The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-09-24


The accounts from washington some days since made
as acquainted with the fact that The governments OF Rus
s and Pfussa have united with that Of Austria in form
ally protesting against the conduct Of Captain ngralam
~ The wellremembered Kosta AFFAIR, Communications
gom the Two governments that effect being file
IN the Department OF State and il appears that some OF
The British journalists inclined 10 give them their sup
port assuming Captain lngTahanfs act 10 be oil very
questionable aud ndeensbe character. This is al least
the case wiki The London Times, which. while arguing
that Austria and The United States are alike IN fault both
having violated the neutrality Of the Turkish port, an
nounces that there is something wholly untenable in the
groandthe novel and dangerous doctrine as II calls
IT, involved in Kostas claim 70 cilizenshpon which The
American government usfes the interference OF The
commander OF The ST. Louis in his defence. 4sGa
The arguments OF The Times perhaps as much en-
led 70 notice as the protest Of Russia and Prussia,
cuarly that which warns us OF the ''imprudence' Of
permitting an alien to acquire claims to the protection OF
the United States by "declaration OF citizenship,
and then toreun 10 Europe in his capacity to carry
hssame political schemes which caused his expulsion
from his native land" Russia and Prussia, however,
sovereign States, friendly the Unisd States and their
expression OF dissent in case in which they have no
interest beyond the support Of what they deem prnc
pie VI public law will naturally lead the American peo
pie to weigh all the circumstances connected with IT, al
though we do not think many will be thereby induced to
doubt the perfect legality and proprey OF Captain In
graham's course. H
Was Kosta citizen Of the United States entitled TO
their protection, at the moment when he was awlessly
arrested by the Austrian consul at Smyrna, (or the ar
rest was awess, Of course, being made on Turkish so
where Austria is not entitled 10 arrest even her owa sub
The whole question Of right wrong in Captain lnkra-
bans proceedings. Austria herself will assuredly not
claim the right 10 arrest bona fds American citizen IN
this manner and Russia and Prussia would have hesi-
aied before inermeddng in the affair. had doubt. Of
citizenship existed None OF these powers protest be
cause Captain ingraham, by focby procuring the release
OF kosia violated the neutral privileges OF Turkish
port The gavamen Of The wrong. with them, undoubt
edy lay in the circumstance OF Kosa having been an
Austrian subject, who, in their vew had not yet ac-
quired the rights of Americas citizenship, and there
IRE aS N a
understard-as apparently, the Times cannot UNDER
siandhe principle by which is made citizen OF
n,e.lion int Of c,zsashp. N Nevertheess there IS no a
Guilty in commehendng the riddle The principle is as
simple az the process the right Of Abe United States
to adopt foresn subjects citizens at all be once grant.
ed-and what government Of Europe denies il '-it
follows that the United States have the right TO adopt
them in any way they choose as regards time and oTms
for lie United Slsies "a decide, not the foreign
governments whose subjects may be naturalized.
We may adopt them IN moment. by an lns,ania-
neous ac aud. n reality, this is the way in which we
DO adopt inem. Under our laws, the declaration OF in
tennon is tie essential iorn which admits foreigner 10
citizenship, and he is citizen from that moment, with
the exception Of certain rgbt-the right OF suisge
which is only obtained after period OF probation.
When kosta declared his inenton OF citizenship, he abb
ured his allegiance 10 Austria, and IRON that monen,
was entitled 10 the Protection Of the United States; and
the United States were bound 10 protect hun as much as
il he had been admitted 10 all the rights of voler The
law may BE- good bad one but is the lazy not
egn State what the law oil the Uued States is in Tins
particular. II j permits, whether openly or by sden
claim 10 find iaal, with The adopting State Tor mmedi
aey granting protection equivalent 10 that which be
has surrendered This is a mailer exclusively between
the adopted citizen and his government Austria
had no more rghto srres, Kosia than would have had
10 arrest native born citizen OF the Uniled States at
Smyrna and the obligation OF protection on the United
States as strong in the il could possibly
have been in the other, Russia and Prussia have pro-
tested against the conduct OF an American officer who
simply performed bis duty, and who. il he violated the
avs Of nations, did SO at the expense OF Turkey not
Austria. - s-srel ~ as IN 1904.
So much for the shovel and dangerous doctrine Of the
rimes, which is a doctrine founded in common ssase
and common justice, and is in no way whatever op-
posed to single principle OF international law. The
novelty and danger would be embraced in an opposite
doctrine, admitting The Igh, OF man 10 change bis aeg
ance, yet requiring him, Tor some particular period (what
sba bell 20 live in limbo, expalraled yet not adopted
an exile and alien, subject TO the authority Of two
governments, yet entitled 10 The PaieIna good ohces oil
neither. -t
|, is in vair for the Times argue the imprudencs OF
which the Utled States guilty in granting rights Of
citizenship TO Aliens and allowing Them TO return TO Eu
rope 10 carry the same political schemes which
caused their expulsion IRON their native counties" The
argument is founded on The absurdest and faees OF
sumpuons we do not naiuralIze citizens Tor any such
pnrpose and The protection OF the does not
folly any citz native adopted, TO foreign lands the
laws of which ne violates Sach protection Is inerposed
10 shield the inhocen citizen agaiast injustice and law
less ourageu sustain him in the enjoyment OF rights
common all persons protected by the law OF
Kosta was not protected from the consequences oil po
ca scheme q" attempted or political crimes perpelrated,
In his native ,soun'ry and Capt ingraham nteered be-
cause be the victim OF oppressive act Of wrong
and violence which Austria, with all her readiness pro-
test, has not y,, thought h TO explain or excuse.
The Times vainly attempts To convict Capt. IDgra
ham OF the guilt OF violating The neutrality OF Turkish
port All the wrong OF that violation lies al the door Of
the Austrian of cis Il who committed the outrage OF orc-
by se zng Aius ricsn citizen under The shadow OF the
Turkish flag. Ws may point TO the we-known OF
the pvsieer Gen Armstrong 10 hnd British authority Tor
bat we say The ngsh ministry and English writer's
the Times among the aiter--always insisted that the
capture of that vesrl by British squadron in Por,n-
suese port justified by The Gen. Armstrong first firing
on ZONE OF the boats OF the latter and that neither
ingal make amends to the United States, for any loss
accruing in consequence of such capture Upon this
principle the decided ny Losis Napoleon against
the United States. II the United States were ie sole
party in the wrong in the Portuguese port. Austria was,
10 like manner he sole party IN the wrong in The Turk
STATED. the second
Since writing the above, find il stated in the Ma
tona Tnellgencer. noticed in another place. that the
governments of France and England have initiated hose
o Rsrm and Prussia in protesting against Capt Ingra
haR conduct This increases the gravity OF the incident
but il cannot alter the principles involved The States oil
Europe successfully contest the right OF the United
States make citizens OF their subccts before they
dispute The claim NJ the latter 10 protect them cixens
ought 10 be protected. NJ Il e. +. f4sa hHE nsiaf Sin
MARrrs LurBERs wfIL-Tn The last will and testa-
men OF the great German reiormer the following
kabe passage: Lord God, thank thee that thou
bas been pleased 10 make me poor and INDECENT
upon the earth, have neither house. nor land, nor
money 10 leave behind Thou hast given wife
and children whom now restore TO thee, Lord, nourish,