The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-12-18
WASHINGTON, d. c.
IMPORTANT DEBATE IN THE SENATE,
rossrTU AND NON.INTERYENTION


posinp a cordial welcome, on behalf OF Con-
ores. TO Louis Kossuth of Hungary, was taken
nm read n second time, and considered as IN
Committee of the Whole. After an able
speech from Mr. Seward in its support Mr.
Shields of Illinois moved to strike out all after
the word Resolved, and insert the following:
That a committee of three be appointed
bv the Chair to wait upon Louis kossuth,
Governor of Hungary, and to introduce him
TO the Senate
Mr. Shields dsclaimed uniriendlness to the
resolution of Mr. Seward, or to that gentle
man, but his amendment was in fact tran
script of the action of the Senate in the case
Of Lafayette; and he thought it preferable.
The Chair decided that the amendment was
not in order, as the resolution Of Mr.. Seward
was a joint resolution, and the amendment
simply proposed action by the Senate. After
some delay on this point
Mr.. Berrien of Georgia obtained the floor,
and addressed the Senate at length in OppOsi-
ton to any action al all by Congress. In clio
sing his speech, he moved the following amend
ment, demanding the yeas and nays:
Sind be ii further resolved, That the well
come thus afforded to Louis kOssuth be extend
ed to his associates who have landed on our
shores but while welcoming these Hungarian
patriots to an asylum in our country, and TO
the protection which our laws do and always
will afford to them, it is due to candor to de-
clare that it is not the purpose of Congress to
depart from the settled policy of this Govern
ment, which forbids all interference with the
domestic concerns of other nations
Mr. Hale followed in support of the resolu-
ton, and against the amendment
Mr.. Soule rose to explain his own position,
and vindicate his course in introducing SINH
lar resolution the other day.
The subject was resumed the next day, when
Az Sugauer raads an eloquent speech in sup
port Of the resolution SIr Clemens Of Afa-
y,lna yyif5poys,. ~ q = $50 IN
Shields of Illinois, and Mr. Stockton of New |
Jersey, came to its support in well-timed, effect
i've speeches. Mr.. FoOte exposed, with keen !
sarcasm, the himsy authorities on which the |
Senator from Alabama had relied, in his mpu- |
tations against KOssuth and then the Senate |
adjourned.
The opposition to any action by Congress
designed to honor Kossuth, originates with the
slaveholding members-AIessrs. Dawson and
Berrien of Georgia, Mr. Underwood Of Ken
lucky, Mr. Clemens of Alabama, having al
ready committed themselves openly. Other
Senators from the South, together with some
Hunker Wing members from the North, sym
pathize and will act with them.
Messrs Seward, Sumner, and Hale, 80 OBJ
noxious for their Anti-Slavery position, have
thus far been the most eloquent advocates Of
the resolution but great credit is due to the |
able and energetic manner in which Messrs. |
Shields and Stockton, Democratic members
from Illinois and New Jersey and Mr. Foote,
Senator from the slave State of Mississippi, |
have supported it. We make these remarks,
that Kossuth his fellOw-exiles, the republicans
of Europe, and the liberty-lOving People of the
United States, may see what is the real source
of that dastardly Conservatism in this country
which shrinks from manifesting effective SYM
pathy with the Popular Cause in Europe
We forgot to say in the proper place. that
on the first day of the discussion, Mr.. Miller
of New Jersey, succeeding Mr.. Hale, gave the
resolution qualified support indicating how
ever, disposition to qualify it with tho memo
rable amendment of Mr.. Berrien.
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9.
The Joint resolution offered by Mr. SEWARD
concerning Louis Kossuth, having been taken
up, WAS read second time and considered Us
in Committee of the Whole.
Mr.. SEWARD ! have said that | should
postpone discussion of this question upon its
merits at the present time | shall advert in
the first place, simply to the circumstances
under which it comes before Congress.
If the distinguished parsonage whom it is the
design of this resolution to honor had hOated
upon our shores unbidden and unheralded, there
would have been no great embarrassment in
suffering his arrival to pass unnoticed by Con-
gress But the case is widely different The
Congress of the United States found him a
prisoner in Asia Mnor-an exile from his
native land in an effort for the redemption of
which he had failed They caused the Pres-
dent of the United States to express to him the
sympathy of Congress with him in his exile and
misfortunes; and they rendered to him an in
yitation to come to America rs an asylum in
one of the vessels of the public navy. The
President Of the United States executed these
Instructions and, in pursuance of that it is
known to all the world that KOssuth was libe-
rated from his captivity, and is now upon our
shores. The President of the United States, in
anticipation of his arrival, informed Congress,
on their assembling Mt the present session, that
he had executed their instructions, and that the
arrival of this llustriOus man was hourly ex-
pected and he recommended 10 Congress to
take into consideration the proper manner
and ceremonial OF receiving him who had been
brought here under their authority. This of
itself was sufficient to engage the attention of
the civilized world for the action Of Congress in
relation to the parsonage whose name and fame
at this time fills the eye and ear of the world
But the action of the Government has not stop
ped here. In pursuance of its recommenda-
ton. and at the instance of the President and
the Administration, the subject has been opened
in this chamber. A debate has been opened
upon the question submitted by the President
Under such circumstances absolute silence
would amount TO nothing short of neglect and
neglect would be liable to be construed in NV
poor judgment, into ndignity. 1t is under these
circumstances that this question comes before
Congress; and | am sure that it is not the in
tentiOn of the Senate that their treatment
Of Louis kossuth should be capable of being
construed into indignity. If such should be the
result the consequence would be the inhcting
a wound upon the generous and noble heart OF
friend to liberty, whose gratitude we had
gained and stimulated and in whose bosom we
had enkindled the expectation of warm and
generous, and cordial welcome. Such would
be the effect upon him. The effect upon his
country would be to subdue the feeling of az
lection and gratitude which the expression of
sympathy in their misfortunes thus far has
awakened. The effect of it would be to dsap-
point the hopes and expectations of the friends