Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1850-01-15

fears of kings prompt them to make con-
cessions to popular movement, their d.
zine right is reserved for future use, and
the sovereignty of the people practically
rebuked and denied. The lesson was too
precious to be lost, and Prussia and other
States have followed the example; and
human rights are octroyee, gtUen, doted
0ut, as the fears or caprice OF single man
NAV dictate.
Well, sir, the Austrian Ministry was
seized with passion for political unity !;
by which, at the sacrifice of all those feel
ings prejudices, if you please - the
growth of centuries, which separated the
various races, bound by ties feebler or
stronger to the monarchy, they were to
become one people, homogen Gus in moth
! ing but in an imperial decree. A charte
Octroyee was got up for the occasion, and
| by kind of political legerdemain, if not
as dexterous, at least as rapid as the feats
Of the necromancer, all the traits of nation
alty, cherished by the associated men,
bers of the monarchy, were swept away,
and they all became Austrians by this act
of arbitrary power, as offensive to their
pride as it was subversive of their rights.
Hungary was TO disappear from the map
of independent nations, and all its institu-
tons were placed at the mercy of for
eign Court; and while the empty form of
kind of representation was given to her
in iarrng Assembly divided by language,
races and interests, all substantial power
was reserved for the Emperor and his
Cabinet.
But Kossuth has himself depicted the
condition of his country, in words Of truth
and power, which appeal to every heart {:
:.' Nothing but the most revolving treach-
cry, the most tyrannical oppression and
crueltes, unheard of in the words Of his
!ory-nothing but the Internal doom of
annihlation to her national existence, pre-
served through thousand years through
adversites so numerous, were able to
arouse her to resist the fatal stroke, aimed
at her very life, to enable her to repulse
the tyrannical assaults of the ungrateful
Hapsburgs, or accept the struggle for life,
honor, and liberty forced upon her.
She did accept it; and the Hungarian
people rose as one man to resist these
gross aggressions, and their gallant eX,
ertions would in all probability have been
crowned by success had not the common
sympathy of despotism brought a new en-
envy into the field. The Russian scented
the blood from afar, and Hungary fell like
Poland, before the Cossack and the Pan
lrur, al everlasting reprOach to the con-
temners of the laws of God and man, who
accomplished these nelarjOus schemes.
The issue was made known to the Gar
by his General, in despatch whose
brevity Sparta might have envied " Hun
gary lies at the feet of your Majesty"
Memorable words, and to be remembered
in ali future time. The foot of one man
upon ten millions Of people. Imperial
arrogance can go no further. He who
does not instinctively and Indignantly
scorn such pretensions would have Oppo-
sed the Declaration of Independence on
this side of The water, and the Great Char
ter of King John on the other.
| have presented this brief review Of
Hungarian rights and wrongs, not as the
direct motive for the adoption of this res
olution-that choose to put upon anoth-
er ground, the ground of atrocous cruelty
but because | desire to take from Aus
lran advocates, if there are any in this
country-I know there are none in this
Senate--the last excuse for these violations
of the common feelings of our nature, by
showing that the attack upon Hungarian
independence was as reckless and unlus-
tifable as were the cruelties inflicted upon
the Hungarian people.
After the political catastrophe came the
catastrophe of vengeance, still more affllct'
ing to humanity. The love of power be-
ing gratiied, the love of revenge claimed
its hour of triumph. And we'll did it en-
| Joy it. The world, in the darkest period
of its history, has rarely Witnessed such
scenes Of gratuitous cruelty as marked the
establishment of Austaian supremacy over
unhappy Hungary. The moral tenden-
cies of the age are to check the etiuslon OF
blood; to stop these judicial murders for
political offences, so styled-often indeed,
as in this case, the efforts of true and tried
patriots, men who do honour TO our COM
mon nature by their noble qualities to Sc
cure the blessings of freedom to their
country. 1t is honorable TO France and
England that political martyrs are no Ion
ger considered by public opinion as vile
malefactors, and | believe not drop Of
blood has been shed in either country for
offences of this kind during period OF
many years. But the Austrian code, in
principle and practice, outdracos Draco,
and Jeffiies himself loses half his claim 10
Infamous distinction when placed in COM
petition with Austrian judges and gene
rails.
am not coinc 10 sDread before YOU a