The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-07-03
Interesting from the Island or Curaeoa.
OUR CURACAO CORRESPONDENTS.

i"teresin8 from the Island on Curaeoa.
OUR CURACAO ooRkEsPosDESoE.
CURACAO, June Is. 1854.
Difficulties betDeen the Governor of Curacao aud
the american Capitalization Of an american
Vessel.
hasten to lay before your readers the facts in re-
gard to the detention of the American schooner
Abbot Devereaux, of Boston, F. Fl. Cross master,
BY the authorities of this island.
1t has been Tor many years the custom of the con-
signees of American vessels to board them before
they have airly entered this harbor, and request
the master to hand them the register of his vessel
for the purpose of entering the and her cargo
When the master has applied to the consignee for
his papers, the ply has always been that they have
been deposited in the Custom House; and when the
master calls upon IN Consul for information or his
interference, he finds at he has fine Olive hundred
dollars to pay to the American government for
neglect to deposit his papers at the Consulate ac
cording to law.
This course has been pursued for years by the
government of the Netherlands thus deprying our
Consul OF the control OF the vessel and virtually
saying to the American government that we will
take the responsibility of controlling vessels sailing
under American colors, and owned by American
citizens.
But new order of things has been introduced by
our newly appointed Coz sul-Mr. j. H. Young. OF
New York-wbo has taken the bold position that,
under his commission, and in accordance with the
spirit of the treaty with the Netherlands that gov
eminent has right to the papers of vessels pro-
tected by the flag OF the United States He has shaken
the very found itors their laws which they have
made in the face of the treaty stipulations exist
ing between the two governments; he has made this
government quail before him, and has established
the right OF American coosuls to hold the papers of
American vessels in the colonies of the King Of
the Netherlands.
Il being too late for Capt. Gross to deposit his
papers either at the Custom House or the Consulate
the day of his arrival, our Consul called on board
and informed Capt Gross that it was the custom of
this government to require the masters of American
vessels to deposit their papers at the Custom House.
He also stated 10 Capt. Gross that he should expect
him to deposit his papers in the Consulate Capt.
G.s reply was that he never had deposited the pa
pers Of his vessel with any foreign government,
ana as he knew higher authority than the repre.
sentative of the United States on this island who
had right to his papers, he should hand them
to the Consul the next morning. The papers were
deposited at the Consulate and the Consul gave the
master the usual receipt which was presented at
the Custom House, but the Colonial Receiver in
enter the vessel cargo until the papers were pro-
duced. The consignee then called upon our Consul
and inquired of him whether he would allow him to
deposit the, vessels papers In the Custom House.
Mr Noung reply was, that, in accordance with the
powers vested in him by his government, he should
hold the papers of the vessel until the master pro-
duced scearance from the collector of the customs
The same day the Governor requested an audience
with the Consul, and stated to him that his laws
distinctly said that the papers of vessels sailing
under the flag of the United States must be de.
mand upon the Consul for the register and crew list
of the schooner; but understand the Consul would
not reply to his demand unless it was made in writing
The Governor opened correspondence with the
Consul upon the subject, and stated to Mr.. Young
that he must comply with the laws Of this govern
ment, and must surrender the papers Of the A. De.
vereaux; but our Consul respectfully declined to
cede to his request.
The A. Devereaux entered this port on the 30th
of May. This demand was made on the 3lst ult.
On the LIST of June the colonial court and the court
of justice was called for the purpose of taking the
most severe steps in regard to the Consul aud the
con6scaton Of the vessel. After several meetings,
and detention of eight days. the usual permits
were handed to Capt. Gross and the vessel allowed
to discharge her freight, and take in her return
cargo; the Consul meanwhile holding the register
and crew list of the vessel.
The course pursued by our Consul, in this matter,
must meet with the appreciation of our government.
He has said to Holland and to the world AS long as
my government chooses to keep me here, so long
you shall respect the rights of American citizens
and the flag which protects them. He has said to
them, you shall respect the representatives Of the
great republic. He has taught Holland lesson
which she will long remember. He has de6ed her
governor and her courts to carry our their laws,
which conflict with the treaties between the two
nations. Every ship owner and ship master must
fee that Mr. Young, ut the early age of 26 years,
has struck blow for American commerce, aud the
Gag which protects that commerce for which they
must forever feel indebted for he has established
precedent with the government Of the Netherlands,
90 which they will have to accede. ! consider this
the most brilliant triumph for the American flag it
has ever been my good fortune to witness. am in
fha vCbn lQ hoe
mitted to Washington, and hope that it may be laid
before the world. As American feel proud of the
position Consul has taken, and hope our govern
ment will give him O mission more worthy of him
than the one he now holds. 1t is to the Young men
of nation that we must look for decided action
With foreign governments-to yonng men who can
not be inundated or bribed by foreign powers
This government will do everything which lies in
their power to make the position our Consul holds
in these colonies unpleasant to him. After they
found that they could not compel him to surrender
the papers of the A. Devereaux, they issued an
order to the government pilots (Which / consider
gross insult to our gOvernment) stating that per-
son by the name of Young has detained the papers
of the American schooner H. Devereaux, and warn
ing all masters OF American vessels that if they de-
post their papers with this person they will incur
a penalty of 500 guilders.
understand that petition is in circulation to be
signed by one thousand Jews, calling upon our
government to remove our Consul, they having found
it impossible to do their business with Mr. Young,
because he acts to the very letter OF his nstruc
tons. should have stated that there are but two
houses doing business in this island conducted by
Holland merchants, and one American the remain
der of the merchants being Jews who have carried
Oh syetem of smuggling their goods into our ports
with the most perfect impunity previous to the arr.
vol Of our present Consul.
Captain Gross has acted In this matter with that
firmness which characterises the true American in
foreign lands as defendant Of the Puritans he
would not acknowledge any power greater than his
OWE government. Our Consul feels that he owes
much to Captain Gross, for when the Governor Of
this island threatened to confscate his vessels his
reply was :" know authority higher than the
representative Of my own government, who has the
right, and holds the papers of my vessel
Immediate steps hould be taken by our govern
meDt 10 sustain our Consul in the position he has
taken-the administration should act with tirnneas
and decision The time has come when we must say
to the King Of the Netherlands, "thus Ear shall YOU
/. and M further. ~ %%H&&f