The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-10-13
IVIPIIIu tUIIIUH'
TO BE CONTINUED.
THE K0SZTA AFFAIR.
Mr. HulSemann to Mr.. Marcy,
AUSTRIAN LEGATION,

AUSTRIAN LEGATION,
Washington, august 29, 1853.
The undersigned, Charge d'Atfaires of his
Ma esty the Emperor of Austria, has been in
structed to address this official note to the hon.
orablo Secretary of State, in relation to the
difficulties which have occurred between the
agents of the two Governments at the port of
Smyrna.
The facts which came to pass on that ocoa-
sion are of public notoriety, and the undersign-
ed thinks he may contine himself in his com
| mcnts thereon to the most prominent points
Our Consul General, Mr. de Weckbecker, ex.
ercising the right Of jurisdiction which has
been guaranteed by treaties to the consular
agents of Austria in the East relative to their
countrymen, had caused to be arrested and
conveyed on board the Austrian brig-of.war
"Hunar" the Hungarian refugee Martin
koSzta, who, residing at one time in the interior
OF Kutahia, had left Turkey, in company with
Kossuth and who after having pledged him.
self in writing not to set foot again on Otto
man territory, broke that pledge by returning
some months since to Smyrna.
This arrest gave cause to some reclamatons
which Mr.. Ohley, United States Consul. con.
jointly with the commander of the American
sloOp of-war g St Louis anchored in the roads
before Smyrna, deemed it incumbent upon
themselves to address to Mr. dc Weckbecker,
baslng their demands upon the fact that the
aforesaid koszta, having, according to them,
caused himself to be naturalized in the United
States, was entitled to the protection of the
American authorities Upon this, the Consul
General OF the Emperor, accompanied by the
American Consul and the American command
or, repaired on board the "Huszar; y and these
two iunctiOnarles had it in their power to con-
vince themselves from the declarations of the
prisoner himself, that tho latter had not ac-
CURED the quality of citizen of the United
States, and that he was not even provided with
an American passport.
On his own part, the Charge dAffaires ad
interim of the United States at Constantinopie
addressed communication, on the eth of
June, to the Imperial Intcrnuncio, Minister.
the object of which was to ask for the release
of Koszta upon the plea that he had taken
some steps to be admitted rs an American cit
izen. Baron de Bruck replied to this request
on the same day. refusing to comply with it
! Two days after, Mr.. Brown returned again t.
the charge by forwarding to Mr.. dc Bruck {
copy of u declaration purporting to have beer
signed by koszta, in New York, on the 3lst O
July last and which the Charge dAfaires o
the Union seems to regard sufficient to impl
the naturalization OF that refugee in America
The lniernuncio replied that it was impossible
for him to alter his determination, as he coul
not consider the individual in question as be
longing to foreign jurisdiction, 80 long as tn
ties which bound him to his country were u,
legally dissolved
!, The undersigned thinks it proper to imbod
with the very text of this note copy of IL
document above mentioned, which has serve
as the basis to all the extraordinary procee,
ings both ON the part Of MIR. Brown and tn,
OF the commander of the st. Louis Here it i,
t Declaration male by Martin Kossia of aHeg
!. dnce 10 The Government Of the United States.
o !, Martin Koszta, do declare, on OATH tn,
r IT is bona fde my intention to become n citize
u OF the United States, and to renounce forey
1t all allegiance and fidelity to all and every 70
Il eign prince, potentate State, and sovereign
* whatever, and particularly to the Emperor
: Austria.
i, Sworn in open court, this LIST day of Jul
l. 1882, before me, clerk of the court, &c.
It MARTIN KoszrA.
: -, clerk of the court of -, being
% court OF record having common.law iarisdi
Ii ton, and clerk and SEAL do certify that Il
, above IL true copy of the original deciarati,
OF Mr.. koszta 10 become a citizen of the Ur
II ted States, remaining opened in my Office
J, In testimony whereof have hereunto su
y I, . scribed my name and affixed the seal
l. lA' the said court the 3lst day of Jul
~ 1852. Clerk
/; ID is difficult to conceive how the represent
tiyes of the United States could have sought
= found proof of the pretended naturalizati,
~ OF koszta upon document destitute Of all a
% thentlc character seeing that the form of legs
- natlon which is affixed to il, and which alol
could have invested it with that charaots
leaves in blank" both the name of the tribun
d. before which the declaration Of Koszta mu
have been made, and the name of the Gle,
!, who is supposed to be the depository of h
y original document and that moreover, tn
pretended legalzation has neither signature n
|, official seal attached to it, But even admittir
the authenticity OF this declaration, and supp
i sing that Kozts could without violation of Il
. laws OF his country, Of his own accord, ar
!. without any other formalities, have brok,
? asunder the ties which bind him to his natl
,. soil, the text Of the document shows that Il
Il
o Literal-makes mention Of either translator