The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-08-11
THE SMYRNA AFFAIR PARTICULARS AND
POSITION

correspondence between our Charge
d'Affaires and the Ambassador of Austria, at
Constantinople, under date of 9th and 2sth
June, presents the Costa case thus MIR. John
P. Brown, our Charge, in his note to Baron
Bruck, the Austrian Ambassador, states that
the prisoner Costa is one of thu Hungarian
refugees who was with Kossuth, detained al
Kutayah, and with him, in 1851, was permit.
ted to leave for the United States; that after
his arrival in New York he renowned his allie.
glance to any other Power OF sovereign, and
took the oath Of allegiance to the Constitution
of the United States, usual in such cases. A
few months since, he went to Smyrna from
New York, with the design Of returning to tbs
United States. On the 2lst June, he was ar
rested by the order Of the Austrian Consul, and
carried on board the Austrian brig Husssr
And after some severe reflections upon the
manner of the arrest, and the violation of the
rights of the Turkish Government and the re-
spect due to the United States in the crcum-
stances, requests the Baron to give Gders Tor
the immediate release Of Costa, that he may
proceed to the United States.
The Austrian Ambassador replies TO TINS
note, that Costa lis native Of Hungary, anu
has never ceased to be an Austrian sup)ec1
relying upon Costa's declaration when ne was
Intercepted by Captain Ingraham, ina. no
was g a Hungarian, and would live and die
Hungarian" and that his arrest TOOK pace
regularly, under subsisting treaties between
Austria and Turkey. Concluding: "iou WIN
easily understand then, M. lie Charge oar
fairies the absolute impossibility OF complying
with your request 81
Mr. Brown replies TO this note, that the baron
cannot approve the means adopted BY the Aus
tran Consul at Smyrna for the arrest OF Costa
and that he is not called upon to express any
opinion Of the right claimed by Austria 0'e'
its subjects in the Territory of Turkey. herr
news his request for the liberation Of Costa sna
forwards to the Baron the declaration oil IL.
tentions filed by Costl in New York, on u"
July, 1881 renouncing his allegiance to 'DS
Emperor Of Austria, and taking the os'n .
allegiance to the Government Of the tnl'o0
States of America He adds, that he behs'e'
the Austrian as we'll "a other Government
recognise tho right of expatration and na'a'
ralization, and declares that the arrest Of c0s'a
upon the neutral ground Of Turkey, alter Wv
act Of allegiance made by him, will be resa'u
ed by the American Government rs WY
painful violation Of the rights Of natursifaa'lo"
and, in consequence Of his Official interceS''0'
as want of respect towards our Government
not easy TO be removed. He says, further ina
the American legation at Constsns'nopic ~.
the consulate at Smyrna, afscr examination o.
CoatA's papers, granted him passport TO conc
to Constantinopls from Smyrna, and to return
there again, and start thence for New YORK
that since Cossa's arrival in Smyrna he na'
LA. under the protection Of tho Americs"
Government and that his conduct has been
irreproaohabl s--his fidelity to his nssive isna
hsins the only crime Of which he is ACCUSED
vhieh Isads him 10 declare himself Hunsa
riss, and willing to meet his death - sson
-Broadly but decorously hiating q the cons.
auedcsa Of the case, the liberation u Cosss y
s9ain pressed. And 20 the corrssponosu y
that has reached us concludes.