The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1849-11-10

lSn government, tnat the roles ana Hun-
garians, and in particular myself, Count
Casimir Bathiany, Minister Of Foreign
Affairs of Hungary under my government.
and the Generals Messaros and Perczel,
Gall present here would be surrendered
unless we chose to adjure the faith of our
fore-fathers in the religion of Christ. and
become Musselmen. And thus five thou
sand Christians are placed in the terrible
alternative either offacing the scaffold or of
purchasing their lives by abandoning
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 aston
ishing suggestions, such as never have
been made yet to the fallen chiefof a gen.
erous nation, and could hardly have been
expected in the nineteenth century.
My answer does not admit of hesita-
ton Between death and shame the choice
can be neither dubious nor difficult. Gov
ernor of Hungary, and elected to that
high place by the confidence of fifteen
millions of my countrymen, | know we'll
what | owe to the honor Of my country
even in exile. Even as private individ-
ual have an honorable path to pursue.
Once governor of generous country, ]
leave no heritage TO my children-they
shall, at least, bear an unsulled name
Gods will be done. | am prepared to die;
but, as | think this measure dishonorable
and injurious to Turkey, whose interests
| sincerely have at heart, and as feel it a
duty to save my companions in exile, if |
can, from degrading alternative, have
replied to the Grand Vizier in concilia-
tory manner, and took also the liberty to
apply to Sir Stratford Canning and Cen
eral Aupich for their generous aid against
this tyrannic act. In full reliance on the
noble sentiments and generous principles
of your excellency, by which, as we'll as
through your wisdom. 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 STRAIT
ford Canning.
arm informed that the whole matter is
a cabal against the ministry of Reschid
Pacha, whose enemies would wish to force
him to our extradition. in order to lowerit
in public estimation, and render impossi-
BILE its continuance in office. 1t is certain
that in the grand council held on the 9th
and 10th ofSeptember, after tumultuous
debate, the majority of the council de-
clared in favor Of our extradition-the ma
jority of the ministry against it. No de-
cision was come to in consequence OF the
alteration which took place; but notwith-
standing. the ministry thought fit to make
us the revolving suggestion have named.
This mode ofsolving the difficulty would
not, am convinced, save the ministry,
because protection, only given, in con-
tradiction of the Sultan's generous feeling,
at the price of five thousand Christians
their faith, would be revolt
inc to the whole Christian world, and prove
hardly calculated to win sympathies for
Turkey, in the event of war with Russia,
which, in the opinion of the most expc-
rienced Turkish statesmen,is is approaching
fast. se ..-.
As to my native country, Turkey does,
believe, already feel the loss of the ne
elected opportunity of having given to
Hungary at least some moral help to ena-
Bile it to check the advance of the common
enemy. BUTT appears to me that it would
be very ill advised mode of gaining
Hungarian sympathy by sending me to an
Austrian scaffold, and forcing my unhap-
py companions to abjure their religion, or
accept the same alternative.
No friends of the Turkish government
would spring up from my blood, shed by
her broken faith, but many deadly foes.
My lord, your heart will, am sure, ex-
cuse my having called your attention to
our unhappy fate, since it has now assum-
ed political Importance. Abandoned in
this unsocial land by the whole world,
even the first duties of humanity give us
no promise of protection, unless, my lord,
you and your generous nation come for
ward to protect us.
What steps it may be expedient that
YOU should take, what we have right to
expect from the well known generosity of
England, it would hardly be fitting for me
70 enter on. Iplace my own and my COM
panion's fate in your hands, my lord, and
in the name of humanity, throw myselfun-
der the protection of England.
Time presses-our doom may be in a
few davs sealed. Allow me to make an
humble personal request. am man,
my lord, prepared to face the worst; and
can die with free look at Heaven, as
have lived. But am also, my lord, hus-
band, son, and fathers my poor true
hearted wife, my children, and my noble
old mother, are wandering about Hunga-
ry. They will probably soon fall into the
hands of those Austrians who delight in |
torturing even feeble women, and with
whom the innocence of childhood is no
protection against prosecutions. 4 con-
iure your excellency, in the name of the
Most High, to put stop to these crueeltles
.c.l. on1 acnoniaI. |