Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1853-09-14
The Kosta Affair.

Inc hrmness and dignity OF comman-
der lngraham at Smyrna, will tend to i'm
press the world with deeper respect for
the name and influence of the United
States than any incident that has occur
red for many years. The manifestation took
place at the very ''nick ftime," when Eng
land and France had given indications of
retreating from their proud words and
were preparing TO yield all the substan-
tial demands of the Russian Gear, under
the thin disguise of formal diplomatic
arrangement of difficultieS--a disguise
too thin to conceal the ambitious and grasp
ing designs of Russia, and check to
weak to offer the least distractions to the
progressive march of the great Northern
Power. We learn from the correspon-
dent of the Philadelphia North American,
that all the dispatches. received at Wash
ington, from Constantinople and Smyrna,
declare that the universal sentiment among
the nations, and the foreign consuls, was
enthusiastic in favor of commander Ingra-
hams conduct, on the grounds of human
ity and hospitality, and that the only re-
greet expressed is that he did not go a
step further and refused to make any
compromise short of Kosta's liberty at all
hazards, in which he would doubtless have
been sustained by the Administrations
1t seems that the cannon of the st. Louis
were all loaded that the force arrayed
against her, consisted of the Austrian
Hussar frigate, twelve gun brig, and
four small steamers, each mounting
ordinarily four guns that four guns, addi-
uoual to each, were added during the
night; yet Commander Ingraham had no
doubt of his ability to cope successful with
them all, by dropping astern a short dis
lance. The London Times, circulated the
statement that, through inferior IN force,
the Austrian Captain acted, at Smyrna,
with a spirit equal to that of the Ameri-
can Captain. The following extract of a
letter. written by an officer of the est.
Louis" shows that the Austrians were
superior in force. and yet they gave up
Kosta, to avoid a fight. The officer
writes
Although our guns are much larger
than the Austrians, still, at the near quar-
ter we intended to fight, their guns
would have been Just as destructive as ours.
The Austrian force consisted of one brig.
sixteen guns; one schooner, ten guns and
three mail steamers, which would no
So you see their force was much larger
than ours. There was general rejoicing
after the matter was settled and the
American citizens in Smyrna gave din
ner to Capt. Iugraham and his officers.
on the 4th of July. There was gene
raj joli6cation, and there was popping
of hottle-corks. instead of the big guns
Last nigh we gave ball on board to some
Of the residents of Smyrna, who have been
very kind to US since our arrival in the
port"
A few extracts from an article in the
London Morning Advertiser indicate what
this affair has done for the American name
in Europe:
The governments OF Western Europe
are PROSTATE TO the mission and the mis-
sionary. The despotism of the Emperor
ofthe French, and the Coalition Cabinet
of England COVER in the presence of the
Gar. The two greatest naval powers in
the world lay their ships at anchor in Bes-
ika Bay, and stammer apologies for their
audacity ? Our palefaced diplomatists
inquire anxiously what Austria thinks, or
what Prussia will do, to help their imbe-
eility and cowardicc. Every sinister ru.
NOR, is eagerly caught up. and tremulous-
Iy echoed, to extenuatc their treacherous
poltoonery.
But while these paraIyzed aristocrats
are shiyering, chattering like pedagogues
clubbing like sophists, and leaning to the
lash like slaves, the young Democracy ri.
sing in the West asserts its privilege OF
ofblood. The
Pontica Pinus,
Silva fila nobilis,
ploughs the Eastern waters, braves the
Austrian blast, illustrates its ancestry
shames our bastardy, maintains the right;
OF nations, vindicstes its own, and proves
to the world that the passport of Ameri
"a isthe only real safeguard against tyrau.
ny.
America represents that principal O.
liberty that makes every people her ally
American statesmen speak and write in
the name Of a country, not of a class
The act OF this American Captain is the
theme of England, of Germany and
France. Their journals express what the
people feel. Even the Charioari jests nc
more, but shouts " Long live Ameri
cal"
Z" The refugee. the Pariahs, the nalig
ned OF Europe, are living men once more
America clames these waits Of liberty
and offers them the safeguard of her flag
The hulks Of Austria, motionless beneath
the pointed cannon Of America, render W
their victims. The doble conduct of hel
marine at Smyrna is great fact in histo,
ry. The news of the demand of NJ. de
Kosta by her Minister at Constantinople,
sets the seal upon her maguanimity.-
March forward. Young America, in hu-
nsanity's cause, and shout that ralIying
shout-"Go head !" which makes every
baart haaf b;rb )