Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1853-08-31
The Case of Kosta AT smvrna.

1ne toilowtng Just views are put forth
BY the Union upon this interesting
subject. After publishing the correspon,
dent between Mr.. Brown, our acting
Charge at Constantinople. and MIR. Bruck,
the Austrian Agent. the Union goes on
Co say:
It is worthy Of especial attention, in
considering the questions that may arise
in the further investigations of this sub
ject, that MIR. Kosta had not become a cit
izen OF the United States, although he had
ablured allegiance to all other governments
before he left our country on his visit to
Turkey. urgovernment. therefore. had
not furnished him passport under which
he could claim protection as an American
citizen; but he carried with him certified
copies Of his declaration filed preparatory
10 naturalization and citizenship, and up
on this declaration being presented to the
consulate at Smyrna and the legation at
Constantinople. Kosta was furnished
with tszksred to come to Constantinople,
and TO return to the United States" 1t
might be an exceedingly interesting ques-
ton to ascertain TO what extent a foreign
er occupying Kosta's anomalous position
(haying abjured his allegiance to Austria.
and declared his purpose to transfer his
allegiance to the United States) could
claim protection as guasi-citizen of our
Government. But Kosta had not rested
his claim to our protection upon his decla
ration alone-he had awaited himself of
the laws of Turkey, to which we adverted
few days since; and by virtue of these
laws for the benefit of foreigners, he had
placed himself under the protection ofour
flag. 1t follows that the proceedings of
the Austrian consul at Smyrna were
gross outrage upon the laws of Turkey as
well as upon the rights of Kosta under
American protection, and necessarily an
insult to our authority. The London Times,
with all its anti American proclivittes, does
not hesitate to characterize the conduct
of Austria as a lawless outrage upon the
rights and sovereignty of Turkey, and We
ry correctly attributes the failure of Tur
key TO resent the insult, to her weakness.
IL MAY be that Austria was moved in this
matter by power greater than her own.
and that that greater power INDUCED
the hope that Turkey would resent the in
dignity. But, without pursuing this con-
lecture, we may safely assert. that if Tur
key had fired into the Austrian brig, she
would have stood justified before the world
for a noble vindication of her insulted
honor and injured rights.
But the question of interest to US is. in
what attitude will Austria stand when she
comes forward to demand repatriation for
the conduct of Capt. Ingraham Surely,
she must expect her own proceedings in
kidnapping Kosta an Turkish territory, in
a.. 6 I,
he had placed himself under American pro
lection. to be severely scrutinized. With
, what grace could the court of Vienna claim
reparation. in view of the fact that the force
used by Capt. Ingraham was the result of
the lawless violence of the Austrian con-
sui in kidnapping a man who was under
the protection of the flag that floated over
Capt. Ingraham's vessel? OF course,
We cannot anticipate the course of our
government in such a case when The actu-
al circumstances are 50 impcrtectly known;
but, taking it for granted that kosta was
arrested by violence on neutral territory,
and whilst under American protection,
we cannot see upon what principle it can
be objected that Capt. Ingraham should
interposc to prevent the consumation of
commander of the ST. Louis he was not
only authorized to resort to " amicable
iuterposition," but that it was his t(uty
to his government to erert just as much
pOWer as 11aS necessary to arrest the
Austrian outrage and to preUeM It's con-
examination. OF what avail would his
- amicable interposition" have been
Kesta was set upon by band of lawless
ruffians employed by the Austrian consul;
he was overpowered. put in chains. and
carried to the Austrian vessel. to be con-
veyed to Austrian dungeons. Captain In.
graham was put in command of the Anne
riean vessel, and iutrusted with the sacred
duty of guarding American citizeus, and
those enjoying the right of American pro-
lection. against such Cutrases. What
was his duty in the premises ? We have
no hesitation in saying that it was his du,
ty to use all the forces necessary to pro-
tect Kosta; and we unhesitatingly declare
it as our opinion, that if he had poured
broadside into the Austrian brig and
sunk her to the bottom. that. in the view
of the outrage perpetrated by the Aus.
trian Consul in kidnapping Kosta, the
world would have regarded it as an act lusti-
fable under the circumstances. Capt. In
graham, however. determined to try a less
degree of force, and for his forbarance we
we are now notified that Austria may de-
mand reparation. Resting our opinion
upon the facts as detailed by the London
Times. aud as they appear in the above
correspondence. we think the circumstan-
ces authorize US to give an entirely ia
vorable construction to the proceedings of
Captain Ingraham." We do not see how
he could have done less without mourning
the risk of having been censured for want
ofpromptness and energy and without pro-
ducing the impression that the American
fac does moi furnish com nlste nrntertinn