Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1853-08-25
The Koszta Affair at Washington.

The following remarks of the Washington
Union upon the course of Capt. Ingraham in
rescuing Koszta from Austrian tyranny, may
be considered as expressing the views of the
administration. The tone of the remarks is
bold and patriotic, and the ground taken is
fully endorsed by the entire American people
g But the question of interest to us is, in
what attitude will Austria stand when she
comes forward to demand reparation for the
conduct of Capt Ingraham! Surely, she
must expect her own proceedings in kidnap-
ping Koszta upon Turkish territory, in viola
ton of the laws of Turkey, by which he had
placed himself under American protection, to
be severely scrutinized. With what grace
could the court of Vienna claim reparation, in
view of the fact that the force used by Capt
Ingraham was the result Of the lawless VIC
lence of the Austrian consul in kidnapping a
man who was under the protection of the flag
that floated over Capt Ingraham's vessel -
Of course, we cannot anticipate the course of
our government in such case when the actual
circumstances are so imperfectly known; but,
taking it for granted that Koszta was arrested
by violence on neutral territory, and whilst
under American protection, we cannot see
Capt Ingraham should interpose to prevent
the consummation of the outrage. We main
tian, that as the commander of the St. Louis,
he was not only authorized to resort to 9 ami
cable interposition,' but that it was his duty
TO has government to ere,t Just as much pOl0er
as was necessary to arrest the austrian outrage
and TO prerent Its COnSupmdtiOn. OF what
avail would his g amicable interposition y
have been9 KOsZta was set upon by a band of
lawless ruffians employed by the Austrian con-
sal; he was overpOwered, put in chains, and
carried to the Austrian vessel, to be convened
to Austrian dungeons. Capt. lngraham was
put in command of the American vessel, and
intrusted with the sacred duty of guarding
American citizens, and those enjoying the
right of American protection, against such out
RACES. What was his duty in the premises
We have no hesitation In saying that 1t was
his duty to use all the force necessary TO pro-
tect Koszta; and we unhestatingly declare it
as our opinion, that if he had poured broad
side into the Austrian brig and sunk her to
the bottom, that, in view of the outrage perpe-
trated by the Austrian consul in kidnapping
KOszta, the world would have regarded in as
an act justifable under the circumstances.
Capt. lngraham, however, determined to try
less degree of force, and for his forbearance
we are now notified that Austria may demand
reparation. Resting our opinion upon the
facts as detailed by the London Times, and as
they appear in the above correspondence, we
think the circumstances authorize us to g give
an entirely favorable construction to the pro-
ceedings of Capt. 1ngraham. We do not
see how he could have done less without in
curing the risk of having been censured for
want of promptness and energy, and without
producing the impression that the American
flag does not furnish complete protection to
American citizens against insult and outrage.
The New York correspondent of the Bos-
ton Post says this article of the Washington
Union, taken correctly as an exposition of
the views of the government as to the conduct
Of the consul and captain in the protection of
Koszta from Austrian violence at SMYRNA, has
called forth one uninterrupted cheer from all
the leading Metropolitan journals. The con-
duct of Captain Ingraham is regarded as the
practical corollary to President Pierce s inau-
gural address, and noble assertion of the
g inviolability of the American CITIZEN as
therein proclaimed.