Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-09-03
THE INTERFERENCE AT SMYRNA.
FROM THE RICHMOND ENQUIRER or AUGUST "a.


dition of Martin Kosta, and to demand PREPARATION
Of the United States for the alleged misconduct
OF its representatives in the affair at Smyrna. The
possibility OF an interruption Of the anicable rela
tons OF the Austrian and American Governments
gives additional consequence to an incident not tri
vial IN ITSELF in far as it presents for discussion
and decision novel and important question of in
ternatlonal law The principle involved in the case
is OF vital concern to this country If it be deter
mined that this Government is accountable for the
conduct and answerable for the safety Of all for
egners who have taken but an intiaory step towards
natuTazauon assumes responsibility of the utmost
gravity If the United States be bound for the protection
Of every person who makes declaration of neaoao
become eliizen OF its Government it should prepare to
meet its responsibility by adequate increase Of its naval
and military establishments The instant it is known that
this Government has contracted such engagement and
undertaken such task, all security in the permanence of
peace lost and we are liable at any to be pre-
ciptated into war with any nation by the criminal ag-
gessons or careless caprice of adventures who neither
from BIRTH habit obligation can feel any soicude for
the welfare of the country Multudes of agitatos and
reyoutonsts will flock shores record the requi-
site declaration and then depart on their schemes Of mis-
chief or OF patriotism with the additional holiness and
energy derived from consciousness of impunity any
extremity of guilty laudable peril Before we become
into conflict with friendly nations, should be salts
fed that responsible for their protection by the
obligations public law and national faith Before
begin the sale of ndugences the reckless agaors
every land, we should be well convinced that decara-
ton of contingent and nchoate allegiance gives them
just and sufficient claim to our championship
The gallant conduct of Capt Ingraham in the affair of
Kosta, and the prompt courage which he displayed in
preparing defend the honor of fag arc worthy of
all praise. The brutal in which the of
Kosta was accomplished and the contemptuous dsre-
gard of the American passport in his pocket by the Aus
rian officials, abundantly justify the interference Of the
gallant captain All honor to him for the brave part
which he bore. But neither admiration Of the in
repid conduct of Capt Ingraham nor our detestaton
of Austrian brutality should determine judgment of
the case.
Protection is the reward of allegiance But no body
pretends that Kosta American citizen 1t is con-
ceded that he took only the first step in the process Of
naturalization The question is had he right to pass
port safe conduct from the American representative on
the basis Of declaration Of intention to renounce
his allegiance to his Government and to become
citizen Of this country at future timer insufficient
this plea is for the protection of Kosa he completely
destroyed whatever validity nigh possess by his
conduct and declarations he had along with Kossuh
and other Hungarians been released from imprisonment By
The Ottoman Government under solemn promise never to
10 lis donons and he abored under whatever
picon and disrust violation of his pghted word might
provoke His conduct occasion of his arrest utterly
disproves the honesty of his declaration of allegiance
this country. He Indignantly repudiated an American
citizenship and protested his purpose to lire and die
Hungarian. On what pretence cansuch man claim the
protection Of the American flag and by what imaginable
right does he presume to involve the United States in
conflict with the Austrian Government? Ii is perfectly
plain that, in granting him passport the American
representative at Consantnope committed agregious
bunde indeed the event do not prove il act Of fatal
s>r,.-------- -.-r-4~--------
Not whit tenabe the other position which the
champions Of Kostas claims If by the arrest
Kosa Austria committed outrage the sovereignty
of the Ottoman Porte it not incumbent on the United
States ayenge the wrong No matter how monstrous
the injustice, this Government had right interpose
The impulses of humanity cannot mpel Government be-
yond the sphere Of its rights and its duties but the
hazard of wanton and unjustihable collision with another
Power.
But It is not so certain that Austria violated the sove-
reignty Of Turkey by the of kosa The diplomatic
relations between the Christian Powers and the ahom-
medan States altogether anomalous They have no
analogy with the international relations Of Christian Gov
ernments We learn from Wheaton's Work on the Law
of Nations that the resident consuls Of the Christian
Powers in Turkey, the Barbary States and other Maho
medan countries exercise both cr and criminal ursdic
dicton their counrymen, 10 The ercHson Of The
NOBLE the official organ of the Ottoman Government con-
cedes that every European in the Turkish Empire is
amenabe to the laws and tribunals Of his country
and that the local authorities hare right of jurisdiction
over them" Even if taken in fragrant de the local
thortes must deliver the culprt to the consulate e
CATION to which he belongs When the Porte ven;ured to
protect the refugees after the revolution, 1t "under
cover of an appeal to the humanity of Austria" The OF
toman Government them does not regard the arrest Of
Kosta as m infringement Of its Jurisdiction Is ncum
bent on this country to repair the defective sensiby Of
Ottoman PRIDE and to resent the imaginary wrongs of
other Powers?
OF those who ready to render affirmative re-
Spouse to this question: acuated by very honor
able and some by very disreputable motives. Some
obeying the impulse of generous sympathy with suffer-
ing would make it the legitimate and essential duty OF
this Government to adjust the account between the victim
and oppressor throughout the world Very different in
less advenurers who, from love for the excitement
of strife and the riot Of war; would wantony involve the
country in oil the embarrassments and conflicts Of Euro
pean politics
The Government Of the United States will find sufi-
Gent scope its energy in the faithful discharge Of its
legitimate functions The interests of its own citizens
and the honor Of its flag, If faithfully promoted and
protected will leave it leisure to adjust the disputes
and redress the wrongs OF those who can present no bet
ter claim to its championship than Martin Kosta.
TIE Tagraham Tcstimonial.--aceting of Adoptcd
Citizens and Eres-A SrOrd for the Captain Of tie 81,
LOUIS.
On Saturday evening week primary meeting was cali
cd in New York by the French Democratic Committee to
make arrangements for the presentation of sword toll
Captain lngrnham for his interference Ia be-
half Of kosta ut Smyrna. There were representatives
Of Italy, Poland, France, and Germany present.