The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-12-04

met with no opposition. II will lose both at home
and abroad if not passed unanimously.
There was a great upheaying OF nations through
out Europe. Nation after nation had risen to
throw off the yoke and nation after nation had
been put down by the union OF despotic powers
Every lover of liberty, particularly IN thus coun-
| try, must sympahze with these movements.
kossuth needed no eulogy from him. He has
gone through the fiery oIdeal OF revolution, and
has come out unscathed he has been unfortunate,
but his love OF country and OF her freedom - undl
minished. We have invited him here, and will
we not give him that sympathy and regard which
all admit he deserves! The Governor OF Hungary
comes here, not alone as the representative OF his
own country, but Of human rights everywhere.
The case of Hungary was no ordinary one. II
Austria had put her down we would have nothing
to say but Hungary had conquered Austria, and
would have maintained the victory, had not Russia
marched in her armies and crushed her. He had
! hopes of the success Of Hungary yet.
He did not agree with the Senator from Georgia,
that we should be governed entirely by the jour
mails of the past, and that nothing should be done
unless the Journals showed that the same had been
| done before.
! The Senator from New Hampshire was an adroit
parliamentary tactcian. Whenever any practi-
cal proposition is introduced, he processes friend
ship for il, speaks finely of it, but moves TO attach
something 10 il which ends in the defeat OF the
measure. He (Mr. e. felt this two years ago
| when he introduced the resolution TO suspend
diplomatic relations with Austria the Senator
that occasion spoke in favor of the resolution, but
| moved to include Russia, which he knew would
sleat the whole measure.
| We have now another practical measure before
us, and the Senator gives notice OF his intention to
! move an amendment containing an abstract decla
| ration OF the rights OF man. lie was not disposed
TO argue that abstract declaration now, but every
| one knew what the Senator meant by 1t. The
Senator must know that any abstract declaration
! by our Government concerning the institution OF
| slavery in the southern States could never pass.
| The Senator must know II ought not to pass. We
have no power TO pass it. No one ought to coun-
tenance this effort to introduce this irebrand
corning the institution of slavery in the southern
| States of this Union.
| Mr.. UNDERWOOD pointed out the difficulties
of legislating here upon the merits dement's OF
persons engaged in the revolutions and reforms at
| tempted in Europe. The Senate of the United
States ought not to be the place OF discussion OF the
merits OF such persons If they were called on 10
pass this resolution with regard to Kos5uth, might
they not be called upon to pass another with regard
to those engaged in movements in France and
| elsewhere?
lie denied that it was ever the object of our Gov
eminent TO engage in any way in the affairs of
other nations. Our Government established
| with no such view. He considered that we could
give aid by sympathy. When we come to giving
aid by words, how long will it be before
will be called upon to act? Idle sympathy con
sisting In abstract expressions amount TO no
| thing. Kossuth himself SO understood it. In
one of his recent speeches in England he said
that he did not ask them to go to for him; but
he did ask them to intervene against intervention;
that they should say to those who did intervene,
|
| it be before you called upon to act. This Gov
eminent never established with any such pur-
pose in expectancy. Mr.. u denied that any alb
stract declarations Of sympathy would strengthen
the principle of self government, and argued to
show that the evident consequence OF these declara
tons would be intervention with the domestic af-
fairs OF other nations.
He much in favor of progress as the Sena-
tor from Michigan, but opposed TO the means
contemplated by that Senator. The Senator favor
ed war and conquest, and could swallow the whole
of Mexico without being hurt. Bis progress was
to carry on the Government with those objects in
view contemplated by its founders, and let other
nations settle their own affairs in their own way.
He for setting them example of nation
whose acts were governed by the principles OF JUS
tce and right.
He examined the question whether Kossuth or
the Hungarians had ever made any declaration of
repu blicanism like that recognised in the United
Safes and said that he had been unable to find any.
They had sougbt great and meritorous reforns;
but those reforms did not amount to republicansm.
He could not find any declaration by them or by
kossuth during the revolution, that they rccog-
Missed the principle that all powers Of government
are derived from the people, and that they may
change, alter, or abolish such government at their
will and pleasure.
The comphmentng and prasing Of either party
engaged in struggle in Europe, carried with it by
| implication censure upon the opposing party. If
Congress had the right to go beyond the United
States and express its sympathy Tor, its opinion
! upon, the conduct of any people government of
| with regard to the people government OF any Of
! the States of the Unon2 He deprecated any and
all interference by resolution by act, with the
! affairs of other nations
| Mr. ATCHISON moved to postpone this. sub
cct, and that the Senate proceed to the election Of
| Chaplain.
! Mr.. BERRlEN expressed desire that the cleo
ton might be postponed till to morrow. And, af-
! ter some further remarks, the motion to postpone
I Withdrawn.
| Mr. CASS read an extract from letter of Wash.
ngton, i'll which he expressed sympathy for those
engaged in the struggle for liberty.
| Mr. FOOTE, of Mississippi, read from the Presi-
dents message the paragraphs relating to Kossuth
and his expected arrival, &C., and said that he
honored the President for his manlincss and true
independence in expressing sentiments of respect
for Louis Kossuth and republican principles; and
he had no respect for any man calling himself an
American whose coward heart will not allow him
| to express sympathy for republican principles. He
! had no reference whatever TO any one here.
| MIR. UNDERWOOD said he went much further.
He had no respect for any man who would not, at
any time, and in any place, express his sentiments
on any subject, no matter what those sentiments
were.
And then, on motion, the Senate adjourned.