The freeman. (Fremont [Ohio]) 1849-1850, 1849-11-24
COSSUTH AND THE CZAR.
MIR. WehSter,S Opinion,


We have all had our sympathes much enlisted
in the Hungarian effort for liberty. We have all
wept at its failure We thought we saw more
rational hope of establishing independence in Hun
gary than in any other part of Europe where the
question has been agitated within the last twelve
months: But despotic power from abroad inter
vened to suppress it
And, gentlemen, what will come of it do not
know. For my part, at this moment feel more
indignant at recent events connected with Hungary
than at all those which passed in her struggle for
liberty. Tremendous cheering. l see that the
Emperor of Russia demands of Turkey that the
noble Kossuth and his companions shall be given
up. Shame shame!!] And 1 see that this de-
mand is made in derision of the established law of
nations. Gentlemen there is something on earth
greater than arbitrary or despotc power. The
lightning has its power and the whrlwind has its
power, and the earthquake has its power. But
there is something among men more capable of
shaking despotic power than lightning, whirlwind
or earthquake. Overpowering outburst of ap-
plause That is the threatened indignation of the
whole civilized world Renewed cheers. Gen
tlemen, the Emperor of Russia holds himself to be
bound by the law of nations, from the facts that
he treats with nations-that he forms alliances, he
processes in fact to live in civilized age and to gov
ern an enlightened nation. say that if under these
circumstances he shall perpetrate great viola
ton of national law as to seize the Hungarans and
to execute them, he will stand a criminal and
malefactor in the view of the law. Loud huzzas
continued for several minutes The whole world
will be the tribunal to try him, and he must ap-
pear before it and hold up his hand and plead and
abide its judgment [Reitereted cheers.
The Emperor of Russia is the supreme lawgiv-
er in his own country, and for aught know, the
executor of it also. But thanks be to God, he is
not the supreme lawgver or executor of the ma
tional law, and every offence against that is Of
fence against the rights of the civilized world
[hear hear! !! and if he breaks that law in the
case of Turkey, or in any other case, the whole
world has IA right to call him out and to demand
punishment fright
Ourrights as a nation are held under the sanction
of national lava law which becomes more impor-
tant from day to day-a law which none who pro-
fess to agree to- are at liberty to violate Nor let
him imagine, nor let any one imagine, that mere
force can subdue the general sentiment Of mankind
1t is much more likely to extend that sentiment
and to destroy that power which he most desires
to establish and secure.
Gentlemen, the bones of poor John Wicklif
were dug out of his grave seventy years after his
death, and burnt for his heresy and his ashes were
thrown upon river in Warwickshire Some proph-
ct of that day said:
The, Avon to the Severn runs,
The Severn to the sea,
And Wickliff IS dust shall spread abroad,
Wide as the waters be-
Gentlemen, if the blood of Cossuth is taken by an
absolute, unqualified, unjusti6abe violation of
tonal law, what will it appease-what will it paci
fy? 1t will mingle with the earth-it will mix
with ohe waters of the ocean-the whole civilized
world will snuff it in the air. and it will return with
awful retribution the heads of those vloaors of
national law and universal Justice Great enthu-
siasm. [ cannot say when or in what form; but,
depend upon it. that if such an act take place, the
thrones and princpalties and powers must look out
for the consequences Overpowering applause.
And now gentlemen, let us do our part-iet us
understand the position in which we stand as the
great republic of the world at the most interesting
era of the world. Let consider the mission and
the destiny which Providence seems to have de-
signed us for, and let us so take care of our own
conduct that with irreproachabe hands and with
hearts void of offence we may stand up whenever
and wherever called upon, and with a voice not to
be disregarded, say this shall not be done-at
least not without our protest