Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1853-12-21

that country. Its justice was admitted, in our d
plomatic correspondence with the Spanish Govern
ment, as early as March, 1917; and one of my preC
ecessors in his annual message of that year. rec
commended that provision should be made for 1t
payment. In January last il was again submitte
to Congress by the Executive. 1t has received
favorable consideration by committees of bot
branches, but as yet there has been no final actor
upon it. | conceive that good faith requires it
prompt adjustment, and present it to your earl.
! and favorable consideration.
Martin Koszta a Hungarian by birth, came t
this country in 1885, and declared his intention, il
due form OF law, to become citizen of the United
States. After remaining here nearly two years h
visited Turkey. While at Smyrna, he was forcibly
seized, taken on board an Austrian brig-of-war
then lying in the harbor Of that place, and there
confined In irons, with the avowed design to take
him into the dominions of Austria. Our Consu
at Smyrna and Legation at ConstantinOple inter
posed for his release, but their efforts were nefec
tuaL While thus imprisoned, Commander IDgra
ham, with the United States ship-of-war ST. Louis
| arrived at Smyrna, and, after inquirng into the
circumstances of the case, came to the conclusion
that Koszta was entitled to the protection of this
| Government and took energetic and prompt
measures for his release. Under the arrangement
| between the agents of the United States and OF
Austria he was transferred to the custody Of the
French Consul-Genera at Smyrna, there to remain
until he should be disposed of by the mutual
agreement of the Consuls of the respective Gov
ernments at that place. Pursuant to that agree
ted States. The Emperor of Austria has made the
conduct of officers who took part in this trans
action 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, a disavowal of
the acts of its agents. and satisfaction for the al
legged outrage. After careful consideration of
the case, came TO the conclusion that Koszta was
seized without legal authority at Smyrna that he
was wrongfully detained on board the Austrian
brig-ot-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 justtfiable and
their conduct has been fully approved by me, and
q compliance with the several demands of the En-
peror of Austria has been declined
For more full account of this transaction and
my views in regard to it, | refer to the correspon-
dence between the charge d'affairS of Austria and
the Secretary of State, which is herewith trans
mtted The principles and policy therein main
tanned on the part of the United States, will, when
ever proper occasion occurs, be applied and en-
forced.
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 un-
restricted 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 on
ly with the Empire of China, but with other Asia
ic nations.
In 1852, an expedition was sent to Japan, under
the command OF Commodore Perry, for the pur-
pose of opening commercial intercourse with that
empire. Intelligence has been received CT his ar
rival there, and of his having made known to the
Emperor of Japan the object of his visit; but it is
not yet aScertaned how far the Emperor Will be
disposed to abandon his restrictive policy and open
that popuous country to q commercial intercourse
with he United States.
1t has been my earnest desire to maintain
friendly intercourse with the Governments upon
to al in wiz
understanding among themselves. With Mexico,
u dispute has arisen as TO the true boundary line
between our Territory Of New Mexico and the
Mexican State of Chihuahua. A former commits
sioner of the United States, employed in running
that line pursuant to the treaty of Guadalupe Hi
dalgo, made serious mistake in determining the
initial point on the Rio Grande but nasmuch as
his decision was clearly departure from the di-
rect0nS for tracing the boundary contained in that
treaty, and was not concurred in by the surveyor
appointed on the part of the United States. whose
concurrence was necessary TO give validity to that
decision, this Government is not concluded there
by but that of Mexico takes different view of the
subject
There are also other questions of considerable
magnitude pending between the two Republics =
Onr 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 I'M
pressed with the importance of maintaining ami
cable relations with that Republic, and of yielding
with berality to all her just claims it is reaSona-
BILE to expect that an arrangement matually sats-
factory TO both countries may be concluded, and u
lasting friendship between them confirmed and
perpetuated.
Congress having provided for q full mission to
the States of Central America, q Minister was sent
thitherin July last. AS yet he has had time TO Wis
it only one of these States, (Nicaraugua,) where
he was received in the most friendly manner. 1t
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
respectively, and between each of them and the L.
States.
Considering the vast regions of this continent
and the number of States which would be made ac-
cessbe by the free navigation of the river ANA
zon, particular attention has been given to this
subject Brazil, through whose territories it pass
es into the ocean, has hthorto persisted in policy
so restrictive in regard to the use of this river as
to obstruct, and nearly, exclude, foreign CONNER
cial intercourse with the States which lie upon it's
tributaries and upper 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, un-
der proper safeguards this great natural highway
for international trade Several of the S. Ameri-
can states 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 advantages of free commercial
intercourse among nations are better understood,
more liberal views arc generally entertained as to
the common rights of all to the free use of those
means which nature has provided for internation-
al communication. To these more liberal and en-
lghtened views, it is hoped that Brazil will con-
form her policy, and remove all unnecessary re-
strctiOns upon the free use of river, which trav-
erses so many States and so large part of the
continent. lam happy TO inform yon that the Re-
public of Paraguay and the Argentine Confedera-
hoxo Il.1t toI