Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1854-01-05
SPEECH OF GERRIT SMITH,
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE


many a subject, which comes before us. But,
IL we are only kind in expressing these views,
and patient in listening 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 NAV be well for me now to confess, that am
in the habit of freely imputing errors to my
felloW-men. Perhaps, shall fall into this habit
on the present occasion. 1t may be Il 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 them; and
that am ever willing, that those, whom as
sill, shall make reprisals trust, sir, that 80
long as shall have the homer to hold seat In
this body, may be able to keep my spirit in
teachablo posture, and to throw away my errors
as fast as honorable gentlemen around me shall
convince iae of them.
| have risen, Mr. Chairman, to make some
remarks on that portion of the President 8 Mes
sage, which it was proposed, lew moments
since to refer, to the Committee on Foreign
Affairs,
The Message endorses, fully and warmly, the
conduct Of the Administration In the case OF
Martin Kosata. For my own part, cannot BE-
STOW unqualified praise On that conduct. Scarce
! ly upon Capt. lngraham can | bestow such
praise. 1t is trle, that honor him Tor his
brave and just determination to rescue hoszta,
but would have had him 60 step farther than
he did and insist on Koszta's absolute liberty.
| would have had him enter into no treaty, and
hold no terms with kidnappcrs. would have
had MIN leave nothing regarding kozta s llber-
ty to the discretion Of the French Consul or any
other Consu to the discretion Of the French
| 4, ll,a,ft
was an American subject-a kidnapped Amerl-
can suljcct--and hence the American Govern
ncnt was bound to st him, Immediately and
Internationally, free. But Captain lngraham
aefresentad thc American Government. For
that occasion he was the American Government.
For saying what have here said, may ap-
pear very inconsistent in the eyes of many, who
know my opposition to all war; for they may
regard Capt. lngraham as having been ready TO
wage war upon Austria--as having, indeed, &C
tually threatened hcr with war, But, notwith-
standing my opposition to all war, l defend
| Capt. lngraham's purpose to U.s. force, should
force become necessary. believe, shat such
purpose ii in harmony with the true Office Of
| Ciril Government. hold, that an armed ma
tional police is proper, and that here wax n fit
occasion foT using it, had moral Influences fail
ed. But to believe in this is not to believe IN
war. II il duc to truth to add, that Capt. In
graham should not be charged with designing
war upon Austria. Why shonld he be thus
charged, He had, properly, nothing whatever
to do with Austria, nor with the Austrian Con-
sal Thore was no occasion for his doing with
either Of them, nor for his even thinking with
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
kidnappars, who were restraining koszta Of his
! Liberty and all he had to do with these kid
nappcrs was to compel them to an unconditional
and immediate surrender Of their PROV.
will say. by the way, that do not condemn
the Conduct Of or Minister. Mr. Marsh, in re-
ltion to Koszta, for the good reason, that | am
nat sure wat it was. II it Was, asit' lis report
ed to have been, trust that both the Adminis-
tratsn aal the whole country will condemn it,
| 1t is d,ni3d in certain quarters, that koszta
v:ts all American subject. But Secretary Mar
cy has argued riumphantly that, in the light
Of intslaa tional law, he was ] regret that he
! had not proceeded to argue it i'll other light
also. | rcrr2t, that he had not proceeded to
sifgw that. cycu if aGanitted International law
is to tbs conta Ary, nevertheless, by the superior
! law Of reason and Justice Kos:ta w;ts an Aneri-
can subject. regret that he had not proceeded
10 publish to the world. that. whon foreigner
! becomes ar inl.a hitant oi this land, ahiurcs al
| losience to the Government he has left and
! places hinlsalf under the protection Of ours the
! American Government will protect bin, and
! that, too whether with the world Or against
the world. In Nord, regret, that .he Sec
rstary did net de-lure, that il International law
a,tull not authorize the American Government
/ to protect such Il one, then American law shall,
! Ii Is high time, that America shoald justify her
sill in s4ch cAs3 By something more certain
and authoritative tam European codes. It is
high time, that she should base her justification,
! in such a case, Oil the immutable and cyerlast-
ing principles Of reason and justice.
| may be asked, whether would allow, that
the subject of foreign Government, who IL
alleged to be charged with aa offence, and who
has led to our country, cau iad shelter in his
oath Of allegiance to our Government! J an
swer, that would not allow ham to be kidnap-
ped and tt&t, if lis former Government wants
him, it must rake a respectful call on cur Gov
erhnent for his cxtradtion. | add, that would
have our Government the sole judge of the fact
whether he is charged with ali offence and also
the sole judge whether the offence with which he
may be charged, Is crime-a read and essential
criine-tor which he shoald be surrendered or
a merely conventional and nominal crime, Tor
which he should not be surrendered.
! few words IL regard to the charge that Cap
tain Ingraham invaded Che sights OF a neutral
State 1t a. to be regretted that the Secretary
did not positively and pointedly deny the truth
OF this charge. admit, that no denial of it
was needtul to his argument with Mr. Hulsc-
man. The denial would hGweyer, haze been
useful. No, sir Capt. lngraham dad met vio-
late the rights Of Turkey But, although
America cannot be justly charged with violating
the rights Of Turkey, Turkey nevertheless can
he justly charged with violating the rights of
| America. She violated the rights of Ameriea,
inasmuch as she failed to afford to Koszta the
| protection which she owed hin. If she liz not
fairly ch2rgabie with permitting HIN to be kid
mapped. -s!g Ilgerthelass II fairly. ehaTgeable
with permitting him to remain kidnapped, and
that Is virtually the same thing. 10 say. that
Capt. Ingraham violated tho rights of Turkey is
nonsense. 1t is nonsense, il for no other reason
than that she had 10 rights in the case, to he
violated. She had none, for Che simple reason
that she suffered her laws to be silent. The on
| ly ground on which neutral Stale can claim
respect at the hands Of bclligerants IS, that, 80
far as she is concerned, their rights are protect
ed. If she allows injustice to them, then they
! may do themselves justice. If she refuses to
u.s. the law for them, then they may take it in
to their own hands. For Turkey to suspend her
laws as sha did in the present case, il to leave
| to herself no ground OF wonder or complaint,
if a brave Capt. hgralam supplies her lack of
laws.
But may DC asked whether would really
have had Capt. lngrabam fire into the Austrian
ship! answer, that | would have had him set
Koszta free, cost what it might. At the time,
| admit there would have been blame, had it
cost single life; and That this blame would
have rested. not upon the Turks and liustrians
only, but upon our own countrymen also This