The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-12-08

suited. All complaint on the part of our elh-
Eenp. under the present arrangement, must be-
in the first place, presented to this GoycInment
and then referred TO Spain. Spain again re-
fers il TO her local authorities in Cuba for in
vestigation, and postpones an answer till she
has heard from those authorities To avoid
these irritating and vexatious delays, propo-
sition has been made to provide for direct
appeal for redress 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 arrange
ment. Ths course on her part is deeply re-
GREETED for, without some arrangement of this
kind, the good understanding between the two
countries may be exposed TO occasional inter-
ruption. Our minister at Madrid is instructed
to renew the proposition, and to press it again
upon the consideration of her Catholic Ma
jestys Government
For several years, Spain has been calling the
attention of this Government 10 a claim for
losses, by some of her subjects, in the case of
the schooner AmiStdd. This claim is believed
to rest on the obligations imposed by our ex-
listing treaty with that country. Its Justice
was admitted, in our diplomatic correspond
ence with the Spanish Government, as early as
March, lS47; and one of my predecessors, in
his annual message of that year, recommended
that provision should be made for it's payment
In January last it was again submitted to Con-
gress by the Executive 1t has received "a
vorable consideration by committees of both
branches, but as yet there has been no final
action upon it. ! conceive that good faith re-
quires its prompt adjustment, and present it
to your early and favorable consideration.
Martin Koszta, a Hungarian by BIRTH came
to this country in 1850, aud declared his inten-
ton in due form of law, to become citizen of
the United States. After remaining here near.
ly two years. he visited Turkey. While at
smyrna he was forcibly seized, taken on board
an Austrian brig-ofwar, then lying in the har-
Dor of that place, and there confined in irons
with the avowed design to take him into the
dominions of Austria. Oar Consul at SMYRNA
and Legation at Constantinople interposed for
his release, but their efforts were Intellectual
While thus imprisoned, Commander Ingraham,
with the United States ship-oi-war St Louis,
arrived at Smyrna, and, after inquiring into
the circumstances of the case, came to the con-
clusiOn that koszta was entitled to the protec-
ton of this Government, and took energetic
and prompt measures for his release Under
an arrangement between the agents Of the Uni
ted States and of Austria, he was transferred
to the custody Of the French Consul General
at Smyrna, there to remain until he should be
disposed of By the mutual agreement of the
c0nsuls of the respective Governments at that
place. Pursuant to that agreement, he has
been released, and is now in the United States
The Emperor of Austria has made the conduct
of our officers who took part in this transae-
ton subject of grave complaint. Regarding
koszta AZ sill his subject, and claiming a 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,
disavowal Of the acts of its agents, and salts
faction for the alleged outrage. After care
ful consideration Of the case, came to the
conclusion that KOszta was seized without legal
authority at Smyrna that he was wrongfully
detained on board of the Austrian brig-oi-war
that, at the time of his seizure, he was clothed
with the nationality of the United States and
that the acts of our officers under the circum-
stances of the case, were justifable, and their
conduct has been fully approved by me- and a
compliance with the several demands of the
Emperor of Austria has been declined
For more full account of this transaction,
and my views in regard to it. refer TO the cor
respondence between the Charge d'Afaires of
Austria and the Secretary of State which is
herewith transmitted. The principles and pol
icy, therein maintained on the part of the Uni
ted States will, whenever proper occasion
occurs be applied and enforced
The condition Of China at this time. renders
1T probable that some important changes will
occur in that vast empire, which will lead to
more unrestricted intercourse with it. The COM
missioner to that country, who has been no.
Gently appointed, is instructed to avail himself
OF all occasions to open and extend our COM
mercial relations, not only with the empire of
China, but with other Asatic nations
In 1852, an expedition was sent to Japan,
under the command of Commodore Perry, for
the purpose of opening commercial intercourse
with that empire. Intelligence has been re-
ceived of his arrival there, and of his having
made known to the Emperor of Japan the OBJ
ject of his visit but it is not yet ascertained
how far the Emperor will be disposed to aban-
don his restrictive policy, and open that popu-
l1us country to commercial intercourse with
the United States.
1t has been my earnest desire to maintain
friendly intercourse with the Governments
upon this continent, and to aid them in pre-
serving good understanding among themselves
With Mexico, a dispute has arisen az to the
true boundary line between our Territory of
New Mexico and the Mexican State Of Chi
huahua. former commissioner of the Uni
ted States, employed in running that line pur-
suant to tie treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo,
made serious mistake in determining the I'M
tlal point on the Rio Grande but, inasmuch
"a his decision was clearly departure from
the directions for tracing the boundary con-
tanned in that treaty, and was not concurred
in by the surveyor appointed on the part Of
the United States, whose concurrence was ne
cessary to give validity to that decision, this
Government is not concluded thereby but that
Of Mexico takes a different view of the sub.
ject.
There are also other questions of cOnsidera-
BILE magnitude pending between the two Re-
publics Our minister in Mexico has ample
instructions to adjust them Negotiations have
been opened, but sufficient progress has not
been made therein to enable me to speak of
the probable result Impressed with the i'm
portance of maintaining amicsble relations
with that Republic, and Of yielding with lib
erality to all her just claims, it is reasonable
to expect that an arrangement mutually salts.
factory to both countries NAV be concluded,
and lasting friendship between them con-
frmed and perpetuated
Congress having provided for full mission
to the States OF Central America, minister
was sent thitber in July last. As yet, he has
had time to visit only one of these States, mic
aragua,) where he was received in the most
friendly manner. II is hoped that his presence
and good Offices will have benign effect in
composing the dissensons which prevail among
them, and in establishing still more intimate
and friendly relations between them respective.
ly and between each Of them and the United
States
Contidcring the vast regions of this Con.
tinent, and the number Of States which would
be made accessible by the free navigation of
the river Amazon, particular attention has been
given to this subject. Brazil, through whose
territories it passes into the ocean, has hitherto
persisted in policy 40 restrictive, in regard to
the use Of this river, as to obstruct and nearly