New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1854-11-08

e. ls-1- .
ARREST OF AN AMERICAN CITIZEN IN TUSCANY.
We find the following in the foreign correspond
sence Of the Newark On. ~ Advertiser:
Sympathy with the war against Russia is a
symptom Of rebellion against law, in the judg-
ment Of the political doctors of Italy 1t is not
surprising, therefore, that they should have
prescribed total abstinence and increased eau
ton. Its rulers are haunted by fears Of revolt
and overthrow, and keep jealous vigilance
over every movement and incident. Spies and
informers frequent the hotels, cafes and other
public places; no one can enter or leave the
country without official observation and con-
sent. Every mans pursuits, intercourse and
habits are known to the police; if two or three
meet for conversation in the refreshment room OF
theater, some one is there to note it; nor does
the table-talk Of the hotels escape observation.
This system Of espionage is in fact the nearest
earthly type we have of omniscienee.
The recent tEof an American citizen in
this city is an illustrative incident. It shows
| to what indignities every visitor is constantly
exposed Mr.. Quin had taken passage for the
United States. During the evening before the
| day of his departure he was reading a newspa-
/ per article in cafe, with some marks Of dis
| pleasure, which two young Austrian cadets re-
| marked, and thus opened conversation. At
fecting agreement with him, he was betrayed
l.
| timents, after which they parted, without any
apparent discord. Soon after, however, he was
arrested and thrown into the military prison of
the Austrian garrison. The United States Con-
| sui, j. A, Binda, Esq, citizen of South Caro-
! lima, though by birth an Italian, having heard
| of the case, forthwith waited upon the Tuscan
authorities, and demanded their Interpolation,
| and the release of the prisoner, or Mt least q
trial. according to the civil laws of the country.
| A,ll r,,i1i
tary law, and that he must call upon the Aus
| trian commander in chief. He protested. that
as an American Consul in Tuscany, he had
nothing to do with Austria, and he pressed his
suit in vain, and left, but not, however, without
La formal protest
In the hope Of effscting a speedy release Of
the prisoner, he repaired to the Austrian head
lquarters, where he was told, with an air Of alb
surd solemnity, that the man had been guilty
of an enormous crime nothing less than an at
tempt to seduce the young cadets and excite in
subordination, not one word Of which had the
4 slightest foundation in truth and that the pen
atty was death, and that he must be tried by
| the military tribunal After reasoning the
case without success. he closed the interview
with an assurance that he should forthwith com
Imunicate the case to the commander of the
United States squadron, (Com Stringham) now
fortunately in the Gulf Of Spezzia, on this coast
The next morning letter was received at the
Consulate from the Chief Of the Austrian forces
in Tuscany, at Florence, saying that the pris-
oner, in consideration of his being stranger
against whom there appeared to be no testimony
Of other disorderly conduct, and an American
citizen about to leave the country, would be re.
stored to liberty! twas carefully added, in q
4 postscript, that the threat of sending for the
squadron had not had the slightest influence il
the easel The security Of the Tuscan Govern