Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1853-12-13


island Of Cuba, between our citizens and
the Spanish authorities. Considering the
proximity Of that island to our shores-ly-
ing, as it does, in the track Of trade between
some of our principal cities-and the susp
cious vigilance with which foreign inter-
course, 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 consul at Havana and The Cap
tain General of Cuba, ready explanations
cannot be made, or prompt redress afforded,
where injury has resulted. All complaint
on the part of our citizens, under the pres
ent arrangement, must be- in the first place,
presented to this government, and then re-
ferre1 to Spain. Spain again refers 1t to
her local authorities in Cuba for investiga-
ton, and postpones an answer till she has
heard from those authorities. 10 avoid
these irritating and vexatious delays, prop
ostion has been made to provide for dl-
rect appeal for redress to the Captain Gen
eral 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 ar
rangement of this kind, the good under
standin beiwecn the two countries may be
exposed to occasional interruption. Our
minister at Madrid is instructed to renew
the proposition, and to press it again upon
her Cltholic Mjesty's Government
For,scyeral years, Spain has been calling
the attention OF this government to a claim
for losses, By some Of her subjects, in the
case of the schooner Armistad. This claim
is believe to rest on the Obligations imposed
by our existing treaty with that country
lis Justice WAS admitted in our diplomatic
correspou lenee with the Spanish govern
meut, as early as March, l847 and one oI
my predecessors, in his annual message oI
that year, recommended that provision
should be made for its payment. In Janu-
AIRY last it WAS again submitte | to Congress
bv the Executive. II has received a favor
able consideration by committees of botl
branches but as yet there has been no fna
action upon it, L conceive that good faith
requires its prompt adjustment, and pre-
sen. it to your early and favorable consider
alton.
M,rtin Kos.ta, Hungarian by birth
came to this country in 1859, and declared
his Intentions in due form of law, to be
come citizen of the United States. Afte
renlpininE here nearly two years, he visitc'
Turkey While atSmyrna, he was forclbl,
seized, taken on board an Austrian brig o
war, then lying in the harbor at that place
and there confined in irons, with an avowet
design to take him into the dominlons Q
Austria. Our consul at Smyrna and lega
ton at Constantinople interposed for hi
release, but their efforts were Intellectual
While thus imprisoned Commander lngra
ham, with the United States ship of wa
St. Louis, arrived at Smyrna, and, after in
auiring into the circumstances OF the case
came to the conclusion that Ko5zta was EN-
titled 10 the protection Of this government
an took energetic and promptmeasures 10
his release Under an arrangement be
tween the agents Of the United States an
of Austria. he was transferred to the cu'
toIy of the French consul general, at Smyl
ma, there 10 remain until he should be dis
posed Of by the mutual agreement of tn
consus Of the respective governments
that place. Pursuant to the agreement, i
has been released, and is now on his way
the United States.
The Emperor of Austria has made tt
conduct Of our officers who took part in tn
transaction subject of grave complain
Regarding Koszta asAstill his subject, al
Il -, 10,
limits Of the Turkish empire, he has d
manled Of this government its consent
the surrender of the prisoner, a disayow
of the acts of its agents, and satisfaction
the alleged outrage. After careful co
alteration of the case, | came to the concl
sion that Ko!zta was seized without leg
authority At smyrna; that he was wron
fully detained on board Of the Austrian br
of war; that, at the time of his seizure,
was clothed with the nationality Of the u
ted States; and that the acts of our officer
under the circumstances of the case, we
iu>ttiable. and their conduct has been fuI
approved by me, and a compliance with
several demands of the Emperor of Al
tria has been declined.
FUr more IuIl account vi IhIS udlSd
ton, and my views in regard to it, rel
to the correspondence between the char
d'afaires of Austria and the Secretary
State. which is herewith transmitted, t
principles and policy therein maintained,
the part Of the United States, will, whcn(
er proper occasion occurs, be applied a
enforced.
The condition Of China, at this time, rC
ders it probable that some important cha
yes will occur in that vast empire, VIII
will leel to a more unrestricted intercou
with it. The commissioner to that count
who has been recently appointed, is instr,
tel to avail himself OF all occasions to OF
AMI ex'cnl our commercial relations,
only with the empire of China, but with o
er Asiaic nations.
In 1852, an expe lition was Sent to Jap
under the command of Commodore Per
for the purpose of opening commercial
tercourse with thatisland Intelligence
been received Of his arrival there, and
his having made known to the Emperor
Japan the object OF his visit; but it is
vet ascertained how far the Emperor vii
disposed to abandon his restrictive pol
ami open that populous country to a C
mcrcial intercourse with the United Sta