Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1850-01-15
The Sneech Ct Gel. CaSS

The Speech Ct Gel. CaSS
made in the Senate of the United States
in support of his Resolution TO suspend
diplomatic intercourse with Austria, is dis
Gnguishcd for bold and lofty thought, and
cannot fail to recommend itself to every
lover of freedom. We make the following
extract, fairy describing, as it does, the
true position and circumstances of the con-
test, which so far, has terminated to the
dishonor of European civilization:
What then, sir, are the circumstances
in the conduct of the Austrian Government,
which have brought down upon it the re-
probation of the civilized world. The
history of the Hungarian effort and its de-
pIorable result are too recent and wide
spread, and have awakened too deep an
interest in our whole country, to render
detailed review necessary upon this Occa-
sion. | shall merely glance at some OF
the more prominent facts, but enough TO
gIve the true character of one of the most
arocious political acts of modern times.
Hungary was an independent nation.
having no political conneXion at all with
Austria except in the person of the sover
cign, who was common to boh. The
rrrgning Austrian family was called to the
Hung glrian throne, by election, some three
centuries AGO, and we are told by stand
ard review. high and neutral authority,
that "the pedigree OF their lmmunlues
during that long space continued unIm-
u4ired.' The compact between the Hun
garian people and their Monarch declares
that " Hungary is country lIee and IN
dependent in her entire system of leglsIa-
ton and government :. that she is not sub
let to any other people, or any other
State but that she should have her own
separate existence and her own cOnstitu-
ton. aul shupid be governed by Kings
crowned according to her national laws
end cIStoms." This article the Austrian
Emperor sworr 10 preserve, as all his pre-
dee, SSors had done. and as late as the llth
oi April. 1913, he so!emnly renewed his
adhesion to it, with the guaranty of Min
is'rv responsible to the Diet; that plan,
or English origin, by which European
liberal politicians seek to reconcile the
dogma of the personal independence OF
the sovereign with the direction of public
affairs in conformity with the will of the
nr'ion. This was the constitution ol
Hungary, and thus was it secured. 1t
guaranteed national independence, Hunga-
riar laws aud officers, and Hungarian ad-
miniStration of the affairs of the country.
I'm these davs of the violation of the most
sacred rights, there has been no violation
more signal or atrocIous than the annlhl-
laion of the rights of this high-spIrlted
people, once the bulwark OF ChrlstendOm.
4 charie Octroyee, the work of an Austrl-
an Cabinet, struck down their liberties a,
one stroke, and left thcm-as a kindred
cxpedicnt, kindred in its objects though
not in It's form left our iathers-no choice
but submission or resistance.
These charles OCtrOyee are becoming
quite fashionable in the world of arbitrary
power--awakened from It's long slumber
by the thunders of popular Indignation
and particularly since the restoration OF
the Bourbons, that family which was the
very imperSUnation of the doctrine of the
divine right of kings; and they mark sig
niicantlv The utter contempt for the SOW
creignlv of the people which is engraved
upon the hearts of all the lovers of the
good old time, when there were but two
classes in the wcrid, those born to govern
and those born to he governed. We first
heard of them as The foundation of national
freedom, when the declaration of rights.
proposed by the Provisional Government
of France on the overthrow of Napoleon,
was presented to Louis 18th for his sol
emn adhesion. lie rejected this act of
popular power, holding on TO his divine
right; but, as the restora ion would have
been placed in hazard without some secu-
riiv for the liberties Of the French people,
this plan of char'e OctrOyee was resorted
to; charter granted by the sovereign,
emanaling from his gracious benevolcnce,
and giving TO the nation certain rights, not
herause il was entitled to claim them, but
because he has kindly disposed to limit
his own hereditary authority, and to allow
his beloved people To be little less op-
pressed than they had been in the good
old days of arbitrary power. And this is