The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-12-11
THIRTY-sEcoND CONGRESS.
FIRST SESSION.
1yEDvRsDAr, December 10, 1851.
SENATE.

ioint committees on Printing and the Library; also
that Rev. L. F Morgan had been chosen Chaplain
by that body.
A large number of memorials and petitions of a
private nature were presented and appropriately
referred.
Mr. HALE gave notice of bill increasing the
salary Of the district judge OF the district OF New
Hampshire.
Mr.. BERRIEN moved that the memorial of the
members of the bar of the District of Columbia,
asking that the salary of the judge of the criminal
court be made equal 10 that of the assistant judges
of the circuit court, be taken from the files and
ferred TO the Judiciary Committee; which motion
Mr. UNDERWOOD submitted resolution di-
recting an inquiry by the Committee on Roads and
Canals into the expectancy Of making the necessa-
nv explorations and surveys, together with esti-
mate Of the cost of constructing artificial reservoirs
the Ohio river for the purpose of keeping
igation open on that river; which was read and
adopted.
LAND FoR RAILROADS, &c.
Mr.. CLEMENS introduced bill granting land
to Alabama, to aid in the construction of the Go
raud railroad
land to Iowa, TO aid in the construction of rail-
road in that State.
Mr. GEYER gave notice of similar bills for roads
in Missouri.
MIR WALKER introduced bill for the improve
Inent of the navigation of the Fox and Wisconsin
rivera
NOTICES OF BILLS
Mr.. BADGER gave notice OF a bill for the relief
of the executors of Lewis Warrington, deceased,
and others,
MIR. PEARCE gave notice Of a bill providing for
the settlement of the accounts Of officers who have
collected moneys by military contribution or other
wise in Mexico.
ASSIGNMENT or LAND WARRANTS.
Mr.. UNDERWOOD, from the Committee ON
Public Lands, reported back with an amendment,
the joint resolution making land warrants issued
under the act Of September, 1850, assignable
WELCOME TO KossuTH.
The Senate then proceeded 20 the consideration
mint rceoiutiDu tCllefinP TO Louis kOzsuth
cordial welcome
Mr.. SUMNER said Words are sometimes things;
and cannot disguise from myself that the resou
ton in honor OF Louis Kossuth, now pending before
the Senate when finally passed. will be act of no
mean significance in the history Of our country.
The Senator from Georgia was right when he said
that il unmeanIng compliment. Beyond
its immediate welcome TO an illustrious stranger,
ii will help, combine, and direct the sentiments
OF our own people everywhere; it will inspire all in
other lands who engaged in the contest for free
dom; it will challenge the disturbed attention of
despots; and it will become precedent in the
thick coming events of The future, whose import
nnce will grow with the growing might of the Re
public. In this view il becomes US TO consider well
what do, and TO understand the grounds of our
own conduct. For myself, am prepare TO vote
for it, without amendment condition ofany kind, |
and on reasons which seem to me at once obvious |
and conclusive. In assigning these shall be brlei
and let me say that, novice as am in this scene,
and in all legislative halls nothing but my strong
interest in the question, and hope that may say
something strictly upon it, could prompt me thus
early to mingle in these debates.
The seems to require statement rather
than an argument
Az understand, the last Congress requested the
President to authorize the employment Of one of
public vessels to receive and convey Louis Kos
suth the United States. That honorable service
was per formed under the express direction of the
President, and in pursuance OF the vote OF Con-
gress, by of the best appointed ships of our
navy, the steam frigate Mississippi. Far away
from our country-in foreign waters, in the cur
rents Of the Bosphorus-the Hungarian chief, pass
ing from his Turkish exile, first pressed the deck
of this gallant weasel, first under the protec-
ton of our national flag, and for the first time in
his life rested beneath the ensign of an unques
toned Republic.
in an eloquent speech OF an hours length.
Mr.. STOCKTON would not have said any thing
this subject had not been that the observations
OF some OF the opponentsol the measure compelled
him TO mipgle in the debate, This resolution sim
ply carried out the hospitality commenced by the
act of a former Congress. That was the whole case
There the argument began and ended. He re-
garded the honor OF the Senate somewhat com
mitted to THE welcome, and he regarded the honor
of the Senate above all other considerations.
lie desired TO say to the Senate and the country
that the sentiments uttered by Kossuth and Others
the ether side Ut the Atlantic in respect TO the
monarchy of Great Britain and its practical work
ings upon the people, not his sentiments.
He was glad the people of New York had given
kossuth the welcome they had. The people Of
America would welcome and receive him as their
guest. The people of New York had done so. The
tyrants of Europe will see in this popular demon
stration that those who strike blow for liberty
will find in this land and among our people gym
pathy in their mislortunes and an asylum for
their repose.
In proportion tho ferociy with which they treat
ed the advocates and champions liberty in Europe,
go would we increase the degree OF our hospitality
Suppose, by the resolution, diplomatists do make
an outcry, had we not a Secretary of State who,
by one effort Of his gigantic mind, would scatter
their cobwebs TO the winds. Suppose it should pro-
woke blows, had we navy which would chow
them that blows could be well
ceived.
He considered the weakness of our Government
and the other causes which prompted the neutral
ity of the days of Washington, did not exist now
The infant Hercules had been nursed.
He then adverted to the character of the British
government. He knew nothing in her history show
ing that she had ever taken one step forward in
the cause of freedom. That government
narchcal, and its principal effect was the degra-
daton of the masses Her law making power wac
reposed IN the hands of few, and the masses
in the worst practical slavery. They owed and
performed duty to masters who were under no
corresponding obligation to protect them.
Under the system Of her government the great
mass Of the people were oppressed, and the conse
quence was that her poorhouse5 and workhoues
filed to OVERLOOKING.
He urged that the destiny Of this nation
preme power-a power superior to that OF any other
in existence. When that day arrived he considered
that war; last resort for national difficulties,
would cease. In the power to dictate, this nation
would dictate peace TO the world.
Mr. CLEMENS said this not only subject
Tor good speech but one also which allowed those
who knew the least of il TO make the best speeches.
The public reception which proposed to be
given placed on the ground that Kossuh
a republican. When did he become SO? Notuntil
defeat and misfortune compelled him. The strug-
gle in Hungary, at its commencement, was war
of races. Mr. c. read from certain papers addressed
by Kossuih TO Austria, in which aid asked
against the Scayonan people. His prayer to Aus
tria was for aid TO establish the supremacy Of the
Magyars, and the suppression of the ScIavo-
nians-a double the number of the Magyar.
He considered that much of the sympathy that had
been expressed for the cause of refubicanism in
Hungary was misplaced.
Kossuth preached republoanism
der the shadow Of throne, as had been said, but
he did not preach till he had failed in his claims
for an iron rule in the hands of the Magyars.
Mr.. &. denied that there was any thing in the
joint resolution Of Congress placing vessel at the
service Of Kossuth and his mpanions, III Gaze
they desired to emgrate TO this country, TO justify
the assertion that he here the invited guest of
the nation. BY that resolution he understood Cor
gress meant nothing more than to afford them an
asylum and the means of reaching it if they de-
sired to come to this country