Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1851-12-27
DEBATE IN THE SENATE.
RECEPTION OF kossUrH- (cossIIsvrD.l


pie, welcome Kossuth to this country and its eapita-
Mr. CASs said: Mr. President, shall vote against the
amendment of the Senator from Georgia, MIR. BERRIEN
not because the fellowsuerers of the ustrious Hga
RAN leader are worthy of respect and
every where but simply because he comes here as the re-
preventative of great principle and do not desire to
have testimonial in its favor weakened by the nitro
duction Of topics We all know the effect
of amendment after amendment upon resoiution ana
easily its character and objects changed by such
proceedings For myself shall adhere to the purpose
we have in view.
| Mr. President intended to say something upon this
subject and may well say it upon the question
before the Senate This discussion has taken very wide
rangea very discursive range shall not follow It IN
its ramcations but there observations which
wish briefly to offer to the Senate.
Now with respect the invitation from Congress 10
Kossuth not going enter into any critical anay-
sis of not going to enter into any pathological ex
animation of its words 1t is idle to that we invited
him ordinary emgrant, to come here to enter ms
one hundred and sixty Of land and take his resi-
dence in the forest.
To be sure the word emigrants is used in the org
resolution but attention fixed upon the leader
and his patriotic band not because we sought them for
the usual purposes emigration but because ne had been
apostle and had become martyr Of liberty, and we
desired to honor the and to honor the man ana we
were truly all these interesting sufferers
from the evils of captivity, and the still greater evils inn
pending them. should Mohdmn.dun hospitality De
compelled yield to Christian menaces We invited the
great leader Of great revolution to among one
who had performed noble part in the history OF his coun
tryn the history indeed of the human race 1t was an
imposing procedure part 1t was and was intend-
ed to be, testimonial from the Congress OF the United
States to great man and holy cause Why, 1t went
forth to the world homage from great republic to
principle which is the cornerstone Of its institutions
and announced in every journal from California to 81
IBERIA, wherever iron despom has not placed its foot
upon the press Ii most imposing legislative act
The arrival of the vessel this grateful mission
upon the old Homerc waters Of the Heepont was herald
ed by the Of the fact to all the world And
proud day it for us, and trust for human liberty
when these exles trod the deck Of freedom
and found the ensign of great and free people waving
over them Then, and not till then, were they safe.
And to mar this beautiful page of our his
tory this tribute to patriotism and freedom by saying
that merely invited party of unfortunate Hungarans
emigrants,'' to shores, and there they have
landed, and there we leave them? They came as emil
grants, and let them settle SUCH And do seek to
prove by pathological examination Of the invitation
merely, in fact it would appear to please two despohc
monarchs-that meant honor to kossuth, none
to his companions to the to which they have
devoted themselves! Why, sir the common instincts OF
every man revolt against such perversion He came
under such circumstances. He came an exile in
deed but admired and revered liberty has found
abiding place. wherever sincere but secret aspira
tons ascend to Heaven for its enjoyment Such were
the condition and claims of Kossuth. regretted very
much hear upon this floor words of reproach, both
against him and the revolution of his country He needs
euogy from me. He will find that in the hearts of
mankind and in the voice of history. His name will go
down to posterity imprintng his character and prnc
have been done Every of the world is marked by the
advent of peculiar individuals who designed by
Providence to performs distinguished part in the
of the world This marked by the deeds OF Kossuth
Why sir there must be great fascination about
this wanderer without power without wealth. without
country Such professions those that have welcomed
his arrival both here and in England have scarcely been
in the world since the pageants OF Roman T1umphs
No receive such voluntary homage from free
people without possessing of the highest qualities
of nature Did he not his presence would dis
solve the enchantment and reduce him his true dmen
sions. But enthusiasm to increase he becomes
better known and all join IN rendering to him the tribute
of admiration.
good deal has been said about the revolution Of
u,d good deal in disparagement "a It. Isna not
follow these assaults repcl them 1t would be work
of supererogation in this country. will say however
that it great and noble effort, worthy OF the de-
scendans of that band of heroes who, centuries ago.
upon the frontiers of Chrstendom upheld the banner of
the Cross against the standard of the Prophet of Mecca
1t is objected here that the Hungarans began their
luton with professions of loyalty to the Austrian
and of attachment to the Austrian empire; that they
asked but little at first and that they avowed their deter
mnaton not to be separated from their common coun-
try and all this is brought forward here charge and
proof Of inconsistency and insincerty. Well sir this
is almost chapter taken out Of revolutionary
historyalmost narrative of events and feelings
country, connected with the origin and progress of
our struggle with England The resemblance not to say
the identity, is remarkable What did revolutionary
fathers do? They oo began with declarations of attach
ment to the English and people, and it is his
/
sire separation and they at first condemned it great
evil. If the Hungarans boasted is here said, that
they the mest supporters Of the Austrian power
and had freely shed their blood in its Defence did not
the noble patriots who conducted through stormy
and perilous crssdd they not boast in like manner
that they had shown their attachment to England by fight
| ing her battles in the of 1745 and 1760 and had
taken efficient parts in the capture of Havana of Louis
bourg, and of Quebec and in the humiliation Of the
French power upon this continent So began the
test but suerngs and sacrifices sde and cruelty
and oppression the other changed all these feel
ngs and converted sincere friendship into deadly enmity
And such is the natural of all revolutions They
generally with moderate demands, but soon
change their character and seek the permanent establish
ment of independence Concessions which would at first
have been received with gratitude afterwards spurned
with contempt and the struggling party rises in its hopes
and expectations in proportion to its exertions and
to the prospects of Irepeat is human
Attempts at subugaon produce their necessary
quences-enmity and alienation Now, sir do hope we
shall hear of Hungarian inconsistency and nsin
cerity because little asked at first and much sfter
wards for hear it without being sensible that
the same accusation may be made against Washington
and his associates whom we all love and honor. This
has been precisely the Of all who have had to
fight the battles of freedom since human rights rst con-
tsnded against human despotism
Mr. President what is the object of the present pro-
ceedingg refer to the resolution introduced by the
Senator from Mississippi (Mr. FooTE as it is more
prebensve than the offered by the Senator from New
York. (Mr. SEwARD and better opens the whole subject
But byand-by shall briefly consider the latter What
repeat is the object of this proceedngg 1t is to
the interest of the American people and their repre-
senatves in the glorious causeaye and in the glorious
ate-of this great Hungarian leader What that
luton of the Senator from Mississippi? 1t was SUBJ
stantiay expression of sympathy for a people
" unurling the banners of freedom, in the beautiful