Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1853-12-15

lHC DIISOuDI, IL uSuNONUl VI uC uNlo vi /"
: agents, and satisfaction for the alleged outrage
After careful consideration of the case,
| came to the conclusion that koszta was seized
without legal authority at Smyra; 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 Un
ted States and that the acts Of our officers
under the circumstances of the case, were JUS
!, tlfable, and their conduct has been fully ap
proved by me, and compliance with the sev'
eral 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
: correspondence between the Charge d'affairs
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 a proper occasion
occurs, be applied and enforced.
The condition of China, at this time, rem.
ders it probable that some important changes
will occur in that 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 him.
self Of all occasions to open and extend our
commercial relations, not only with the empire
Of China, but with all other Asiatic nations.
: In 1852 an EXPEDITION was sent to Japan
under the command Of Commodore Perry, fol
the purpose Of opening commercial int recourse
with that island Intelligence has been re.
ceivcd 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 asccrancd
how far the Emperor will be disposed to aban-
don his restrictive policy, and open that popu-
lous country to a 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 preserving
good understanding among themselves. With
Mexico, dispute has arisen as to the true
boundary line between our territory Of New
Mexico and the Mexican State of Chihuahua
A former commissioner of the United States,
employed in running that line pursuant TO the
treaty of Guadalupe HidaIgo, made serious
mistake in determining the initial point on the
Rio Grandc but, inasmuch as his decision
was clearly departure from the directions for
tracing the boundary contained in that treaty
and was not concurred in by the surveyor APP
pointed on the part of the United States, whose
concurrence 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 consider.
) able magnitude pending between the two re.
l.
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.
porancc of maintaining amicabc relations
with that republic, and of yielding with libcr.
, ality to all her just claims, it is reasonable to
expect that an arrangement mutually satsfac.
} tory to both countries may be concluded, and
) lasting friendship between them confirmed
: and perpctuated.
Congress having provided for full mission
7 to the States of Central America, Il minister
was sent thither in July last. As yet he has
had time to visit only one of these States, (Ni
camgua,) where he was received in the mos
} friendly manner. 1t is hoped that his presence
and good Offices will have benign effect in
, composing the disscnsons 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.
Considering the vast regions of this conti-
nent, 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 so restrictive, in regard to
the use of this river as to obstruct, and nearly
exclude, foreign commercial intercourse with
the States which lie upon its tributaries and up.
per branches. Our minister to that country is
instructed to obtain relaxation of that policy,
and to use his efforts to induce the Brazilian
government to open to common use, under
proper safeguards, this great natural highway
for international trade. Several of the South
} American States arc deeply interested in this
attempt to secure the free navigation Of the
} Amazon, and it is reasonable to expect their
cooperation in the measure. As the advan-
tages of free commercial intercourse among
| nations are better understood, more liberal
: views are generally entertained as to the COM
mon rights of all to the free use of those means
which nature has provided for international
communication. To these more liberal and
enlightened views, it is hoped that Rraz will
conform her policy, and remove all unncccssa'
| ry restrictions upon the free use Of river
which traverses so many States and so large a
} part of the continent. | am happy to inform
you that the republic of Paraguay and the Ar.
gcntine Confederation have yielded to the lib
cra policy still resisted by Brazil, in regard to
the navigablc rivers within their respective ter
rories. Treaties embracing this subject, among
others, have been negotiated with these gov
cmmens, which will be submitted to the Sen
) ate at the present session.
! A new branch of commerce, important to
the agricultural interests of the United States
5 has, within few years past, been opened with
: Peru. Notwithstanding the inexhaustible de-
5 posts of guano upon the islands of that coun