Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1849-11-12
Letter from KOssuth.

makes forcble and eloquent appeal to England,
in behalf of himself and the other Hungarian refu.
gees:
l WIDDiN, (Turkey,) Sept. 20.
Your Excellency is, no doubt, already informed
of the fall Of my country-unhappy Hungary, as
suredly worthy Of a better fate.
II was not prompted by the spirit of disorder,
the ambitious views of faction, it was not a
lutionary leaning which induced my native coun.
try to accept the mortal struggle maintained so
g!orousy, and brought, by netarious means, to SO
unfortunate an end.
Hungary has deserved from her Kings the his.
torieal epthet Of generous nation,' for she
allowed herself to be surpassed in loyalty faith.
lul adherence to her sovereigns by any nation in
the world.
| Nothing but the most revolving treachery, the
most tyrannical oppression and cruelties unheard
OF IN the worlds story--nothing but the internal
doom Of humiliation to her national existence pre-.
served through thousand years, through ADVERSE.
ties so numerous, able to arouse her to op-
pose the fatal stroke aimed at her very life, to
Bile her to lepulse her tyranncal assault of the I'm.
grateful Hapsburghs, or TO accept the struggle for
life, honor and liberty forced upon her And she
has noby fought that holy battle, in which, with
the aid OF Almighty God, she has prevailed against
| Austria, whom crushed to the earth, standing
firm. even when attacked by the Russian giant, in
the consciousness OF justice, in hope in God,
and in our hope, my lord, in the generous feeling
of your great and glorious nation, the natural sup
/
world. But this is over; what tyranny began
| has been by treachery concluded on all sides
abandoned, my poor country has fallen, not thro'
| the overwhelming power of two great Empires,
but by the faults, and may say, the treason, Of
her own sons.
To these untoward events, pray GOD, that my
unhappy country may be the only sacrifice, and
that the true interests of peace freedom, and civ
lization through the world may not be involved in
our unhappy fate.
Mr. Francis Pulslsy, our diplomatic agent 10
| London has received ample information as to the
cause of this sudden and unlocked for change ia
the affairs ofHungary, and is instruct ted to commu.
nicate ii to your EXcellency, if you graciously
pleased to receive the same It's not antipathy to
Austria, though well merited at the hands of ev-
| cry Hungarian, but true conviction which makes
me say, that even Austria has lost far more by her
victory, gained through Russian aid than she
would have lost in merited defeat, through honor.
able arrangement. Fallen from her position as q
first rate power, she has forfeited her self-con.
sistency, and has sunk into the obedient instru.
nent OF Russian ambition and OF Russian com.
mands.
Russia only has gained at this sanguinary game:
she has extended and strengthened heI influence in
the east Of Europe, and threatens already. in Q
fearful manner, with outstretchng arms, not only
the integrity, but the moral basis Of the Turkish
empire
| May it please yon, my lord, to communicate 10
your Excellency most revolving condition which
the Turkish Government, at the suggestion of Rus
STA. is about to impose us poor homeless exiles.
| 1, the Governor Of unhappy Hungary, after hav-
ing, believe, as good citizen aud honest man.
fulfilled to the last my duties TO my country, had no
choice left me betweent the repose ofthe grave and
the inexpressible anguish Of expariation.
| Many of my brethren in misfortune had preceded
me on the Turkish territory. ! followed thither 10
the hope thatI should be permitted TO pass to Eng.
land, and there under the protection Of the English
peopie--a protection never yet denied to persecut-
| ed man-alowed 10 repose for a while my weared
hea d t,l! born aF ,,l,,
But even with these views would rather have
surrendered myself to my deadlest enemy than to
cause any difficulty 10 the Turkish Government.
! whose situation we'll knew how to appreciate,
and therefore did mt trude on the Turkish terri.
tories without previously inquirng whether and
my companions in misfortune would be willingly
received and the protection eft the Sultan granted
| to US.
| We received the assurance that were vel.
| come guests, and should enjoy the full protection
ofhis Majesty, the Padisha, who would rather
rlfice 200 men OF bis own subjects, than allow
one hair Of our heads 10 be injured.
1t was upon this assurance that passed into
the Turkish territory, and according to the gener.
Gus assurance we We're received and tended on our
journey, received in Widden as the Sultans guests
and treated Hospitality, dnring four weeks, while
waiting from Constantinople further orders to
the continuation OF Cur sad journey TO some dis
tant shore.
Even the Ambassadors Of England and France.
TO whom veRtured in the name ef humanity to
appeal, were SO kind as to assure me OF their full
sympathy.
His Majesty, the Sultan, was also so graciou. as
to give decided negative to the inhuman preten.
sions IF our eXtradition demanded By Russia and
Austria.
But fresh letter (ron his Majesty. the Gear. ar
| rived in Constantinople, and its consequence was
the suggestion sent 10 Us by an express messenger
Of the Turkish Government, that the Poles & Hun.
garians, and in particular myself, Count Casimir
Bathiany, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Hungary
under my Government, and The Generals Messaros
and Porczeli Gall present here) would be surren-
dered unless chose to abure the faith Of our
forefathers in the religion OF Christ and become
Mussulmen. And thus five thousand Christians
are placed in the terrible alternative either Of IA
cling the scaffold orof purchasing their lives by
hardening their faith So low is already fallen the
once mighty Turkey that she can devise no other
means to answer or evade the demands of Russia.
Words fail me to qualify these astonishing sug.
gestions such as have never yet been made to the
fallen chief of generous nation, and could hardly
have been expected in the nineteenth century.
My answer does not admit OF hesitation Be-
tween death and shame the choice neither b
dubious nor difficult. Governor of Hungary, and
elected 10 that high place BY the confidence of if
, teen millions of my eountrymen, know we'll what
owe to the honor Of my country even in exile
: Even as a private individual have an honorable
path 10 pursue. Once Governor of generous
country-l leave no heritage 10 my children--they
shall, at least, bear an unsullied name. Gods will
be done. am prepared to die !; but as think the
, measure dsbonorabe and injurious to Turkey.
f whose intere, sincerely have at heart and as
feel it duty to save my companions in exile, if
can, from grading alternative, have replied to
the Grand Vizier in aconcilatory manner, and talk
en- also the liberty to apply to Sir Stratfod Can
ming and General Aupch for their generous aid u.
t gainst this tyrannic act In full reliance on the
: noble sentiments and generous principles of your
5 Excellency, by which. as well through your wis
dom, you have secured the esteem Of the civilized
world, trust to be excused in enclosing copies of
my two letters to the Grand Vizier and Sir Siratford
Canning
ain Informed that the whole matter is cabal a.
= ganst the ministry of Reschid Pacha, whose enc.
mics would wish to force him to our extradition in
order to lower it in public estimation and render
impossible its continuance in office. 1t is certain
that in the grand council held on the 9th and 10th
,li,.c dolo4