then landed, amid the cheers of the inhabitants and every demonstration of joy. I know, sir, I have taken a fearful responsibility upon myself by this act; but after Mr. Brown had informed me Koszta had taken the oath of allegiance to the United States, and forsworn all allegiance to Austria; that he was an American citizen, and had been under the protection of the legation at Constantinople, I could not hesitate to believe he was fully entitled to protection. It was a case of life and death, for if Koszta had been taken to Trieste his fate was sealed; and could I have looked the American people in the face again if I had allowed a citizen to be executed, and not used the power in my hands to protect him for fear of doing too much? The easy manner, also, in which he was given up, and the convention that he should be held by a third party until his nationality could be established, is evidence that they were not sure of their ground. Should my conduct be approved by you, sir, it will be one of the proudest moments of my life, that I have saved this gallant man from a cruel and ignominious death. On the other hand, should the course I have pursued be disavowed, I must bow to the decision; but whatever may be the consequences to myself, I shall feel I have done my best to support the honor of the flag, and not allow a citizen to be oppressed who claimed at my hands the protection of the flag. I enclose copies of all the papers (A to E) relating to this affair. Hon. J. C. DOBBIN, Secretary of the Navy, Washington, D. C. Commander. [Translation.] E. K. BRIG HUSSAR, Smyrna, June 29, 1853. I had the honor to receive your letter of the 28th instant. Concerning the matter respecting Martin Koszta, I request you, sir, to communicate with the consul general; as for myself I can do nothing in the matter, as I receive all my orders from him. I have the honor to subscribe myself, with great respect, your obedient servant, To the COMMANDANT SCHWARZE. of the United States Ship St. Louis. U. S. NAVY DEPARTMENT, SIR: The department acknowledges the receipt of your communication bearing date the 3d of July, 1853, in which you relate the course you deemed it your duty to pursue, on being "informed that an Ameri can had been kidnapped by the Austrian consul upon the Turkish soil, and sent on board an Austrian brig-of-war ;" and who, upon further investigation, was discovered to be a Hungarian-Martin Koszta-who had, in July, 1852, filed his declaration to become a citizen of the United States, and had arrived at Smyrna in an American vessel. This department does not feel called upon to enlarge upon the various questions of international law involved in the proceedings adopted by the officers of the different governments concerned. Those questions may hereafter become subjects of discussion between the respective governments interested. I deem it proper, at present, to content myself by assuring you that the prudence, promptness, and spirit which marked the part you bore in the transaction, is approved by this department. It is a matter of gratulation that the affair terminated without a resort to collision and bloodshed. The President desires that, on all occasions and in all parts of the globe visited by the American navy, the rights and the property of American citizens should be watched over with vigilance and protected with energy; but he, with no less earnestness, enjoins it upon the officers of the navy to exercise due caution to avoid the slightest infraction of the laws of nations, and scrupulously regard the rights of others. Respect the flags of other nations, and with the more pride you can demand respect for your own. By the next steamer I may, probably, forward to you a copy of the instructions now in preparation at the State Department for our minister at Constantinople. I am, respectfully, your obedient servant, Commander D. N. INGRAHAM, J. C. DOBBIN. Commanding U. S. Sloop-of-war St. Louis, Mediterranean. Extract from a despatch received at the Navy Department from Commodore Stringham, commanding United States squadron in the Mediterranean, dated flag-ship "Cumberland," Gulf of Spezzia, Sardinia, August 2, 1853. SIR: I lose no time, after my arrival to this port, in transmitting to you the original documents from Commander Ingraham, of the corvette "St. Louis," relative to the affair of the refugee Martin Koszta, at Smyrna, and to which I have already had the honor to allude in my last despatch, of the 29th ultimo, from Leghorn. In connexion with this subject, I have deemed it a duty to give my entire approbation to the course pursued by Commander Ingraham. The disorganized state of the Turkish empire at this period, more particularly in the confusion and lawlessness existing in the province of Smyrna, together with the total imbecility of the authorities of the city, in permitting the flagrant and illegal seizure of M. Koszta by a foreign power, and their lamentable supineness subsequent to the arrest, rendered, in my opinion, the demands of Commander Ingraham, backed as they were by the positive and formal instructions of our chargé at Constantinople, perfectly justifiable. My only regret is that Commander Ingraham was not enabled to receive M. Koszta on board his ship, and await further action in the premises afterwards. I have thus briefly expressed my views in regard to this matter, trusting the conduct of Commander Ingraham may be sanctioned by the department. [NOTE. The letter of Commander Ingraham, transmitting documents relative to the Koszta affair, and referred to in the foregoing extract of Commodore Stringham's despatch, is identical with the one to the Secretary of the Navy, (herewith appended,) dated July 3, 1853.] NAVY DEPARTMENT, August 26, 1853. SIR: Your despatch No. 30, dated Gulf of Spezzia, August 2, 1853, with its enclosures, has been received. The department concurs in the approbation expressed by you of the conduct of Commander Ingraham in the affair of Martin Koszta, at Smyrna, and had, previous to the receipt of your despatch, communicated its approval to Commander Ingraham, a copy of which was sent to you at Spezzia, under date of August 20, 1853. * * * I am, respectfully, your obedient servant, Commodore S. H. STRINGHAM, Commanding U. S. Squadron, Mediterranean. J. C. DOBBIN. MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, COMMUNICATING, In compliance with a resolution of the Senate, copies of all communications from the American Legation at Constantinople, respecting the seizure of Martin Koszta by the Austrian authorities at Smyrna. MARCH 2, 1854.-Read, referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations, and ordered to be printed. To the Senate of the United States: I transmit to the Senate a report of the Secretary of State, with accompanying documents, in compliance with their resolution of the 2d ultimo. WASHINGTON, March 1, 1854. FRANKLIN PIERCE. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, February 28, 1854. The Secretary of State, to whom has been referred the resolution of the Senate of the 2d instant, requesting the President "to communicate to the Senate, if not incompatible with the public interest, copies of all communications from the American legation at Constantinople, respecting the seizure of Martin Koszta by Austrian authorities at Smyrna,". has the honor to lay before the President a copy of the documents called for by the resolution and specified in the accompanying list. Respectfully submitted: To the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. W. L. MARCY. List of documents accompanying the report of the Secretary of State to the President, of the 28th February, 1854. Mr. Brown to Mr. Marcy, (with enclosures,) No. 41, June 28, 1853. (with enclosures,) No. 42, July 5, 1853. Do. do. Mr. Marsh to Mr. Marcy, No. 43, July 7, 1853. Mr. Marsh to Mr. Marcy, (with enclosures,) Sept. 23, 1853. (extract,) No. 41. Mr. Brown to Mr. Marcy. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, CONSTANTINOPLE, June 28, 1853. SIR: I have the honor to enclose copies of three letters relating to the apprehension of a Hungarian emigrant to the United States, named Martin Koszta, by a number of Greek ruffians, in the streets of Smyrna, and his imprisonment on board an Austrian brig-of-war now in that port, under circumstances so outrageous and inhuman, that I am sure they will excite the indignation of the government and people of the United States as strongly as they have of all the inhabitants of Smyrna and Constantinople. The brutal conduct of the Austrian consul will, I trust, be disavowed by the minister at this capital; but I doubt whether the unappeasable thirst for the blood of the unfortunate Hugarian will permit him to do justice to my intercession in favor of the present victim. I will not add how much is my execration for a government whose principles lead to such ends, nor how warmly I shall use all the means in my power to save the life of one who, though not wholly a citizen of the United States, nevertheless has strong claims upon my official interference in behalf of his existence. I have as yet received no reply from the Austrian minister to my letter. I have the honor to be, sir, with great respect, your obedient servant, JOHN P. BROWN. Hon. Wм. L. MARCY, Secretary of State of the United States. P. S.-I am enabled also to enclose copy of the internuncio's reply. |