Weekly national intelligencer., 1854-01-21


which we gave synopsis at the time,) embracing
discussion of the merits of the Koszta case
HOUSE, OF REPRESENTATIVES,, JANUARY 5, 1854
Mr.. DEAN, from the Committee Foreign Affairs, to
which referred the resolutions relating the presen
taton of the thanks of Congress Duncan n Ingraham
reported back the with substitute, which read
as follows:
Be 1t resolrea c. That the thanks of Congress be and
they hereby presented Duncan n. Ipgraham, COM
mandng the United States soopowar ST. Louis for his u-
deious and gallant conduct the % day of July last in
extending the protection Of the American Government to
Martin koszta by rescuing him from focible and illegal
seizure and imprisonment board the Austrian brig Hus2ar
Resord That the President of the United States be and
he is hereby requested be made medal with suit
able devices and presented Capt Duncan N Ingraham
testimonial Of the high entertained by Congress his
yaor prompnes and udcious conduct on the above men
toned occasion.
the foregoing resolutions communicated Capt Duncan
N Ingraham, such he may deem best calculated
to give effect to the objects thereof. ", .. 81.
Mr.. DEAN. As there is proper place to which to
refer these resolutions and they are reported here by
a committee and mere declaration of thanks to
Captain Ipgraham without asserting any thing as TO the
citizenship OF Martin Koszta, hope the House will con-
their immediate PASSAGE and if there no one
who desires to speak upon the subject move the pre-
vious question. '..
The previous question not seconded.
Mr.. WHEELER. move that the resolutions be refer
red the Committee of the Whole the state Of the
Union.
Mr.. ORR. was absent for single moment, and was
somewhat surprised that the previous question was not
seconded in this matter suppose debate is necessa-
ry in regard the resolutions. If the House under
stand them, presume there will be no objection TO
passing them they have been reported unanimously by
the Committee on Foreign Affairs. have SO under
stood it.
MIR BAyLY, of Virginia. The committee wsre unani-
nous in reporting them.
Mr. ORR. The resolutions which originally of
fered by the gentleman from New York (Mr DEAN) are
changed They provided for giving sword to Captain
Ingraham but the committee have changed the dlEec-
tion and provide for presenting him with medal
Mr. BAYLY The resolutions have been changed in
more respects than that We not only changed the di-
rection from sword TO medal because we regarded
the conduct Of Capt Ingraham rather civil than mill
tary but changed very essentially in other partcu
lars We avoided all questions about citizenship the
House will look at the resolutions they will find that we
thank Capt lngraham for nothing but udcious conduct
in extending protection to man Illegally imprisoned
The ground of the extension of that protection is not set
tied ALL 1t by design, and properly that
did not 60 into that question We merely thank him for
his prompt and udcous conduct in extending the pro-
lection of nationality koszta TO which he was
undoubtedly entitled AL coEtroverted questions that
had been brought have been carefully left out and
in this case, do not hesitate to say properly and judi
ciously left out.
Mr.. MILLsoN Will my colleague yield me the foor
to allow me to ask question / am Informed-and
gather as much from the remarks just made by my col
league-that the resolutions referred to the Committee
Foreign Affairs have been materially changed by that
they do foreign relations, they ought be carefully
considered.
Now sir, l have no hesitation in saying that have
entertained doubt that the justification of the
conduct Of Capt Ingraham complete; but not for
many of the reasons which have been assigned
much of the reasoning contained in the letter of the
Secretary of State upon this subject but anxious
to that resolution passed by the House shall COM
NIT Congress to any questionable and for this
greatly desire that this matter should be referred
the Committee of the Whole the state of the Union
and that il shall there be taken up some early day
and disposed of as may proper.
make these remarks, not with view of interposng
any obstacle the passage of the resolutions but for the
purpose of giving opportunity of becoming assured
for myself that they in such terms and contain such
sentiments shall be willing to subscribe TO. can
necessity for any immediate action in relation to
them and hope therefore that they will be referred to
the Committee Of the Whole the state of the Unon
Mr.. BAYLY. will say word in reply to my col
league (Mr. MILLsoN Now in respect to the PROPOSE
ton refer to the Committee Of the Whole the state
OF the Union, let us look at it. When the resolutions
first introduced by the gentleman from New York.
(r DEAN took the ground that they should go to the
Committee on Foreign Affairs did it for that
did not choose to assign at the time did it because
thought in framing them he had followed too closely pre-
cedens set in other cases. and especially in one case
which had in view / thought if could get them in
TO the Committee Foreign Affairs, composed of such
gentlemen as the gentleman from Pennsylv lvania, Mr..
CHANDLER, and others who known to this House,
mention that gentleman particularly because he is known
be- what he prides himself upon being only Whg
but Federalst-T laughter i he has been an editor and
is an able critic he understands the of the English
language say thought that committee of that sort,
if they together talk their phraseology could
after awhile get them nearly right. Well, we did meet
and talk them over We made suggestions and we made
amendments and at last got the resolutions in such
shape that the committee agreed to them unanimously
and they have been reported back the House by
gentleman from New York
My colleague wants to send them now to the Commit
tee Of the Whole the state of the Union ca bono
To talk the language of them again To get them
right again? Why, sir, this matter of paying compli-
ment to nothing if it is grudgngy and tardy
done. My colleague asks what rs the occasion of imme-
date action That is partly the occasion for immediate
action. ... ..
But beyond that undertake to say here we have taken
in this departure in respect to our foreign
affairs If may be excused for using technical express
sons, this nation has been constantly the plaintiff We
have always been after other nations for what they have
done to Now am tired of seeing this nation eter-
nsly the plaintiff. want new want to see this
nation sometimes the dfendant l say it emphaticay,
and wish it to go out TO the country Not only is that
my opinion but l believe that it is the opinion of TIE
Committee on Foreign Affairs. We tired Of eernay
being the plaintiff want to be the defendant some
times.
Iapprove Of Capt. Ingrahams conduct thoroughly and
entirely The resolutions avoid assigning the reason for
that approval, and in my opinion, properly There
is the Judgment every member Of this may assign
his reason for it. and 10 care one cent whether
the reason is good Il the Judgment is right
think the judgment is right 1t does par
ticle whether koszta American citizen or not
presume claims that he citizen, but he
entitled to American protection; he illegally
seized in violation Of the laws Of nations he mpri-
soned in violation Of law and do not care whether he
American citizen not Further than that, do
not care whether he entitled to American protection