The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-07-26
Letter from Kossuth to the American Charge
d,AnaIres at ConstAnlin0pIe.
KurAnrA. NAV 4. Isl

KUrAHIA, May 4, 1851.
To HoRHEs A. HonNEs, esq., Charge d. Atfaires, ad
interim, Of the United States OF America at Con-
stantnople:
Turkish minister to the generous proposition OF
your glorious country's Congress and Government
than an Austrian commissary also arrived 10 put
the barbarous decision OF the Porte peremptoriiy
into execution. An Austrian commissary IN Iur-
key! You must, of course, feel how deep this en-
pire have fallen, till IL was to suffer such de-
graduation, nay, abdcation Of her independence.
She is falling fast, poor Turkey-iaihng not by
want of strength. not by fatality, but by the cow
ardice of her leaders, who have not the courage TO
act according TO their own Judgment
OF course all the CONVERSATIONS about the "Sep-
TENDER and no longer" as the term of my deten-
ton, il mere humbug; nay, more, il ia affront
added to oppression. Has the Porte given the as
surance to the United States that such day ofScp
tember next you can take me without any further
application on board an American ship! OF course
no. Be- therefore, sure of this, my dear sir, il is
mere humbug. The real value OF their words have
had opportunity enough to appreciate.
Full we,k I understand the case. am doomed
to perish at Kutahia-to fall victim here to the
fears of abominable Austria. There are many
ways to come to that end, now that the comPan-
ions of my prison, they who have accompanied me
by free choice with the agreement Of the Porte,
hitler, are by force torn away from my side, and
stand almost forsaken-alone.
Well, will look for myself, and meet the worst
if needs be.
.
the failure of your negotiation. The Turkish gov
yield to fear to protection, and must
be fully aware that whatever may be the power Of
the United States. Turkey has nothing TO fear and
protection TO hope from them; nothing, because
your Government, your Legislative bodies, all your
organs of publicity, are very anxious to proclaim,
every again and again, that non intervention
in European matters Is the first fundamental prn-
cpie Of the political system OF the United States.
To be sure, wise the men who established this
principle. and wise were the men who followed it,
1t was necessary one for the foundation as well
ms for the growth of the United States. Neither
would it be convenient to me to investigate whe-
Their the dress which well suited to protect the
childhood and TO develop the youth will still prove
suitable when the much promising youth had be-
come full grown man-nay, mighty giant, as
your country 49, Time Is going on, and every
hour may bring its own convenience it brings
its own necessity. May be that even your glorious
country may be called TO feel that every posi-
ton has its necessity, has its conditions--has,
would almost cay, its unavoidable fatality, the
more, the greater, the mightier that position is.
God acts not by special will, but by general laws,
said English philosopher. May be that even
your country will very soon be called to feel that it
is determined Gas surely is) to uphold nay, still
to heighten the glorious position it already holds;
1t will scarcely be possible, should it even be
venient not to put weight into the balance, where
the destinies OF the Old World and its civilization
are to be weighed; it will scarcely be possible not
to give any thing more to the sufferings of nations
than the noble sentiments of sympathy to the
struggling, the commisseration TO the fallen, an
asylum to the prosecuted, or, at the most, d gen
erous offer, but which Turkish minister
may dare to decline.
There may be some who believe that the non &C
ccptation OF the generous offer of the United States
ia but indirecI answer of Austria to the glorious
declaration of Mr.. Webster, which found 30 mighty
an echo in every American breast, an answer
scarcely less arrogant than the first foolish provo
cation was; there may be some who believe that
the United States may even not speak, but having
once spoken, their word must be obeyed. As TO me,
it is my duty not to express even any humble wish
about the further steps of your Government; to me
it would be quite inconvenent either to entertain
or to express any feelings else than the most fer
vent gratitude for the generous intention of your
country and of your Government, and the most re
spectful appreciation of their noble conduct to-
ward myself and my companions. which beg you
will be SO kind to convey to the Government and
the people of the United States together with the
humble declaration OF mine, that whatever may be
the fate have to meet, it will be- in the mo-
ment of death, after the trust to God, always my
chief consolation, that your wise men, as well as
the sentiments OF your people, have deemed the
poor Hungarian exile not unworthy OF their SYM
p,thy.
may die. but the cause will yet rise, and, with
or without me, the battle will be fought once more
which met the appreciation of great glorious, and
free democratic America. Amen.
But, dear sir, there is yet one thing which must
beg you to clear of all misrepresentation before
Ottoman Ministry may be fully appreciated.
Now, / have doubt tho thing will be
presented to the world as benevolent step of the
Sublime Porte. They would make the world be-
Eeve that Hthough political considerations did not
allow them to restore all Hungarian exies to,ber
ty, still it noble resolution of the Porte to
strict the detention only to eight individuals, free
ing all the rest"
ent resolution of the Porte not only partakes moth
ing of benevolence, but is rather the most barba-
rous, the most inhuman deed among all we have
yet experienced here.
Raf ming fba fhreah doffH ,tr kau I
asked if they would give me, or not, asylum and
hospitality. l asked them, let me be your guest,
or else let me pass, that may carry my weary
head to more hospitable shores. They answered
me, be welcome, be our guest our house will be
an asylum to thee; we swear thee protection and
hospitality.
trusted arrested my steps, that might yet
feel the breeze which swept over the plains of my
neighboring native land that may see the pillows
of the Danube mixed with Hungarian tears from
Presburg to Orsova.
A few months later they gave prison in far
Asia 70 be the asylum which they had sworn to me-
At the sad moment of this change in my fate, the
poor ruins of independent Hungary, my fellow-cx-
lies, almost all, with few exceptions, demanded the
only concession, 10 share my fate.
1t refused
At last to twenty three OF them granted the
permission to accompany me. So they came with
me. They came firmly decided, and declaring
this their resolution to the commissary ofthe Porte
rather to undergo every privation rather to strug
gle with starvation, than to let me be forsaken,
alone.
1t a noble deed, sir, worthy of the sympathy
of humanity.
Now, sir, these are the men who are now driven
away from my side by force by the Turkish gov
eminent.
They protested against this inhumanity, as you
will see from the subjoined memorials they de-
clared to DO willing to stay with me without the
slightest aid of the Turkish government; they
asked nothing bat the permission TO share my
fate they declared not to submit to this inhu-
manity.
The answer was, ifyou don't go willingly, you
will be set upon horses and bound up, and carried
away by force.
Only to five of the whole number is it permitted
to share my martyrdom. There have been seven
officers who more particularly devoted themselves
TO the service of daily guard to my person, pre-
caution Of necessity, as the Turkish government
acknowledged again and again that Austrian as
sassins were plotting against my life. asked at
least to spare the modification of choice among
these seven. No, il was not permitted; two even
Of these were driven away.
On the contrary, was willing TO sacrifice the
consolation Of the presence of my family for the
sake OF the education of my children. intended,