The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1849-08-20
The Debate on the Hungaslaq War IN the British

The Debate on the Hungarian War IN the British
Parliament.
In the House Of Commons, on the Dist nit,
Mr. Osborne rose and moved for the production
of such papers the government might be in pos
session Of respecting the march Of Russian troops
into the kingdom Of Hungary. In doing SO, the
hon. gentleman briefly recapitulated the events
which had led to the union between Hungary and
Austria, the terms on which that union, had been
effected and the repeated instances in which these
terms had been violated. He c0ntended that the
movement in Hungary was national one, and
thatit did not deserve the eontemptpous epthet Of
an insurrectfon, which the noble Lord at the head
Of the government had applied TO it,
Lord John Russell here interposed, and observed
that when he applied that term to it, he did so
thinking that it was the proper term to use; but
that he did not mean to signify, by the use Of it,
that he necessarily thought the insurection an
unjust one.
Mr., Osborne then proceeded TO contend that the
cause of Hungary was that of Europe, and that the
contest now waging in that country was in reality
contest between the two antagonistie principles
of freedom and despOtsm. As such, he was sure
that the sympathies of the people Of England were
enlisted the proper side, and he hoped that the
influence of this country would be legitimately
eXerted on behalf of those who, in cOntendng for
their own rights in reality struggling for the
liberties Of mankind. (The hon. gentleman was
frequently cheered during the delivery of his brief
but energetic address.)
Mr. Moachton Mines seconded the motion, taking
the same view Of the Hungarian movement as that
taken bV Mr.. Osborne
Nlfr. Roebnck supported the views Of the honora-
bic gentlemen whs had preceded hins observing
that the principle on which he and those with
whom he acted was that no nation had right to
interfere with another nation in reference to the
conduct Of affairs purely internal. The movement
IN Hungary was one for substantial rights, which
had been long and tFeacherOuslV withheld. and was
characterized by all the dignity and sacTedness of
movement for the regeneratOnof a whole people.
In addition to this it had, in the present state Of
European affairs, a much wider significance, and
involved, in It's success or discontinue, the ibeF-
ties of Europe. The whole matter was one to
which we could not remain Indifferent, inasmuch
as the fate Of COnslantinOpie very much depended
upon the triumph of the Russian arms in Hungary.
II we attached any value 20 our Eastern posses
sions, we could not be Indifferent to the fate of the
| highway leading TO them, which would be mate
| rally endangered by the aggTandzement OF Rus
sia, which seemed to be the onlycertain result Of
| the contest now pending.
Mr.. NdcgTegOT entered, with some detail, into
the constitution Of Hungary, with view to show
the precise state Of the relations between that
country and Austria. He then proceeded TO point
out the expressions under which Hungary had suf-
Tered, in connection with her commences the whole
policy of Austria being to aggrandiZe herself at the
expense Of that important section Of her dominons
Lord C. Hamilton was of opinion that great mis-
apprehension prevailed as the real merits of the
| controversy between Hungary and Austria. The
HungaFians were represented as fighting for con-
so far as she mass of the people were concerned,
the nobility having everything in their own hands,
and domlneering in the most tyrannical manner
over the people,
i Lord Pdtplerston after protesting against its be-
l ing supposed that either he or the Government Of
which he was the organ, so far as its foreign-rela
ions were concerned, entertained any unfriendly
/ feelings towards Austria, commended that the sta
blllty OF the political system of Europe depended
very much upon the maintenance of the strength
| and power of the Austrian empire He then adj
dressed himself 10 the subject more particularly
| raised by the motion submitted by Mr. Osborne.
AUSTRIA In the exercise of her sovereign rights had
the undoubted power TO crave the assistance of a
foreign power, even to the introduction of foreign
| armies into her dOminOns In what had taken
| place, therefore, her Majesty's Government had
/ seen nothing to which exception could properly be
taken. ale regretted, however, that Austria had
taken such course, as he regretted the necessity
which had seemingly driven her to it. The con-
tilet IN which she was now engaged was in every
way to be depored, for, whichever way it might
terminate, 1t would be disastrous to her If She
succeeded m crushing Hungary, she would find
that, for the next half century, the resources Of the
empire would be exhausted, and that she has in
reality, paralyzed her own right arm. The contest
SO far as the Hungarians were concerned, was one
which seemed to have enlisted in its behalf the
hearts and feelings of the whole population Of thai
country, who had apparently forgotten their former
euds In pursuit of the object for which they were
| now struggling The contest was to be regretted
not only on account of Austria herself but also on
considerations connected with sound European
; policy He was as much averse as any one could
be to all unnecessary interference with the affair
of other States but he was not one one ofthose
who held that il was the business or the duty Of
this country to shrink absolutely into ITSELF and
take no part or exercise no influence whatever upon
the events which were transplTlng around it. No
only did the interests Of humanity frequently die
tate opposite course, but the highest interests
this country itself necessitated it. 1t was essential
to our prosperity, even in a commercial point o.
view, that we should not suffer our obvious inter
ests to be trenched upon in any part of the world
or our honor and dignity as a nation TO be assailec
with impunity. But, while he laid this down as
general principle of action, he nothing in the
present case to justify official interference OF
elle part OF her Majesty's Government He coulC
assure the House, however, that should an oppor
tunlty arse, enabling the Government to tender it
r geoq ofnces to bring about an amicable adjustment
Vi tne ullierences existing between the cOntendnl
Pai1!es' mat opportunity should not be throw
away On more than one occasion FngIand hsi
recently rendered her good Offices in This Svav. an
whatever might be said in that House. or else
Where' ABOUT sham mediations - her eff6rts lad
N one instance at least--that Of Denmark an
:. Oermany-been crowned with sncness7 INC 81
, ject Of the Government was 10 rsst,s H. L ~
and MAINTAIN the tranquility of Eurone but in Il
endeavQr TO do So it had no desire Ia eoTnnpor,;s
Itself with any of the European noygsrs IN
> NOBLE ioru concluded by Indignantly repeling n
charge that the tendency Of the policy Of me 15ny
eminent had been to create distrust among Stsfa
and to feed the revolutionary fires which had bse
devastating so many portions of Europe. He he
. no official papers on the subject to produce.
It Lord Dudley Stuart characterized the debate .
o one wliich.w0uld excite lively interest thronoT
out all Europe.
- After few observations from Mr.. Wild,
Mr.. Osborne, having learnt that there We're n
:. official papers in the possession Of the Govenmer
10 produce, and, satisfied iththe expression Of obif
ion Mlinh had taken nina LLIhdraEu hia nnnrn,