The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1853-12-14


sta had boon seized without legal author
ity at Smyrna, that he was wrongfully
detained on board 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 acts of our
officers under the circumstances OF the
case, were justifiablc, and their conduct
has been fully approved by me, and a
compliance with the several demands of
the Emperor of Austria has been de-
clined. For more full account of this
transaction, and my views in regard to
il, | refer to the correspondence between
the charge dafiairos Of Austria and the
Secretary of State, which is herewith
transmitted. The principles and policy
therein maintained on the part of the
United States. will, whenever proper
occasion occurs, be applied and enforced.
The condition of China, at this time,
renders it probable that some important
changes will occur in the vast empire.
which will lead to more unrestricted
intercourse with it. The commissioner
to that country, who has been recently
appointed, is instructed to avail himself
of all occasions to open and extend our
commercial relations, not only with the
empire of China, but with other Asiatc
powers
In 1852. an expedition was sent to
Japan. under command of Commodore
Perry for the purpose of opening com
mercial intercourse with that Island
Intelligence has been received of his ar
rival there. and of his having made
known to the emperor of Japan the oh.
ject of his visit but it is not yet as
ccrtained how far the emperor will be
disposed to abandon his restrictive poll
cy, and open that populous country to a
common intercourse with the United
States.
1t has been my earnest desire to main
tain friendly intercourse with the gov.
crnments upon this continent, and to aid
them in preserving good understanding
among themselves. With Mexico, II
dispute has arisen as to the true boun
dairy line between our territory of New
Mexico and the Mexican State Of Chi
huahua \ former commissioner of the
United Statos, employed in running that
line pursuant to the treaty of Guadal-
oupe lldalgo, made serious mistake
in determining the initial point Oh the
Rio Grande but. inasmuch as his de-
cision was clearly departure from the
directions for tracing tho boundary con
tanning that treaty 4 was not concurred
in by the surveyor appointed on the
part of the United States, whose concur.
renee was necessary to give validity to
that decision, this government is not
concluded thereby but that of Mexico
takes different view of the subject.
There are also other questions of con.
siderable magnitude pending between
the two rcpublcs.-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 importance of maintaining amicable
relations with that republic, and of yield
ing with lbcrality to all her just claims,
it is reasonable to expect that an ar
rangemcnt mutually satisfactory to both
countries may be concluded. and last
ing friendship between them confirmed
and pcrpetuated
Congress having provided for full
mission to the States Of Central Amcri-
ca, Il minister was sent there in July
last. As yet he has had time to visit
only one of these states (Nicaragua.l
where he was received in the most friend
~ manner. 1t is hoped that his pres
cnce and good Offices will have benign
effect in composing the discussions which
prevail among them. and in establishing
still more intimate and friendly rela-
tions between them respectively, and
between each of them aud the United
States.
Considering the vast regions of this
continent, and the number of states
which would be made accessible by the
free navigation of the river Amizon.
particular attention has been given TO
this subject. Brazil through whose
territories it passcs into the ocean, has
hitherto persisted in policy so restric-
tive, i'll regard to the use Of this river,
as to obstruct. and nearly exclude, for
cign commercial intercourse with the
states which lie upon its tributaries and
upper branches. Our minister to that
country is instructed to obtain IL relaxa-
ton of that policy, and to use his efforts
to induce the Brazilian Government to
open to common use under proper safe
guards, this great natural highway for
trade. Several OF the
South American States are deeply in.
interested in this attempt to secure the
free navigation OF the Amizon, and it is
reasonable TO expect their cooperation
IN the measure "A the advantages of
free commercial intercourse among ma
tlons are better understood more Liberal
views are generally entertained as to
the common rights of all to the free use
of those means which nature has provi,
ded for international communication.
To these more liberal and enlieh tened
views, ii is hoped that Brazil will con
form her policy, aud remove all unncc
essary restrictions upon the free use of
n river, which traverses so many states
aud so large a part Of the continent l
am happy to inform you that the repub
lie of Paraguay and the Argentine Con
federation have yielded to the liberal
policy still resisted by Brazil, in regard
to the navigable rivers within their re
spective territories Treaties EN- brac-
ing this subject among others have been
negotiated with these governments,
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