The republic., 1850-12-31

mann calls-with little justice, as 1t seems 10 the
undersigned-''the mendacious rumors propa gated
| ~ the American press" For information on
| tins subject, and others of the same kind, the
American press is, of necessity almost wholly
dependant upon that Of Europe; and if "menda-
| cious ramors" respecting Austrian and Hungarian
affairs have been any where propagated that
propagation of falschoods has been most prolific
on the European continent and in countries i'm
inedlately bordering on the Austrian empire. But
wherever these errors may have originated, they
certainly Justified the late President in seeking true
Information through authentic channels His at
tentioh was first particularly drawn to the of
things IN hungary, by the correspondence of Mr..
Suies, Charge d'Afaires of the United States ut
vienna In the autumn of lS4s, application
was made TO this gentleman on behalf Of Mr.. Kos
suth, formerly Minister of Finance for the kingdom
| of hungary, by Imperial appointment, but, at the
ume the application was made, chief of the Revolu-
uonary Government The object of this app-
cation was to obtain the good Offices of Mr.. Stiles
with the Imperial Government with n view to
the suspension of hostilities This application be-
| came the subject of conference between Prince
schwarzenberg, the Imperial Minister Of Foreign
Affairs and Mr. Stiles. The Prince commended
u .he considerateness and propriety with which Mr..
Suies had acted; and, SO far from disappearing his
interference. advised him. in he received a fur
ther communication from the Revolutionary Co
vernment In Hungary, to have interview with
Prince Wlndisgratz, who was charged by the En-
peror with the proceedings determined on, in rela
ton to that kingdom. week after these occur
rences, Mr.. Stiles received, through secret chan
nell a communication signed by l.. Kossuth Pres.
ident OF the Committee OF Defence, and counter
signed by Francis Polsky, Secretary of State. On
the receipt Of this communication, Mr. Stiles had
an interview with Prince Windisgratz, "who re-
ccived him with the utmost kindness, and thanked
him for his efforts toward reconciling the existing
difficulties" Such were the incidents which first
drew the attention of the Government OF the United
States, particularly to the affairs of Hungary. and
the conduct of Mr.. Stiles, though acting without
instructions in matter of much delicacy, having
been viewed with satisfaction by the Imperial Co
yernment, was approved by that Of the United
States.
In the course of the year lS4s, and in the early
part OF lS49 considerable number of Hun ga rians
| came to the United States. Among them were in.
dividuals representing themselves to be in the
ildence OF the Revolutionary Government, and by
these persons the President strongly urged to
recognise the existence of that Government. In
these applications, and in the manner in which they
viewed by the President there was nothing
unusua still less was there any thing unauthorized
by the la of nations. is the right of every indc
pendent State TO enter into friendly relations with
every other independent State. Ofcourse questions
oi prudence naturally arise in reference TO
States brought by successful revolutions into the
family ofnations but it is to be required ofneu
tra powers that they should the recog milton of
the new Government by the parent State. No
principle of public law has been more frequently
acted upon within the last thirty years by the
great powers of the world than this. Within that
period eight or ten new States have established in
colonial dominions of Spain, this continent
and in Europe the same thing has been done by
Belgium and Greece. The existence of all these
governments was recognised by some Of the
leading powers Of Europe, well as by the
United States, before 1t was acknowledged by the
States from which they had separated themselves.
II, therefore, the United States had gone SO far
as formally to acknowledge the independence OF
Hungary, although, the result has proved, il
would have been a precipitate step, and one from
which no benefit would have resulted to either party
it would not, nevertheless have been act against
the law Of nations, provided they took no part in
her contest with Austria. But the United States
did no such thing. Not only did they not yield to
Hungary any actual countenance or succor; not
only did they not show their ships of war in the
Adratc, with any menacIng or hostile aspect; but
they studiously abstaned from every thing which
had not been done in other in times past and
contented themselves with institutng an inquiry
into the truth and reality of alleged political occur
rences. MIR. Husemann incorrectly states, unn-
tentionally certainly, the nature of the mission of
this agent, when he says that ga United Sta agent
had been dispatched TO Vienna with orders To
watch for favorable moment to recognise the
Hungarian republic, and to conclude a treaty of
commerce with the same" This, indeed would
have been a lawful object, but Mr. Mann's errand
was, IN the bret instance, purely one of inquiry
He had no power To act, unless he had first come
To the conviction that firm and stable Hungarian
gosernment existed. "The principal object the
President has in view," according To his instruc-
tions, sis TO obtain minute and reliable informa-
ton in regard to Hungary in connexion with the
affairs of adjoining countries, the probable issue of
the present revolutionary movements, and the
chances We may have of forming commercial
rangements with that power favorable To the United
States" Again, in the same paper il is said:
"The object of the President is 20 obtain informn-
ton in regard TO Hungary and her resources and
prospects, with a view to an carly recognition Of
her independence and the formation OF commercial
relations with her" IL only in the event that
the new Government should appear, in the opinion
Of the agent, to be firm and stable that the Presi
dent proposed 10 recommend its recognition.
Mr.. Husemann, in qualifying these steps Of
President Taylor with the epithet Of " hostile" i"
seems to take for granted that the inquiry could in
the expectation Of the President, have but one
sult, and that favorable TO Hungary. II this we're
80, It would not change the case, But the Ame Vi
can Government sought for nothing but truth il
desired to learn the facts through reliable chan
mel. Il happened in the chance and vicisstudcs
Of human affairs that the result adverse 10 the
/ Hungarian revolution. The American agent-as
was stated in his intructious TO be not unlikely
found TIE condition of Hungarian affairs less pros
porous than IL had been, bad been believed 20 be.
/ He did not enter Hungary, nor hold any direct
communication with her revolutionary leaders. He
reported against the recognition OF her independ-
oncc, because she found that she had been unable TO
| set up hrm and stable government. He carefully
\ forbore, his instructions required. TO give pu-
bcity 10 his mission, and the undersigned suppOscs
that the Austrian Government fret learned its ex-
stence from the communications OF the President TO
Mr.. Hulsernanu will observe from this statement
that Mr. Mann's mission wholly unobjectiou-
able and strictly within the rule Of the law Of
tions, and the duty Of the United States ss neu-
| trail Power. He will accordingly feel how little
foundation there is for his remark, that those who
did not hesitate 90 assume the responsibility Of
sending Mr.. Dudley Mann ON such an errsnd
should, independent Of considerations Of propriety,
have borne In mind that they exposing their
emissary 10 be treated spy" spy is per
son sent by one belhgorent 20 gain secret informa-
ton Of the forces and dclcnccs Of the other 90 be
used Tor hostile purposes. According 20 practice,
he may use deception, under the penalty Of being
lawfully hanged II detected. To give this Odious
name and character 10 a confidential agent Of a
neutral Power, bearing the commission Of bis
country, and sent for purpose fully warranted by
the law OF nations, is not only 20 abuse Ian
guage, but alsO 10 confound all just ideas, and
10 announce the widest and most ertravagant
notions, such certainly were not 20 have been
expected in grave diplomatic paper; and the Prcsi-
dent directs the undersigned TO say 10 Mr.. Hulse-
man that the American Government would regard
such an imputation upon IL by the Cabinet OF Aus
tria, that II employs spice, and that in quarrel
none OF its own, distinctly offensive, II IL did not
presume, IL u willing 10 presume, that the word
used in the original German was not Of cquvocal
meaning with "spy" in the English language, or
that IN come other way the employment Of such an
opprobrious term may be explained. Had the I'm
perial Government OF Austria subjected Mr. Mann
] la he of Otld f,lacfd IA.