The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1851-11-19
KOSSUTH,S LETTER TO THE MAYOR
OF NEW YORK.

couHtS Vi tue WNole 'OydS ol lle IIlSato
Mississippi with the Hungarians on board,
which show that there was the greatest
cordially between them and the officers
from first TO last. AS 10 the reasons which
induced Kossu,h TO decline returning to
the Mississippi. the following letter 10 the
Mayor of the City Of New York will salts
fly every reasonable mind:
To His Honor A. C. Kingszand. Mayor
Of the City Of Near York:
SIR-The United States ordered the
Steam Frigate Mississippi to conduct me
out Of my prison TO freedom, and by free
dom to life, because TO activity,
| hailed this generous resolution as the
greatest honor which a man can meet.
hailed it as a ray Of hope and consolation
to my down-trodden, TO my bleeding but
still no broken native land. hailed it as
a highly encouraging manifestation ofyour
glorious peoples sympathy TO that princi-
pie which was and will ever be the aim OF
all the endeavors OF my life.
And when. with the noble minded con-
sentiment of the Sultan, | stepped on board
the Mississippi frigate. and once more free,
because under your glorious lag-heard
the warm. generous welcoming cheer otthe
officers and crew-these frank, loyal and
gallant men, the true representatives oil
American freedom. American greatness,
! American generosity, ! could not forbear
to have the impression that the spirit Of
Americas young giant has shouted over
the waves Of old Europe's oppressed ma
tons. Don't despair, here is a brothers.
powerful hand to your add" These being
my sentiments. you can Judge by them, sir,
how iervently | must have wished to have
the honor to be conducted, by this very
irigate, to the United States.
But | know that the sympathy of the
United States is not given to any man in
the world for his own sake, but for the prin.
'ciples' sake that he represents. And so
felt convinced that | would prove unworthy
to this sympathy (,his highest treasure of
my liie) should | neglect for a single mo.
ment the duties which Divine Providence
has assigned 10 me; should | neglect to
provide according to the eXigencies of Cir
cu%mstances, for the interest of yondsr
cause. which the glorious Republic Of the
United States h%onored with its appreciation
and its sympathy.
1t became. therefore, an im%perious duty
OF honor and conscience to me not TO leave
Europe without arranging my public and
private affairs. and carefully providing
against any harm TO the sacred aim OF my
life, FOR that time which | shall have to en-
Joy the honor OF your glorious land.
So the most imperious duties Off patriot.
a father, and IA man impose upon me the
necessity 10 stop for a few days in England
before | continue my passage to the Uni.
ted States.
Com. Morgan, at S~pezzia, and after
wards Capt, Long. Of the Mississippi, here,
did. with the noble kindness OF a true
American heart, appreciate the mo-
tives Of this necessity. and generously
consented TO wait with the Mississippi in
the Bay of Gibraltar. for my return from
England with the packet boat, which leaves
Southampton on the 9th instant.
But the government Of the French RE
public" mot the French nation, but its
present government refusing 10 grant me
permission to pass rapidly through France,
by which passage | might have spared
time and suffering to my wife and children.
And now the first means Of conveyance to
England | can avail myself of is only a
packet-boat. expected tomorrow to arrive
from the Orient, and this. too, making II
days to England from here.
On the other hand, Capt. Long informs
me that any longer delay here would rem.
der not only my associates. but also the
officers and crew Of the Mississippi, liable.
in approaching the coast Of the United
States at a late season, to many sufarings.
by having TO endure excessively severe,
cold and stormy weather.
So, considering. on the one side. that
the most sacred duties force me not to
leave Europe for some time, before provi.
ding for my affairs in England. and con-
sidering on the other side that only stay
ing eight or ten days in England. it were
entirely impossible to Join again the Mlssis-
sippi here before the 18th Of November, so
that Of course could only arrive in the sec.
ond half of December on your hospital
shores. it became absolutely a duty ofhon-
or to me rot to cause any augmentation
in the hardships and sufferIngs to the off
GERS and crew Of the ship. and not TO en-
barrass them in their public service, as al
so to alleviate my associates in their
passage to the United States.
These are the motives. sir, which de-
prive me of the honor to be conducted TO
your glorious shores on board the Missis-
sippi frigate. but | feel consoled at the idea
that, in adopting such a course, | not only
have relieved those who are on board the
Mississippi from some sufferings, but my
self also will have the high satisfaction an
entire month sooner to enjoy the happiness
Of landing at New York, as | am decided
to leave England On board ofthat steamer