The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-10-23


Never were so many hellish arts used against
nation before. Not suspecting a counterfeit
olution or an attack. we were not prepared to
defend ourselves when suddenly we were sur
prised by danger The peridious Hapsburgs
destitute of all shame, and rejoicing in the an
tcipation Of an easy victory, hesitated not to
disclose before the civilized world their horrible
plans-to subjugate us by the force of arms, to
excite hatred of race, to call in the aid Of rob
bers, incendiaries, and reckless insurgents,
At this crisis of great danger, when many Of
our ablest men even were ready to yield them
selves to this decree of destruction, ] stood
among those who called the nation to arms
| And confiding in a Just God, we cursed the
towards who were preparing to abandon their
native land to submit to n wicked deSpotlSm,
and to purchase miserable existence by sacri-
fcing liberty. called the nation TO arms in
seli-delence. | acted not with blind presump-
ton and emotions of despair found no place in
my breast-for he who despairs is not hit to
| guide people. ! estimated the valOr and pow
er Of my country and on the verge of Il fearful
| struggle had faith to promise victory if Hun
| gary would remain true to herself and fortify
her breast with the impulsive fire of strong
| will
TO sustain the stern resolution TO combat
such an enemy, we were supported-frst above
| everything, by our mistaken conhdspce in God,
whose ways arc past finding out but who sup
ports the right and blcSses the cause Of an hon
est people fighting for freedom secondly, by a
love of country and the holy desire of liberty,
which make the child giant and increase
the strength of the valiant and, thirdly, by
| your example noble Americans you, the
chosen nation Of the God of Liberty My
cOuntrymen-a religious a GOd-venerating peo-
| ple-in whose hearts burned the all-powerful
feeling OF patriotism, were inspired by the IN
fluence of your sublime example.
Free citizens Of America from your history,
rs from the star Of hope in midnight gloom,
we drew our confidence and resolution in the
doubtful days Of severe trial Accept in the
name OF my countrymen, this declaration, as a
tribute of gratitude And you, excellent peo-
Pile, who were worthy to be chosen by the Al
mighty as an example TO show the world how
to deserve freedom, how to win it. and how to
use it-you will allow that the Hungarians,
though weaker and-sess fortunate than you,
.thr0$sSA the decaying influences q, th2 Cd EN
ropean society, are not unworthy to be your i'm
itators. and that you would be nleased 20 see
the stars OF your grUr6us nag emmmon rne
double cross of the Hungarian cOat-oEarms.
When despotsm hurled defiance at us. and be-
gan the bloody war, your inspiring example up
heaved the nation rs one man, and legions with
all the means Of war, appeared to rise from
nothing rs the tender grass shoots up after
spring showers
Though we were inferior in numbers to the
enemy and could not compare with their we'll
trained forces-though our arms were shorter
than thers-yet the heroic sons of Hungary
supplied the want of numbers by indomitable
bravery, and heightened their weapons by
step further in advance
The world knows how brayely the Hunga-
rians fought And it is not for me, who was
identified with the war-whO, Obeying the
wishes of the nation, stood faithfully mt the helm
OF Governmental extol the heroic deeds of my
cOuntrymen. | may mention, however, that,
while every day it became more evident that
the heart OF Europe beat to the pulsatons of
the Hungarian struggle we maintained the I'M
equal conflict alone cut of from the rest of the
world and all external aid till a year ago we
laid the naughty power Of the tyrant house of
Hapsburg in the dust and had it not been for
the intentional and traitorous disregard of my |
command by one Of our leaders who after |
wards shamefully betrayed the country, not |
only would the Imperial family have been
driven from Vienna, but the entire Austrian
nation would have been liberated and though
by such treason this base family saved them
selves from destruction they were 80 far hum
bled in March, lS49, that not knowing how to
be just, they implOred foreign aid, and threw
themselves at the feet Of the Gar.
The Emperor hoped that the Hungarian peo-
pie could be terrified by his threatenings, and
would prefer slavery to death but he was de- |
ceiyed. He sold his own liberty to Russia for
aid to ensaye his people. The choice of II
coward is to purchase II miserable ephemeral
existence, even though ut the cost of his honor
and independence.
The Austrians fought against us, not only |
with arms and by the aid of traitors but with |
studied and unceasng SANDER. They never |
ceased to impeach our motives and falsfy our
conduct, and vaunt the pretended Justice
Of their own cause before the judgment
seat Of public opinion Efforts were con-
stantly made to weaken among the people of
Hungary, and among the nations of the world,
that sympathy and force which spring from IA
righteous cause
Free citizens of North America you have
given, in spite Of these SANDERS the fullest SYM
pathy for the cause Of my country. We had |
no opportunity to explain to You our motives |
and conduct and retute the libes against us
but we said-and how truly your noble and |
magnanimous conduct shows it!-that such a
nation knows how to defend just and holy |
cause, and will give us its sympathy and this
conviction inspired us with more confidence.
Oh, that you had been neighboring nation |
the Old World would now be free, and would
not have to endure again those terrible convu-
sons and rivers of blood which are inevitable.
A Al H., a. ~
the means to fulfil its purposes.
We great and free people, receive the thanks
of my country for your noble sympathy, which
was great moral support in our terrible con-
flict
When the house of Austria sold itself to the
Autocrat we, who were fatigued with our hard |
earned victory but not subdued or exhausted, |
saw with apprehension the spectre of Russian |
myaSion--an invasion which violated the laws
OF nations, which was openly hostile to the
cause of civilization, the rights Of man, of order
and even to that principle which the diplomacy
OF Europe calls 1.-The balance of power |
could not believe that the Governments of
Europe would permit this INVASION for | ex-
pected they would intervene to effect a treaty of
peace, ifnot so much on our account vet to pre-
vent Austria becoming the vassal of Russia-to
check the growing strength and influence of
the latter Power in the East
We desired an honorable peace and were
willing to submit to any reasonable terms We
many times rendered the oliye-branch We
asked the constitutional Governments of Europe
to interpose. They heard us not The naughty
Imperial family forgetting that they were the
real traitors rejected every proposition, with the
dcfying expression that they did not treat with
rebels Aye more: they threw our ambasss-
doris into PRISON, and one of them-the noblest
OF Hungary's sonS-they cowardly and i'm.
piously murdered. Still we hesitated to tear
asunder forever the bonds that united us. Ten
months we fought, and fought VIGOROUSLY in
defence and it was only when every attempt to
bring about an honorable peace failed-when
Francis JOseph who was never our King dared