Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1853-10-12
! WHOLE " 40 NO 49,.

tain OF the, 81 Louis was placed inthe perpiexmg
ALTERNATIVE of surrendering the captive, without
further efforts, tothe sad fate which awaited lin,
Eorto demand his immediate release, and In case
lof a, refusal to enforce It. The goyernment of
the United States exceedingly regrets that he was
reduced to this painful alternative; but Il cannot
End, after full consideration Of all the cfcum-
fstances, any good reasons for disappearing the
course he pursued. It is not just to GaptainTng-
raham to look at the affair it at the precise
Fpoint oftime when the demand for the release of
Koszta was made The 'antecedeEt events quail
Iify and legalize that act. The Austrian function
aries had obtained possession of the person of
Koszta, not ina fair or allowable way, thereby
violating the civil laws of Turkey and the rights
1 of humanity. Under these circumstances their
tcustody of him was, entitled to no respect. from
the, agent of the government, which, by virtue Of
hisinationalty. had right to protect him. Had
all the CIRCUMSTANCES been as they were, except
Ia change Of place-instead of being taken from.
the territory of the Ottoman Porte, had he been
taken from that'of the United StatesA2co,1las Q
question have been raised as to the, propriety Of
Captain Ingraham's conduct! If the conclusions
heretofore arrived at are correct, the Austrian
agent had no more right to take KOszta from the
sod ofithe Turkish dominons thanf from the terri.
tory of the United States, and Captain Ihgraham
had the right to demand and enforce his release,
as he would have had If Koszta had been taken
from American soil and incarcerated ia lnaiion-
al vessel of the Austrian Emperor. In this ques.
ton, important it is to the United States aud
Austria, the place of the transaction is immateria
unless the Austrian municipal law extends OVERT.
The undersignedyelds ready assent to that
part of Mr.. Hulseman's note relative to the Rat-
making power. The doctrine contained in II Is
sound and well sustained by most approved ap-
thorities, but the undersigned has not been ahle
to discover its applicability to the case under con-
sideraton. The people of the United States, in
organizing their government, have been careful to
Impose more restrictions upon that power than
any of the nations of Europe, and it cannot bead.
mitted that these nations have had any occasion
to reprove this government for its abuse. It has
as deep an interest and as anxious q desire to
maintain International relations of friendship and
peace, as any of the European powers, and willdo
as much as any of them for'public tranquility
The rules for its own guidance, and for the con-
duct fits agents abroad, have that end specially
in view. sd ri s1a4 ts;saia eng a. o1l Hs'ss
sa On entering upon the duties of his Office, the
President announced the policy which would be
observed by this government in its foreign inter-
course 1--WE have nothing in our history or po,
sition to invite aggression. We have everything
to beckon us to the cultivation Of relations Of
peace and amity with all nations, Purposes,
therefore at once just and pacific, wilIbe signiA-
cantly marked in the conduct of our foreign at
fairs.'' There need be no apprehension Of q de.
parture from this course. 49,, ..,., ls,,e,a,r-i
In pursuance of this policy, the public agents
of this government abroad reaunderinstrnctions
to respect therights Of all nations; andany devia-
ton from that course woudbe promptly disavow-
ed, and proper reparation made for any injury or
insult which they might offer to afriendly power.
The application made by Austria to the princi-
pal powers of Europe, to warn and admoaish, the
United States in regard to the conduct of their
agents s'ons the occasion above mentioned, implies
that this government has adopted and is acting
upon some principle, unknown, to the law OF ma
TONS and dangerous to public tranquility. The
communications to the governmentin in compliance
with this appeal, though respectfully made, and
doubtless we'll intended, imply a distrust Of it,
9OOd falIn anu Ihlr lnLenLlOnS.
The undersigned is confident that, after due
consideration Of the views here taken of the affair
at Smyrna, those Powers which have been SO
pfompt to censure will be equally prompt to'cor-
rect any 'precipitate Judgement they may have
formed in regard to it. He INDUCES the belief
that after full and fair examination-znot merely
of detached fact but of the whole series of facts
ethey will be abundantly satisfied that the agents
of this government in that transaction have re.l
spected international law, and in no particular
the restrictions it imposes. q ,e,,g,s
The rindcation of these agents is not placed
upon any principle newto the international code,
or unknown to the practice of. enlightened ma
tions. These nations do not hesitate, in the ex-t
ercse of the right of protection to extend i to
persons, (notl always subject according to their
laws who are clothed with their nation.I
lly and in some instances they have carried this,
right of protection to limits which this govern
nent would not venture because it would not feel,
ustifed to approach; nor have any of these na-
ions been disposed to abandon the exercise of.
his right from timid apprehension that it might
possibly bring them into an occasional collision
With other powers. g.4E .Z-ssq 1s Sa.tq
Is there anything in the character or condition
If this government which restricts in the use Of
his right---a common inheritance to all-within,
narrower limits than are allowed to othersi In
relation to international rights the United States
ask no more than has been conceded to others,
and will not be contented with lees. They put
forth no new principles but claim tho full benefit
of thore which are established. Y4.g4sjf9' 49,