioner to that country, who has been
recently appointed, is instructed to avail HIM
self on all occasions to open and extend our
commercial relations not only with the empire
of China, but with other Asiatic nations
La 1852, an expedition was sent to Japan,
under the command of Commodore Perry,
for the purpose ofopening commercial inter
course with that island. Intelligence has been
received of bis arrival there, and of his hay-
ing made known to the Emperor of Japan the
ehiect of this visit; but it isnot yet ascertain
ID now Far the Emperor will be disposed to
abandon his restrictive policy, and open that
,opulous country to commercial intercourse
With the United States.
1t has been nay earnest desire to maintain
friendly intercourse with the goyermentsupon