Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-08-08
The Kossta (or Costa Affair.

This difficulty, recently occurring in
the harbor of Smyrna, embraces points
which do no. appear to be understood, or
at least to be appreciated by the press,
though, just now, it is the topic most
commented on in every direction. From
what we have been able to learn, Com
mander Ingraham's fa,lr pas was in CIV
ing up Kossta, after having his body in
his possession Under the laws of Tur-
key, Tor her customs, so long established
as to have the force of law any foreign
CT may elect what foreign flag he wills,
for his protection. Thus Frenchman
may choose to place himself under the
English flag, and rice rcrsa. Having once
selected flag, it can legally protect him
there. Kossta, though avowing himself
an Hungarian, had chokn the American
flag. Austria had no legal right to lay
hands on him in Turkey. So, having
been Illegally seized, Captain Ingraham
would have been justified by the law
of the realm, as well as the laws of
nations, We apprehend, in keeping pos
session of him, after the Austrians first
gave him up. Had the affair occurred
in Austrian dominions, or in any other
than that of Turkey, with her peculiar
law or custom bearing on the case,) it
would have been different.
The question of the right of European
Governments to treat original subjects of
theirs, who have become citizens of the
United States, as though still their sub
jects, Is very grave one, involving points
which are not to be settled by resolutions
of public meetings affirming the sacred
rights Of American citizenship, &c. AL
most all who emigratc hither from Eu-
rope, leave there owing, under the law of
the fatherland, certain obligations to the
State; and, as in the case of the Prussian
difficulties now being considered at the
American State Department, 1--WE pre-
s,lme,) when an arrest of naturalized
American citizen who has gone back to
the land of his birth, is made, the osten-
bic ground for the act, is to recover from
him the military service alleged to be due
before his emigration, or the usual COM
mutation therefor in money. This mill
Tor lott Of
ments is remnant of feudalism yet it
has the force of law everywhere over the
continent of Europe, and however much
it may conflict with the principle of our
laws of naturalization, and our ideas of
the privileges Of American citizenship
growing out of them, We apprehend that
1t will be long, very long, ere we will be
able to induce any continental Govern
ment to admit the correctness of the in
noyation upon the apparently well-settled
law ofEations in this connection. So long
as the foreign-born citizen of the United
States remains ON American soil, he can
be protected by this Government to his
hearts content. But on venturing be-
yond its jurisdiction, he risks subsection
to the laws of the other land, where they
do not recognize the soundness of the
principle at the foundation of our system
OF naturalization.
This subject was a fruitful cause of
trouble between the United States and
Britain during the war of 1912. 1t will
be remembered tkat England asserted her
right to treat Irish soldiers in our army
who had either declared their intention
OF becoming American citizens or been
naturalized, as traitors, on being made
prisoners. There were some such with
General Scott when he was made pris-
Qner. The British officer in command
undertook to question them, in order to
detect the land of their birth by their
accent; when the gallant and patriotic
Scott peremptorily ordered them to refuse
to answer; so as thus to deprive the
enemy of his means of ascertaining their
original nationality. Thus, he saved their
lives for the time being. He at once wrote
to Congress earnestly and Indignantly
exposing the heinous character of the
course Britain desired to pursue in this
matter; and, at his request, on the Sd of
March, 1913, the "act vesting in the
President Of the United States the power
of retaliation" was passed, under which
half dozen English prisoners would
have been hung or shot for every Irish.