Washington sentinel., 1854-01-12
House of Representatives.

| The SPEAKER laid before the House a COM
munication from the Treasury Department and
one from the War Department, which were laid
| on the table and ordered to be printed.
CAPTAIN ISGRAHAM-THE KoszTA AFFAIR.
| The SPEAKER announced as the first business
for consideration--the following joint resolution
Resolred by the Senate and House Of Representatives Of
NE Congress Of he United States, That the thanks Of Con-
gress be, and they are hereby presented to Duncan n
Louis for his udcous and gallant conduct I'd day
Of July last in extending the protection Of the American
government to Martin kosza by rescuing him from orc
bic and Illegal seizure and board
trian brig-ofwar Huzzar
requested to cause TO be made medal with suitable de-
vices to be presented to Duncan Ingraham testi-
vaior promptncss and judcious conduct the above
mentioned occasion
That the President the foregoing resolutions to be
communicated to Captain Ingraham in such terms as he
may deem best calculated to give effect to the objects
thereof
A motion was pending to refer il to the Com
mlttee OF the Whole on the State of the Union
MIR. PHILIPS offered an amendment 10 strike
out the words from the resolution in extending
the protection of the American government 10
Martin koszta," and inserting in lieu thereof Gin
vindicatng the right of Martin Koszta to Ameri
can protection"
Mr.. PERKINS asked the unanimous consent of
the House TO offer resolution winch he desired
| should be passed before he made any remarks
in reply TO the gentleman from Alabama. (Mr.
PHILIps) and the gentleman from Virginia, (Mr.
SMTH) II was read, as follows
Resolved That the President be requested to
cate to this House, MS fur may not be incompatible with
the public interest all correspondence other than that
heretofore communicated that may have taken place be-
tween the State Department and representatives
abroad the of foreign powers and States
this government in regard to the protection extended
by the United States government to its citizens foreign
counties and TO those who have declared intention TO
become its citizens
Mr.. WALSH objected 10 the resolution saving
there had been discussion enough on this subject.
Mr.. PERKINS said the friends of Captain In
graham must be gratfcd at the fact revealed by
this discussion, that there was not dissenting
voice in the House 10 the propriety and gal.
lantry OF his conduct in the rescue of Martin
Koszta.
The difficulty ofthe gentleman who complained
OF the action ofthe Committee on Foreign fairs,
seemed TO be, that that committee had not been
able TO find language sufficiently expressive ofther
sense of the high gallantry of Captain Ingraham.
and, at the same time, distinctly enunciative of
those great principles upon which they think that
conduct is 10 be justified In their embarrassment M
in this particular he sympatized with them. They
could frame no eulogy on the conduct of Captain
lngraham in which he would not concur They
could express in no language too orcbly his admi-
ration OF the ability Of the letter of the Secretary
oi State. lie thought, that in this matter, the
Secretary OF State had been almost as fortunate
as Captain lngraham; and that as the rescue OF
koszta will forever remain a bright act in our
naval history, so will the letter of the Secretary be
regarded as inaugurating new era in American
diplomacy.
The original proposition of the gentleman from
New York tMr. DEAN was simply vote ofthanks
to Captain Ingraham and the officers and men un.
der his command for their gallant conduct in as
scrtng and protecting the rights Of American cit-
zens, native and adopted. When that proposition
was referred TO the Committee on Foreign Affairs
what was their position! Their desire was to re.
spond at once TO resolution which expressed, as
gentleman from Alabama has said the senti.
ments OF the national heart How could they best
do SO! They considered that in that resolution
there were two obJects--thc first design to COM
phment, IN just and proper terms, Captain Ingra-