The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-03-19
SPEECH OF MIR. BUEL,

SPEECH OF MIR. BUEL,
or MICHIGAN,
Oa Hungarian Independence; delivered in The House Of
Representatives, february 20, 1850.
The House being in Committee Of the Whole on
the state Of the Union, the resolutions 10 refer the
the Presidents annual message to the appropriate
standing committees
Mr.. BUEL obtained the Hoor and offered the
following amendment to the first resolution, which
refers much of the Presidents message as relates
TO our foreign affairs 10 the Committee on Foreign
Affairs, viz:
With instructions 10 inquire whether, at that
period, in the late struggle between Hungary and
Austria, when the latter ihe intervention q
Russia, with powerful army, Hungary had nor
IN fact triumphed over Austria; and whether the
President, by negecling NJ that period % recognise
the Independence Of Hungary. did not depart from
the settled policy OF the county in recognising de
facfo governments, di app1int the friends OF iree-
dom, and do violence 10 the sympahes and wishes
Of the American people"
Mr.. BUEL then proceeded to address the COM
mittec a. follows:
Mr.. CHAIamAN II may seem hazardous in me
to attempt to arrest the dissolution Of the Union
for short hour by addressing the committee upon
subject not growing out Of the prevailing course Of
debate. hope, however, III Il an interruption to a
debate so exciting in its nature, if not entertaining,
may at least not be wholly Improbable.
IL would be to me, at any time, painful duty TO
which / have been wont TO call sacred Believing,
do, that the Union is to be, and cannot be,
dissolved, shall avoid such discussion now, as
would all dangerous extremes, until compelled by
necessity TO meet them But should such an occa-
sion ever come, which ! pray may not, hope |
shall not be found among the enemies Of my coun-
try. ! have no hand, sir, to aid in drawing that
black line dsunion, which can ncver be drawn with
out dividing asunder the graves Of the revolution.
There is smother and very different subject upon
which ! desire % submit my views The recen,
powerful and eloquent effort Of the distinguished
senator from my own State, Mr.. CAss,1 concern
ing the suspension Of the Austrian mission leaves
but little opportunity for 10 invest the wrongs of
Hungary with new interest. Whatever may be the
success Of his effort, it will forever remain on the
page OF history, an evidence of his sincere devotion
to the cause Of freedom, monument to his patriot-
ism, and noble vindication Of The republican prin-
ciple. He spoke Of Austrian wrongs, whilst speak
of American wrongs, towards that ill-ated country.
might, perhaps, safely leave to others this discus
sion. If were silent, should still believe with
confidence that oppressed Hungary cannot look in
vain upon the talents and patriotism Of this body
for support and sympathy in her misfortunes.
But, sir, II is question which moves the heart
and soul. II exctes the feelings; arouses the SYM
pathies awakens our generous impulses; fills the
sou, with lively anxiety quickens our aspirations
for the diffusion Of republican liberty and almost
appeals to our passions, by reminding US of the
struggles Of our "a hers Of the scenes of trial. suffer-
ing, and distress, and Of the fiery ordeal through
which they passed in laying the foundation Of that
liberty which we now enjoy.
Here is my only apology. Here find an appeal
which cannot resi- I, and shall not weigh and
measure words as if were engaged in the solution
of a mathematical problem. | shall discard the sug-
gestions Of cold and calculating sefshness, which
rces'for support upon that anu-progressiye dogma,
" Let other nations take care of their own affairs
and we will Of ours" and yield myself TO the con-
that n the mr. ne mis- nv the
destiny Of nay country, TO become propaganda Of
in own principles and institutions, unlll the Ian
guagc Of history shall inscrbe upon every throne of
the earth, " Fuir."
If that be true, what noble d stiny Our coun-
try an emissary amongst he nations of the earth !!
And Of whati An emissary ofAmerican freedom !;
and we her agents and ministers, TO proclaim upon
her housctops, and in her legislative halls, the high
and sacred mission.
know that the American who loves his country
and Its institutions with ardent devotion is prone
10 be jealous, If enthusiastic, when the SUBJECT
OF discussion involves the truth and propagation of
principles which, from childhood he has learned to
revere. But am not unmndful that there is an
extreme where zeal dcgeaeraies into blindness,
blindness iato rashness, and rashness into folly
There Is, however, another extreme, where wisdom
becomes cold, prudence timd, caution irresoiute ;
and where all leads 10 inactivity; inactivity leads to
silence, and silence TO disgrace.
The American government, under the guidance Of
the present administration, pursued this latter
ueme in the affair Of the German steamer United
States;" bat disgrace in the eyes Of our German
friends was our reward England pursued it when
Poland fell, and disgrace was her reward. IL she
had dared and IL had been consistent with selfpre-
servaton, she would have recently pursued the
same policy towards France, Italy, and Hungary.
She had no fears in 1914, when, arm in arm with
Russia, she marched against France; but when she
saw the balance Of power about to be unsettled that
II might be resettled Austria becoming almost
dependency Of Russia; Italy endangered and even
the whole continent from the Bosphorus TO Gibral-
tar, threatened with Cossack bayones, if necessary,
to preserve order in Europe, she ventured to step
forth from her lair, and recommend more liberal
principles at Rome. That silence which pervaded
Earope on the fall Of Greece had its responsible
ties, which may yet fall with vengeance upon the
nations who looked on with indifference.
For my part, shall seek TO avoid all extremes.
shall follow neither the counsels Of blind enthu-
siasm nor the dictates Of heartess apathy. l
shall seek rather to present my vie ss chastened by
due sense Of the respect and obligations We owe 10
the great principles we profess and al the same time
due regard for the rights Of others and the common
law Of nations. am prepared to meet the result Of
such q course, come what may. lift be the contin-
uancc Of political darkness throughout, Europe,
shall live on in The full hope and conviction that il
must sooner or later be dispclled by the reflected
light Of republican freedom. But il il be the over
throw Of Austrian tyranny, will rejoice when the
emu comes. III ~ bc repuohcanism, mat il put our
example, IL IL be fresh revolution, let IL come
When that period shall come, we may be held re-
sponsible, but IL will be an honorable responsibility
The subject before us is one for serious discus
sion. Similar occasions have occurred since the or
ganizston Of the government, but none, in my
opinion, which involved such great responsibilities
as that when Hungary stood up before and the
world triumphant over Austria, and asked for SYM
pathy---for recognition. The language which re-
Gently fell from The lps Of the distinguished Senator
from Kentucky Mr. CLArl upon the subject of the
Austrian mission, has ever since sounded in my
Said he, BUr ron THE INTERVENTION or
RussI,, HUseARY wouLD HAVE sUccEEpkp; Hos
eARr HAD SUCCEEDED HuseARr HAD TRruMrHEp IN
THE CONTEST wrrH AusTRA " These are memora-
bic words SIR and proud 70 be thus fortified IN
my position. shal seek to hold the Executive to
them, whilst proceed TO inquire whether, by ne
glecting al that period OF the struggle TO recognise
or declare our Willingness to recognise Hungary, he
did NOT depart from the true and settled policy OF the