The Express.
London, England, 1851-12-30 00:00:00

KOSSUTII IN NEW YORK.

On the night of Itec.l6, at a grand military levee,
which was held at Castle Garden, Kossuth was pre-
sented to the first division of the New York State
Militia. In reply to an address which was rend to
him on the occasion by Genera: Sandford, the illus-
trious Magyar spoke as follows:
General and gentlemen,—l accepted with the highest
gratiheation the lion me to meet the First Division of the
New York State Militia, which havinr in this their capa-
city of citizen soldiers honoured me on the day of my arri-
val with their corporative participation in the generous
welcome I met, have, by the military honours bestowed
upon me, so much contnbuted to impart to this demonstra-
tion that public character which cannot fail to prove very
efficient to the benefit of that cause which I have the
honour to plead before the free people of your mighty re-
public, and which cause I confidently dare say is the cause
of freedom and independence on the European continent.
I beg leave to state, gentlemen, that the share you were
pleased to take in that great demonstration, u also the
honour which you give me now, is one of the most impor
taut eireunistancee —one of those which in Europe cannot
fail to produce a very deep and very beneficial impression.
Being aware of that importance of the present occasion,
and also considering myself, with your kind permission, to
be among brother* in arms, I should feel highly gratified
were I able to address you in such an elaborate manner
as I feel my duty to be. But you are aware of how my
whole time was engaged in very pleasant and agreeable
duties since my arrival hare; and, besides, I am sorry to
my, I am labouring under a severe indisposition; nay, I
am really sick, so much that last night I was several
times about to swoon, and was obliged to retire from
the banquet which the mighty engineers of public
opinion have honoured me with; so I humbly entreat
you nut to expect any eloquent speech from me, because
lam absolutely unprepared for it, and I am not ashamed
to avow that to speak in the least degree eloquently in a
tongue foreign to ma I want time and preparation which
perhaps I would not so much want in my own nativeitongue.
The difficulty is, that while I speak I think in my own
language, as every man does the same, and in the brief time
while my ideas pass from my brains to my lips I must
translate them into your language ; thus it comas that
often while I sin speaking the true word I forget the idea,
and to have ideas is, I suppose, the meet indispensable
thief; to eloquence. It is only the lark or the nightingale
to whom it is given to warble forth without thought the
eloquence of its harmonious melodies. lam a very dry,
prosaic man, and unhappily I grow old —sufferings and
toil have worn out the freshness of my mind ; I apply my
humble faculties to the exigencies of time, and according
to these exigencies, I frankly confess, my brains are filled
rather with tacticsand strategic that; with oratory—l as
rather soldier than orator. But you also are soldien—
citizen soldiers ! That is your glorious title, and that
to which I have the ambition to aim ; so I hope you
will excuse me for addressing you in a sekberly manner
—plainly, frankly, without the pretends* of any skill.
Gentlemen, do you know what is the inset apiece that I
ever in my life heard or read ? It is the slier et Gari-
baldi to his Homan soldiers, when he Mil thumb w ileldisse,
what I have to offer you is fatigue, bow. olivggle awl
death ; the chill of the cold night is the fee des 11111111111114
under the burning sun ; no lodgings, so savaltlesk solaFi
visions, but forced marches, dangerous watelipsellie @al ibi
Continual struggle with the bayonet against boilloobs—
those who love freedom and their coustay to Allow UM"
(Cheery.) That is the most glorious epsomb I ever beset
in my life; bat of course that is no suss& flit liedup. I
will speak so after I meet again the wadisco at issposy—
(cluen)-, to fight once more over the battle bir basamorod
independence. And so may God bless me, as I loos there
will be no Hungarian who will not follow his mime. As
it has been so it must be, and so it will be. Time is yet
another, I remember, very flee gash. It is that of the
old Coveuanter, who spoke to hiessidiers these voids before
a battle .—" Now, boys, put parr trust in God and keep
your powder dry." (TedleNdegle cheers and laughter.)
Gentlemen, that must be dr mem for to-day. I will put
my trust in God, but I de alit know if my sickness wia sot
Call KIM damp op= my powder. (Laughter.) Omani,
having had the MO basset to review the first divides of
the Now Ye* 11111,11111Nersol le receive its
m sa-
lute, anew in bean all to esaeglbeent yon about the ill-
Niaq slide awl unitary suite& and presidia salts
aMsII ale eassanded by you. Be sereMlYsetl
€01101olosit; It is only • bet that I es.,_llll# Yls
NPI limy, it would have bees mama& tit tio
the replar soldiers. There are twat OM obi
as es ibis great iternion. The INS Is Ilhe
shed diseetcr andp elute eIN s d rDos of
year esmand to beep up mime YewW
`cheers. The need was, be sooloNsallifill lb' rib
angly with tket aria. Cissams. ll* •
pane et the IrMllv st Ise bribillos. WOO Is fair
easowee, met so ipy as wok sot psodial sea I
belloileme. Asa.= to way pains restdadas b *if
Ilsilloadtaste,is here obsibms is • principle. Tho pow
b hi d
ithe n with public dodo% lb
fibßepablies—yees N.
Mtzzesitato eurfsearaistis seer anew lomat=

the sweet guarantee of social order in a assts. Mira k,
M
cosethei gentlemen witom I have the hamar to
M a which had am told, not hag
_aims ti=
air duty of the restoration of pa bbe order oa a
M asurios • and it was that very regiment, during its
wadi. rest, which was cheered most heartily by
AD
nefihis fact is glorious to the regiment,
sad to the people. To-day, if I am not
Mrs it Os anniversary day of the great fire which
Is this city in 1815. Since that time New 4,217.
.terse more splendid than it was before, and
Weed out st a larger scale. Now this gigantic develop-
ment of this peat city is only possible upon the basis of
social order, end in the sustenance of social order, to be
laze=
nuratt,ourst
it is
thealso ir mint, iliviiet,gterTspinroitt
aofli:luiee
eforejtory of the militia, that this social order el-
, I thank you for the explanation of the or-
primers and discipline of this gallant division. Europe
IWO many things to learn from America. It has to learn
glas value of free institutions ; it has to learn the expansive
power of freedom; it has to learn the practical value of
self-government as opposed to centralisation. But one of
the most important lessons you give to Europe is the or-
ganisation of the militia of the United States. You have
the greatest army. in the world, and yet you have scarcely
a standing guard in the land. That is a necessary thing fur
Europe to learn from America, that great standing armies
must cease, but they can only cease when the nations are
free; because the great standing armies are not national
institutions. They are the instruments of despotism, and
the ambition of tyrants. (Cheers.) The very existence of
tyranny reposes in Europe upon great standing armies.
When the nations once become free they will not want
them, because the nations will not war one against another.
Freedom will become a brotherly link among nations. To
inspire them they will want your example, which shows
that popular institutions and militia afford the most mighty
means of national defence. Thirty-seven years ago was the
battle fought at New Orleans, that shows to all posterity
what a power of defence of the country lies in the organisa-
tion of your militia. Nay, gentlemen, your history even
proves that the institution affords the most powerful means
of an offensive war, if it becomes indispensable. lam
aware that the war of Mexico was carried on chiefly by
volunteers. We Hungarians, my brave companions here,
we have some claim to the renown of bravery—(cheers)—
but it is a duty to confess that those who fought were those
who have high claims to the acknowledgment of their
brethren. Often have they had to tight, one against four—
* handful at such a distance in a foreign land
having a gallant foe. Because it was amidst a warlike
population and still it wee victorious, and your war
and your victory is a remarkable page in the his-
tory of America. I know what distinguished part the
volunteers of New York took in that highest of victories.
I know that seven regiments were offered, but only two
were accepted, and I know what a glorious part they have
taken in the siege of Vera Cruz, in the battles of
Cherubusco, Contreras, Monterey, Moline del Rey, and
Cerro Gordo. I know how they distinguished themselves,
especially at the Kittle of Cherubusco, in the assault upon
Chapultepec, when they partook in the immense glory of
entering—a gallant handful of men—into the metropolis of
Mexico. And who were these volunteers ? Of those from
your own state seventeen officer, were elected out of your
own militia. They were of the institution of your militia.
That militia is the source of that military spirit which is
the sole guarantee of your country's freedom, independence,
and glory, under circumstances requiring that citizens
of the I:nited States shall stand up in arms for
it. I have all these things which I have men-
tioned learned front the United States, and it was my firm
intention to carry out this organisation of the militia
in Hungary. It was my idea, and still is, and I will en-
deavour, with the help of God, to carry it out. (Cheers.)
My idea is that there are duties toward our native land
common to every citizen, and even public institutions and
education must have such a direction as to enable every
citizen to fulfill his duty toward his own fatherland.
(Cheers.) One of those common duties is to defend that
fatherland in the day of peril, to take up arms for its free-
dom and security. My idea is to lay down such a founda-
tion, even in the public instruction in village schools, that
every boy shall be educated to that military skid which is
wanted to fulfil, in an effective manner, this duty of de-
fending his fatherland, when called upon to do it. It is
not my intention to have in Hungary separate schools
for military science—not at all to have soldiers who are
not citizens—but my opinion is that every boy must be
taught so much to know as is necessary for the defence
of his land. And for those who, in their more advanced
age, would feel inclined to take for their profes-
sion the military science there must be some branches esta.
fished in the higher schools and universities to impart this
science, as there must be for those who employ their time to
become physicians, or clergymen, or members of the bar.
There should be a branch for military science, but for no
distinctions as citizens. To defend his country is a common
duty, and every man must know and feel it. (Cheers.)
Taking your oreanisation as a basis for Hungary—taking
your example, Hungary would have at least one million of
seen read to defend her against the oppression of whatever
power. Great cheering.) The militia of Hungary, thus
pet
develo ( , would he the most solid guarantee of my coun-
try's freedom and independence. We have shown tronf of
it to the world in our first struggles for liberty, when we
engaged in it with the preparation that was needed, when
the people flocked from their workshops, the desk, and the
very altar, to defend their native land. Often it happened
that they had to go to battle without knowing how to load or
seek • musket. But still thinking of national independence,
they went on to battle with their bayonets against bane-
rim, and achieved such deeds at raised them to rank with
eloodeal heroes and claim with them a glorious immor-
tality. We have not the inclination to become conquerors.
we are contented with our native land, if it only be inde-
pendent and free. To the sustenance of this independence
and freedom we have established by law the institutions of
a national guard, like your own militia • and I liked often
to say to my people, that I considered that organisation to
be like a porcupine, which goes armed, cineity, looking far
an its food; but when it is attacked, d
it stretches forth these thorns, .and it le esdy=lin
peaceful quality. May God the Almighty soon see den-
lopollhis institution of a national guard in my native land.
The 'fewer of Hungary will become the indispensable basis
of freedom in the nations of Europe. The great enemy of
that freedom is Russia. Austria is its satellite ; leaning on
its aid, Austria is going to crush down Italy. Now, tan'
'lmagery be a barrier to oppose the power of Russia? I
answer, yes. You are a nation of twenty millions, sad
have an organised militia of three millions. Hungary is •
nation of hftecu millions. Then it can at least have area
million of organised citizen soldiers, I hope. That is dr
positive basis of these hopes for Hungary, that it ma ha
• barrier to Russia against its encroachment. The
negative basis is the weakness of Russia itself. Rua*
is not so strong as in public opinion it is taken 01,
dinarily to be. The whole power which Russia eau
raise, consists of seven hundred and fifty thousand men.
Bat you asset consider that it has an immense territory—a
imehorps the population of which is oppressed. Tranquil-
,* Mei the emir of the grave, and not the order of con-
Isslneent, ea he only kept in Russia itself by the armed
poem of the Clear. Now it is not much whoa I say that
at list 200,000 or 240,000 men are needed to keep no the
is *ty in the interior of Russia itself. It wants I[oo,ooo
guard its frontiers, which extend from Silesia down
y. 100,000 it needs, at least, to keep down that
Lie spirit of mmmad l'olend. (Cheers.) Now, take
did* amides, you will see that Russia scarcely can-
Wism amarbamploy 300,000 men for a foreign war ; and
gm ram id it ever employ more. History lies
MON ie. NA ha the greatest struggle for life and existence
libm amt WS able to employ more in a foreign war. No ;
ihrtmomillita of dims soldiers of Hungary would not
mai Is ho as beam as they are in order to be • match for
*is ems busgred dhammail. (Cheers.) And therefore, at
as lost egeWhellia of Oh mall= of soldiers, should once
OM the Cow have the assapatt intention to put his foot
et nookind's seek as ha earl to have the temerity to do,
power would bra* ipas_hks on his list attempt upon
And sot auk bush miss his way, but would
t and attack Rasa, sad wary home the danger
to himself ; and it would hid mighty allies is
the Russian empire—first in its finaosiel embarrassments.
Par 7* know, that 'Ma Oboe the short war in
Amy
, Russia Wei te Wm • ban in Hoglund.
WiWiralso for our Aka Irmia, re oppression of the
salsa. Of comas only slap we took would be tig-
htwad by thee. who sae opgramed, and they would be
ready also, the PA& BIM Ind others, to be our alike'
for this 0 la saa magridad to Poland, but is wad
over the ameba, Is Lithuania, Wallachia, mad
Ukraaia. Ili all loom that the might .f Russia is not
se iinnanolso labalboansne of intimidation to those who
ere In a Met mum And be sure, Hungary once
hatalartrdsra would never camas dare to threaten Euro-
pese liberty. (Cheers.) Bat if Russia is really so
westas Ws. yalilliny Mph* why I ask yeas aid
Dania keirlinaes. The amoraity of my bum.
togoad is barium Buser has her army now as very
am* way *oat thirty hours distant from Sugary,
sad tied greet army stands
_Roparmi to move, at wilatever
I tam to crash the liberties etKiapiry ; and bravo=
*los three hundred thirsted am would am*
bad= we had time I. monism sad demiaranour isms
Orgoarganised and deweisitei. sty 11 not thole
ponor. (Cheers.) Thom am the=mu for shish
Ime the support of Um MIRA Ills Is eke& and Me
=rityasssion interfering, is liagary, beams, so that
may hays an oppartasity to swain her strength
against Russian despotism and barbarity. This is tile
Nam that I ask the United States to heeme the execs**
to r neessise the risks of every asthma to dispose of
self. This h the say &my, patimmostrbewhigh.tlet
wanting to the list of your assi ran. of
I the United States lure ammostally usartod tWersa
1 independeme sad basin, bass taaseely any other 1111111
than to become ohm matalms of halms madly hi Mbar
hada ; sad I modidoady ham ihst bare yam Malaita.
*at yea a ill set Amy ma, gastismos, yam pawns
is maybe out that par paled* se
husupportms% sad are -et set drain my hitualbraoss almistar-
saw er vii of Nnagary Ihr Maim sod imlegambarts,
utak la .&sady felt in the air, sad is prated out by the
of Gad himself. My assoad humble regent It sr
!IC I mot grisly Whom ma will admit, while is to
secure the murross of this United States with am,
people whither in revolatios or not. It is son* my
interest ; it is your right, and I hope that the Whir
of the United States will eye, be ready to mamma and
protect the right of your citizens, as from both those
ships, the star spangled banner of which was sent
over for me to Asia, it was proclaimed then is a power
in the United States ready to protect the rights of oppiesesd
humanity. (Cheers.) My third humble claim is to see re-
cognised the legitimate character of the declaration of Mas-
ochist independence. The militia of the United States
fought and bled for that principle of independence in your
own country. So I sub=ethat by the glory of your pre-
deceases, by all the s which have followed from