The republic., 1851-01-01
The Diplomatic Correspondence with
Austria.

|
! The Diplomatic Correspondence with
! Austria.
Our readers and the public generally have
doubtless perused, with mingled amazement
and qualification, the extensive correspondence
between the Chevalier HULsEMANN, the Aus
trlan Charge, on the one part and Mr.. WEB
sTER, the United States Secretary, on the
other, and which appeared in our paper of yes
terday. These documents were received by
and read before the Senate upon call from
that body.
When We first cast our eye over the letter of
| the Chevalier HULsEMANN, and noticed its
naughty and swelling tone in respect to Aus
tria, and its somewhat contumeious estimate of
the Unilcd States, we were strongly reminded
of the language of ,Sadu Kwan, the Chinese
Emperor, 10 his Admiral Quan and his Com
missioner kishen, during the late war with
Great Brita,n-commanding them at once to
annihilate the outside barbarians who had ven
tured to disturb the sublime equanimity of the
Celestial Empire The question naturally
arises in the mind, is this document to be re-
garded in It's peculiar characteristics, its igno-
|
personal or national, deriving its spirit from the
Ambassador or the Austrian Cabinetl From
what we know, we believe it to have been die
tated by the latter, and leaving the minister
no choice or discretion. so, it must be taken
as fair index 10 the degree of sense, logic,
and light belonging to the ''lmperia Cabnet;'
not of Pekn, gentle reader but of sister EN-
plre, whose seat is at Vienna.
After reading Mr.. WEBsTER's reply, we in
duIge no sentiment of Indignation toward Aus
tra A single ejaculation rises in the heart
ooh that our enemy may always write de-
spatch so long as we have the present Secretary
to answer it," This abundantly contents our
national pride. The subject, however is too
suggestive of reflection not to be improved for a
| few observations.
The history, position, and tendency of Aus
tria would afford abundant scope for volume.
AT present 1t is an unseemly compound of various
Kingdoms and races arrayed under about fifteen
different governments. Some OF these are
duchies, some arch duchies-some Kingdoms.
some-as the "military 'thorties''- s''-artiicial
districts, reminding us, by their sprawling
figures on the map, Of the Congressional dis
tricts in Massachusetts,, established by the De-
mocracy of other days, and from the governor
at that time receiving the name of Gerreman
ders. The entire population of Austria is
$500 900, of these 100000 are Germans,
II 900, 900 various Sclavonic nations and tribes
and 5000, 900 Italians. The number of native
languages spoken in the Empire is abont thirty.
Austria, thus constituted was the patchwork
of the Congress of Vienna. 1t does not, how
ever, materially differ in its extent, though
somewhat in its boundaries, as they existed be.
fore the first French revolution. In two in
stances, this empire had saved central Europe
from the destructive invasion of Asatic hordes.
In the thirteenth century, the Mongols, which
overwhelmed the rising Muscovite Kingdom,
broke on the organized kingdom of Bohemia and
| Marquitia and Austria. In the seventeenth
century, Austria was-the bulwark which stayed
and at last turned back the terrible tide of Turk
ish conquest in Europe. From that time it was
for more than hundred years the beau ideal OF
European despotsm; the Court being at once dis
sipated, imbecle, and corrupt. addicted itself to
every kind Of license. while it held over its sub
jects the iron sway Of dark and gloomy ty-
ranny Toward the close Of the eighteenth
century, the manners Of the Imperial Court were
luxurious and disgraceful to degree almost in
credible. The money wrung from an abused
and poverty stricken people was spent by their
oppressors in the most tasteless extravaganza.
Forty thousand persons were, in some form
or other, attached TO the Court. Its unlimited
expenditure furnished many with the means
OF revelry; whilst the profigacy of courters,
hangers-on, and lackeys, impaired it's tone to
society in all ranks, eating, drinking, and IL
"a