Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1853-10-01
THE KoszTA Correspondence,

|
pied by the recent correspondence between the
Secretary of State and the Austrian Minister,
in relation 10 the koszta affair. The proprie.
tor of the imion was kind enough to transmit
as a copy Of the correspondence ON Thursday
evening; but, as it was sent through the post
office ut II late hour, it did not reach us in time
for our yesterdays paper
The public intelligence has fully and IN.
equivocally justified the course pursued by Cap
tain lngrnham; and it has been known for
some time that the policy OF the government
would D" fully responsive to the popular Senti-
mcnt. But still Mr.. ,Mary's letter, setting
forth the views Of the President, will he read
with profound interest in every quarter of the
country, and sustained everywhere by candid
and patriotic minds, rs firm. manly, and
powerful defence Of American rights, which
have been too often abandoned in our inter
course with foreign powers. The Austrian
Minister has not been more fortunate in the
present instance than lie was ON the memora.
Bile occasion when he imprudently encountered
Mr. Webster on the subject Of Hungarian indie
pcndence and the republican sympathies of the
people of the United States.
The course which Austria has seen fit to
pursue, has given more than usual Importance
to the koszta case. Not content with open.
inga correspondence with our government in
quiet and proper manner, it has sought to
array the European monarches against us, by
proceedings which could not be otherwise than
offensive, III view of the position which we have
assumed and must maintain, with reference to
| the combinations and alliances of European
cabinets. Notes were addressed to the gov
ernments of England, France, Russia, and
Prussia. for the purpose of cnlisting their sym.
pathies in n matter with which they had no
thing to do. Russia and Prussia, induced by
their hatred to repubicanism, so far forgot
themselves as to inform our government Of the
unimportant fact that they sustained the posi-
ton of Austria; but England and France, with
more prudence and good taste, declined any
impertinent intcrmedling in the matter.
The letter of the Austrian minister, it will
| be seen, takes broad ground by denying the
right of kosza to throw off his allegiance to
the emperor Of Austria, by denying the aris.
diction claimed by the American representatives
at Smyrna and Constantinople, and by denoun
cling the conduct Of Captain Ingraham as hos
tile act, inviolation ofthe neutrality of a friend
ly port. On all these points, which comprise
the whole case the reply of our government is
conclusive and overwhelming, while it is couch
ed in digniied, courteous, and eloquent lam
guage. The Austrian demand that the con-
duct Of our. agents be disavowed, that they
be called speedily to severe account, and that
suitable satisfaction he made to Austria, is de-
clincd i'll such pointed and forcbe manner
as to give every assurance that the time has
at lengtharrivcd Interchangeable is determined
to assert and maintain its full equality among
the nations, under the patriotic guidance of a
democratic administration.
The American doctrine touching the right of
repatriation il fully sustained in the cores
pondence with the Austrian Minister, but that
is not the only basis on which Captain lngra-
hams course is sustained. The circumstances
connected with the demand made on the Turk.
isll government by the Gar of Russia and the
Emperor of Austria, for the delivery of the
Hungarians who had taken refuge in the Otto
man empire, of whom koszta was one; the
manner in which Christcndom viewed the posi-.
ton the Sultan assumed in opposition to that
demand and the agreement, on the part of
Austria, that the Hungarian refugees might go
free, on condition that they did not remain in
Turkey, are used will, crushing force aganstthc
absurd prctentions put forth through the Chcva-
lier Hulsemann. But that portion of the letter
of the Secretary of State which administers
the severcst rcbukc to Austria, and which will
do most to silence the c!amors of those who
sympathisc with the dcspotic governments of
Europe, is that in which he reviews the crcum:
stances OF kosztns arrest ut Smyrna. and ~.
pcls the charge that Captain Ingraham violated
the neutrality Of a friendly port.
koszta was not delivered up to the Austrian
officials by Turkish officers. Although he held
a safe conduct from the American consul at
tinoplc, and was actually awaiting the means
ct returning to the United States, lie was for.
chilly seized by n band of rutlans in the service
of Austria, and imprisoned on board an Aus.
trian BRIG, in contempt Of the Jurisdiction Of
the Turkish government. During the CORES.
spondencc which this seizure gave rise TO- the
Austrian officials determined to convey koszta.
secretly, to an Austrian port, where his fate
would have been sealed. II was under these |
circumstances that Captain Ingraham very |
properly determined to force, il force should
be necessary, in order to defeat the dishonest |
and disgracelul purposes of the Austrian Off
GERS; and we do not understand the American
heart if tn" Who'll" country does not sustain his
well-timsh and gallant action.
ndcr the circumstances of the case, the
Austrian complaint, that Captain Ingraham