Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-01-02
DELIVERED DECEMBER, 20, 1853


Itisnatural, Mr. Chairman may, it is almost
neoessary--that, from the difference in our tenn
permanent, our education, our pursuits, and our
circumstances we should take different views
Of many subject which comes before u.s. But,
if we are only kind in expressing these views,
and patient in listenting to them, no harm, but,
on the contrary, great good, will come from our
discussions.
AS this is the first time have had the floor,
it may be we'll for me now to confess that, | arm
in the habit Of freely imputing errors to my
fellow-men. Perhaps, shall fall into this habit
on the present occasion. II may. be a bad habit
But is it not atoned for by the fact, that do
not claim, that am myself exempt from errors;
that acknowledge, that abound IN thea; and
that | am ever willing that those, whom as.
SAIL shall make reprisals? trust, sir, that 80
long as shall have the honor to hold seat
in this body, may be able to keep my spirit
in q teachable posture, and to throw away my
errors as fast as honorable gentlemen around
me shall convince me oil them.
have risen, Mr. Chairman, to make some
remarks ON that portion Of the Presidents Mes
sage, which it was proposed, a few moments
snca to refer, to the Committee on Foreign AT
fairs
The Message endorses fully and warmly, the
conduct Of the Administration in the case Of
Martin Rosetta For my own part, | cannot
bestow unqualified praise on that conduct
Scarcely upon Captain lngraham can bestow
such praise 1t is true, that honor him for
his brave and just determination to rescue
Koszta, but would have had him 90 step
farther than he did, and insist on Koezta's ab-
solute liberty. would have had him enter in
to no treaty, and hold no terms, with kidnap-
pers | would have had him leave nothing re-
garding Koszta's liberty to the discretion Of the
French Consul or any other Consul; to the dis
erection Of the French Government or any other
Government. Rosetta was an American sub
ject Ia kidnapped American subject - and
hence the American Government was bound to
set him, Immediately and Internationally, free
But Captain lngraham represented the Amer
lean Government. For that occasion he was
the American Government.
! For saying what have here said, I may APP
pear very inconsistent in the eyes Of many, who
know my opposition to all war; for they may
regard Capt. Ingraham as having been ready
to wage war upon Austria-as having, indeed
actually threatened her with war But, not
withstanding my opposition to all war, defend
| Capt. Ingraham's purpose to use force, should
| force become necessary. | believe, that such
purpose is in harmony with the true Office Of
| Civil Government. hold, that an al med ma
tional police is proper, and that here was a fit
occasion for using it, had moral influences fail
/ ed But to believe in this is not to believe in
war It is due to truth to add, that Capt In
graham should not be charged with designing
war upon Austria. Why should he be thus
charged He had, properly nothing whatever
to do with Austria, nor with the Austrian Con-
sui There was no occasion for his doing with
either of them, nor for his even thinking of
either of them. For him to have supposed that
/ Austria, or any Of her authorities, could be
| guilty of kidnapping, would have been to insult
her and them. He had to do only with the
kidnappers who were restraining Koszta of hs
liberty; and all he had to do with these kid
nappers was to compel them to an uncondtion-
al and immediate surrender Of their prey.
| will cay, by the way that do not condemn
the conduct Of our Minister, Mr. Marsh, in re-
lation to Kossta, for the good reason, that am
not sure what it was. II it was, as it is report
ed TO have been, trust that both the Admins
tration and the whole country will condemn it.
1t is denied in certain quarters, that Rosetta
was on American subject. But Secretary Mar
cy has argued triumphantly that, in the light
Of International law, he was / regret that he
had not proceeded to argue it in other light
also. ! regret, that he had not proceeded to
show thai, even if admitted international law
is TO the contrary, nevertheless, by the superior
| law of reason and justice, Koszta was an Amer
| lean subject regret that he had not proceed
ed to publish to the world, that when foreign
er becomes an inhabtant of this land, ahjures
allegiance to the Government he has left, and
1 places himself under tho protection of ours, the
American Government will protect him, and
that too whether with or without information
al law, and whether with the world or against
the world In word | regret, that the Sec
rotary did not declare, that if international
| law shall not authorize the American Govern
ment to protect such q one then American
law shall. It is high time that America should
Justify herself in such case by something
more certain and authoritative than European
codes IL is high time, that she should base her
| justification, in such case on the immutable
and everlasting principles of reason and justce
may be asked, whether would allow, that
the subject of a foreign Government, who is
alleged to be charged with an offence, and who
has fled to our country, can find shelter in his
oath Of allegiance TO our Government an
| swer that would not allow him to be kid
mapped and that, il his former Government
| wants him, it must make @ respectful call on
our Government for his extradition. add that
/ would have our Government the sole Judge Of
the fact whether he is charged with an offence;
and also the sole judge whether the offence
with which he may be charged is q crime---a
real and essential crime---for which he should
be surrendered or merely conventional and
nominal crime, for which he should not be sur
rendered
| A few words in regard TO the charge that
| Captain Ingraham invaded the rights of ncu-
trail State II is to be regretted that the Sec
rotary did not positively and pointedly deny
the truth of this charge. | admit, that no de
NAL Of it was necdful to his argument with Mr.
Husemann The denial would, however, have
been useful No, sir Capt. Ingraham did not
violate the rights Of Turkey. But although
America cannot be Justly charged with vio-
lating the rights Of Turkey, Turkey neverthe
less can be justly charged with violating the
rights of America. She violated the rights Of
America, inaemuch AS she failed to afford to
Koszta the protection, which she owed him If
aha IL mt fairly char h1a with porn,tt,no