The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-05-17
Our Curacao Correspondence.

CURACAO, April 20, 1854.
Mr.. Youngs Circ,ldr-Refoms in the Consulate Office
Opposition from the Je,cs-Necessity aat the u s. Con-
sui should be Sustained.
Considerable excitement has been caused by the is
suing of the following circular by James H. Young,
the newly appointed Consul to the Dutch West Indies
under instructions from the Treasury Department.
UNITED STATES COMMERCIAL AGENCY.
CURACAO, April TO- 1854.
The Hon. James Guthrie Secretary Of the Treasury Of
the United States has issued the following circular,
which will hereafter be enforced according to instruc
tions received from that department.
JAMES H. YOUNG, U. s. Commercial Agent.
An erroneous impression exists with many foreign
ship Of goods the United States that the consuls
before the oath is either taken verified have
power examine the details of such invoices but sim
ply to verify the fact Of such oath being taken before
ihem or by officer in authority known to them
such.
For the purpose Of carrying out particular system of
duties the government of the United States
qures that the accuracy of certain invoices should be
asoertaned and verified and reasonable time for Con-
suls to accomplish that object, by examination of
such invoices, cannot be justly denied to them.
If Consul ascertans and has reliable evidence of the
falsy Of the oath, either administered to him or by
local magistrate whose certificate he has authenticated
he should notify the Department. which will transmit to
him the original invoice and OATH to be used if deemed
expedient in prosecution for perjury.
An erroneous impression exists with many foreign
shippers Of goods to the United States that the Consus
before whom the oath to invoices is either taken
verified have power to examine the details of such
invoices, but simply to verify the fact of such oath
being taken before them, or by officer in authority
known to them such.
For the purpose of carrying out particular system of
revenue duties the government of the United States
quires that the accuracy of certain invoices should be
ascertaned and verified and reasonable time for Con-
suls to accomplish that object by examination such
invoices, cannot be justly denied to them.
If Consul ascertans and has reliable evidence, of
-skt.
local magistrate whose certificate he has authcnt-
Gated, he should notify the department, which will
transmit to him the original invoices and OATH to be
used if deemed expedient, in prosecution for perjury
Mr. Young, upon his arrival Rere found that the af
fairs Of the Consulate had been conducted in very
loose manner. The former incumbent being Jew and
alien, had neglected to enforce the instructions
ceived from the Department of State, and had certified
invoice of merchandise shipped from this port without
requiring the shippers to make oath to the Very
after the Consus arrival he informed the
tile community that he should certify invoices
less they duly sworn to before him. delegation
of the Jewish merchants who have the entire control Of
business this island waited upon their Consul and in
formed him that they did not intend that any
forms should be introduced into the Consulate; that
they had determined that their invoices should be certi
fed without the OATH that he must recollect that he
upon the soil of the King of the Netherlands
and that the King recognized Consus from the gov
eminent of the United States need not say that the
Consul met these threats with the proper spirit and in
formed them that he should obey the instructions
ccived from his government without fear or favor
The instructions received from the Secretary of the
Treasury published the 22d inst in the Curacao
Coaron of which send you copy. The brig Mary Ade
laide, Forrup master of New York had at that time
taken in part of her and has since been despatched
to Rio Hache for the remainder. Tie consignee, jew
has despatched her without certificate of the
voice shipped at this port, thus setting defiance the
orders from the government of the United States. The
Consul has informed him that he shall request the Col
steps can be taken usual in of this kind 1t Is Of
the utmost importance TO eur commerce with the Dutch
West Indies that Consuls should be fully recognized
by the Netherlands government it is a notorious fact
that the grossest frauds have been perperaed upon the
Of the United States by shippers from these
islands with the most perfect impunity Some of these
auds have already been detected. The questionAow is
shall the Consul be sustained in the position he has
taken by his government Shall the rights Of American
citizens and American commerce be trampled upon by
this government, and mercess set OF grasping Jews
who DEFY the powers vested in him. and in the face Of
the publication Of the laws of his government load their
vessels sailing under American cilors, aud send them TO
the United States without the necessary certificates from
the Consult The time has for the American govern
assert their rights in these possessions OF the
King Of the Netherlands. Either let her sustain the
Consul or recall him and cease all intercourse witn Gu
racao aud dependencies Our merchants and our re-
venues do without the commerce OF Curacao The
moment hat refuse TO send Consul there That mo-
ment the trade will cease II Holland is blind to her
own interests and will not fully recognise the Consuls
sent into her possessions let her suffer Tor it, Let us
protect our flag and the agents of government who
are abroad II the duty OF the President
to send government vessel TO Curacao with orders to
bring Mr. Young home and show the government OF the
Netherlands that will maintain the rights of the gov
eminent that sent him here, the rights OF American
commerce and citizenship.
The government of the Netherlands have already been
sufficiently warned in regard to these matters and with
the Of Captain Gibson still fresh in their memory
should think she would take warning not 10 cmbro
herself in any greater difficulties.
understand that the Consul has laid the whole mat
ter before the Department Washington il ITS true light
and that he will earessy maintain his rights and the
rights Of American commerce. So
CHOLERA IN MIssoURI.-The Glasgow Times
says that the cholera has made its appearance in OF
the river towns Several deaths have taken place at Ar
Rock and The disease had broken out in Gams to-