The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-12-16


that new established Austrian Empire, he SOL
EMMY declared that Hungary and its annexed
provinces not intended, and will not make
part OF the Austrian Empire.
Subsequently we entered with this empire
into the German Confederation of 1905, but
Hungary, as we'll as Lombardy and Venice, not
making part OF the Austrian Empire, remsined
again separated. aud were not entered into the
confederacy. The laws which | succeeded TO
carry in l848, did, of course, nothing alter in
that old chartered condition of Hungary. We
transformed the peasantry into freeholders, free
proprietors, abolished feudal membranes We
replaced this political privileges of arstocracy
by the common liberty of the whole people
gave political representation to the people for
the legislature; transformed our municipal cor
porations into democratic corporations intro
duced equality in rights and duties, and before
the law, for the whole people; abolished the
immunity of taxation of the nobility. secured
equal religious liberty to all secured liberty to
the press and Of association; provided for gra-
tuitous public instruction for the whole people,
of every confession and Of whatever tongue;
but not injuring, in any way, the rights of the
King. We replaced our own arlstocratcal con-
stitution by democratic constitution founded
upon nearly universal suffrage Of the whole pee-
p!e--of whatever religion, Of whatever tongue
All these were, as you see, internal reforms
which did in no way interfere with our allegiance
to the King, and were carried lawfully in peace.
tu legislation, with the sanction OF the King.
| Besides this, there was one other thing which
was carried. We We're formerly governed by a
| board Of council, which had the express duty
to govern according to sure laws, and be re-
sponsible for doing SO but we saw bv long ex-
perience that this responsibility is an empty
sound, because a corporation cannot really be
responsible and here was the reason why the
absolutistcal tendency of the dynasty succeeded
to encroach upon our liberty. SO we replaced
the board of council by ministers; the empty
responsibility of Board by the individual re-
| sponsblity of men--and the King consented TO
! It, ! myself was named by him Minister of the
Treasury. That is all. But precisely here was
the rub. The tyrant could not bear the idea
that would not give to his ambionary disposal
the fe,sweat of my people he was not con-
tented with the s 100000 loans which We gen.
erously appropriated to him yearly. He would
have his hands in our pockets, and he could not
bear the idea that he shall never more be ut lib
erty TO dispose without any control Of our brave
army, and To crush down the spirit of freedom
! in the world.
Therefore no resortei to the most outrageous
conspiracy, and attack d US by arms, and by a
| falls report of victory which never was won
issu d a proclamation declaring that Hungary
shall not more exist-that its independence its
conslit ition, its very existence is abolished, and
it shall be melted, like farm or fold, into the
Austrian empire To this we answered, f" Thou
shalt not exist, tyrant, but we will; and we
b.nshed him, and issued the Declaration of our
| lndrp, leEce.
| So you see, gentlemen, that there is very
great difference between yours and ours--it is in
our favor-There is another similar difference !;
| you declared your independence " hen il was yet
very doubtful whether it would be uccessinl
| We declared ours when we, in legitimate de-
| fence, were already victorious; when we had
beaten our enemies, and so proved, before our
declaration, that we had strength and power
enough to become one of the independent pow
ers on earth, One thing more our Declaration
of Independence was not only voted unani.
mously in our Congress, but eysry county, every
municipality, has solemnly declared its consent
and adherence to IL: so it became not the sup
posed, hut by the whole realm positively, and
sanctioned by the fundamental laws ofIiungary
And so it is even now There happened since
nothing contrary to this declaration on the part
of the nation. No contrary law no declaration
issued. Only one thing happened-a foreign
power Russia, came with hi, armed bond smen
and, aided by treason overthrow us for while
Now put the question, before God and hui
manty, to you, free, sovereign people of Ame--
lea, can this violation of international law abol-
18Th the legitimate character Of our Declaration
Of Independence If not, then, here take nv
ground, because | am in this very Declaration of
Independence, entrusted with the charge of
governor of my fatherland. ! have sworn,
before God and my nation, to endeavor to main
tain and secure this act of Independence. And
50 may God the Almighty help me as will
will, until my nation is again in the condition to
dispose of its government, which confidently
trust--yea more, ! know, will be a republican
And then retire to the humble condition of my
formerprivate life, equang In one thing, at least
your Westinghouse in merits, but in hon.
esty--,hat is the only ambition Of my life
Amen. SO my third humble wish is that the
people Of the United States would be pleased
by all constitutional means of its wonted public
lfe to declare that, acknowledging the legiti.
mite character of the Declaration of Independ-
ence of Hungary, it is anxious to greet Hungary
among the independent powers of the earth, and
invite the government of the United States to
recognize this independence at the earliest con-
venient time. That is all. Lei me see the
principle announced; the rest may well be left to
the wisdom OF your government, with some
confidence in my own respectful discretion also.
And so, gentlemen, have respectfully stated
what are my humble requests 10 the sovereign
people Of this country, in its public and poti
cal capacity II is, that the people Of the United
States may be pleased, by all constitutional
means, to declare
First, That, feeling interested in the mainte-
nance of the laws of nations, ackno wedging the
sovereign right of every people 10 dispose Of its
own domestic concerns To be one Of these laws,
and the interference with this sovereign right TO
be violation of these laws of nations, the PEG. |
pie of the United States-rcsolved to respect
and to make respectful these laws--declares the
Russian past Intervention in Hungary to be a
violation Of those laws, which, If reiterated, |
would be new violation, and would not be re-
garded iudlfierently by the people of the United
States--that you, therefore, invite your govern
ment to act accordingly, and invite Great Bri.
tain to unite with the United States in this pol
icy.
Second, That the people Of the United States
are resolved TO maintain its right of commercial |