Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1851-12-18
Speech of Kossuth in full,
AT HIS RECEPTION IN CASTLE GARDEN.


am yet half sick. gentlemen; tossed and
twisted about by forlnights gale on the Allan
tics re tIess waves; my giddy brains are still
turning round as in Whirlpool and this glgan-
tic continent seems yet to trembIe beneath nv
wavering steps. Let me, before go to work,
have some hours resi- upon this soil of freedom,
your happy home. Freedom and Home what
heavenly music IN those two words Alas,
have no home, and the freedom OF my people is
down-trodden. Young Giant of free America,
do not tell Inc that thy shores are an asylum to
The oppressed, and home to the homeless exile.
An asylum 1t is, but all the blessings of your
glorious country, eau they drown into oblivion
the longing OF the heart, and the fond desires,
Tor our naive land
My beloved native land thy very suff5FiRgs
make thee but dearer to my heart thy bleeding
Image dwells with me when wake, as it rests
with me IN the short moments of my restless
sleep. 1t has accompanied me over the waves.
1t will accompany me when 60 back to fight
over again the battle OF thy freedom once more.
have no idea but thee; have no feeling but
thee. Even here with this prodigous view Of
greatness, freedom, and happiness, which spreads
before my astonlshod eyes, my thoughts are
wandering towards home and when look over
these thousands of thousands before me, The
happy inheritance of yonder freedom for which
your fathers fought and bled-and when ! turn
TO you, citizens, to bow before the majesty Of
the United States, and to thank the people of
New York for the generous share IN my lIber
alton, and Tor the unparalleled honor OF this re.
ceptlon, see, out of the midst Of this great as
sJmblage, rise the bleeding image OF Hungary,
looking to you with anxiety whether there be in
the luslure OF your eye a ray of hope for her;
whether there be IN the thunders OF your hur-
rams trumpet call OF resurrection. Ii there
we're no such ray Of hope in your eyes, and no
suth trumpet call in your cheers, then woe to
Europes oppressed naons. They will stand
alone IN the hour OF need. Less fortunate than
you were they will meet NJ brohers hand to
heip them in the approaching giant struggle
against The leagued despots Of the World AMI
wne also 10 me, will feel no Joy even here,
and the days of my stay here viii turn out to be
lost for my fatherland lost at the very time
when every moment Is teeming in the decision
of Enropes destiny. Citizens much as | am
waning some hours of rest, much as | have
need to b. come familiar with the ground will
have TO stand upon before enter on business
matters publicly, took 1t for duty of honor,
not to let escape even this first moment OF YOUR
Generous welcome, without stating plainly and
openly to you what sort Of a man | am, and
what ale the expectations and he hopes what
are the motives which brought me now to your
glorious shores. Gentlemen, have to thank
the people, Congress, and Government of the
| United States for my liberation from captivity.
Human tongue has no words to express the bliss
which felt when the down.trodden Hunga-
ry's wandering chet-saw the glorious flag of
the stripes and stars futering over my head
when first bowed before it with deep respect
wien | saw around me the gallant officers
and crew Of the Mississippi frgate-lhe most
OF them the worhest representative of true
American principles. American greatness, A.
merlcan generosity-and to think that it was not
a mere chance which cast the star spangled
inner around me, but that 1t was your protect.
ing .will-to know that the United States of
America, conscious of their glorious calling as
well as Of their power, declared by this unpar-
alleled act to be resolved to become the protect
OTIS of human rght5-to see powerful vessel
of Amer ca, coming far to ASA, to break the
chain by winch the mghtiest desJots of Europe
fettered the activity OF an cxed Magyar, whose
very name disturbed the pround security oftheu
D sleep-io feel restored by such protection, and
in such way TO freedom, and by freedom tC
activity, you may be well aware OF what have
cit, and still feel, at the Remembrance Of this
proud moment Of my lie. Others spoke--you
acted and was free You acted; and at Thu,
act OF yours tyrants trembed humanity shout
! ed out with joy; the down trodden people q
Magyars-the down trodden, but not broken
raised his head with resolution and with hope
aud the bnIllancy of your stars was greeted by
Enropes oppressed nations as the morning star
OF rising liberty. Now, gentlemen. you must
+ be aware how boundIess the gratitude must be
which feel for you. You have restored me to
llfe-becausc, restored me to activity; and
SHOULD my life, by the blessings of the Almighty
Z till prove useful to my fatherIand and to human
ltY, 1t will be your merlt-lt will be your work
May you and your glorious country be blessed
Y tor it. Europe is on the very eve Of such i'm
mense events, that however iervent my graft
tude to you, would not have tet authorized 10
cross the Atlantic, at this very time, only for the
n purpose to EXHIBIT to you my warm thanks.
t would have thanked you by facts contributing
to the freedom OF the European continent, and
would have pos poned my visit to your glorious
y shores till the decisive battle of freedom was
: fought-if it were my destiny to outve that day
n Then what is the motive of my being here al
:, this very time? The motive, citizens, is tla
i your generous act OF my liberation has raised
: the conviction throughout the world that tin;
d generous act of yours Is but the manifestation
~ Of your resolution to throw you" weight into The
balance where the fate OF The European cont
" nent is TO be weighed. You have raised thu
conviction throughout the world that by my
liberation you were willing to say, "Ye oppres
sed nations of old Europe's continent be o
Il good cheer, the young gan. Of America stretch
rs his powerful arm over the waves, ready t
J. give brothers hand to your future" So il
II your act interpreted throughout the world You
:, in your proud security, can scarcely lmagin,
how beneficial this convection has already prov
e ed to the suffering nations of the European con
. tinent. You can scarcely imagine what sell
confidence you have added to the resolution o
: the oppressed. You have knit the lie of solid
Il arlty IN the destlnes OF nations. can't dOub
o that you know how was received by the pub
lie opinion IN every country which touched
since am free and what feelings my Liberation
!. has elected in those countries which it was no
nv lot to touch.
You known how ], a plain, poor, pennies
exile, have almost become a centre OF hope AM
confidence to the most different nations ant
united but by tie OF common suffering VIVA
Is the source OF this appariton unparalleled
n manklnd's history? The source of it is, tina
your generous act of my liberation is taken b.
- the world Tor the revelation of the fact that thu
/. United States are resolved not 10 allow the des
q pots Of the world to trample on oppressed hu
mainly. 1t is hence that my liberation wa.
cheered from Sweden down to Portugal, as &
# ray of hope. 1t is hence that even these nations
$ which most desire my presence in Europe now
q have unanimously told me, Hasten on, haste,
: on to the great, free, rich and powerful peopl
, of the United States, and bling over its brother
i y aid to the cause of your country so intimate
$ " connected with European berry )" and her,
d | stand to plead the cause of the solidarity o
human rights before the great republic of tn,
. United States.
Humble as am, God, the Almighty, has Sc
lected me to represent the cause of humanity
. before you. My warrant 10 this capacity i
r written in the sympathy aud confidence OF al
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