Hannibal journal and western union. (Hannibal, Mo.) 1851-1852, 1851-11-27


that this poor aristocracy was not only in the
condition Of the people, but actually poorer, be.
cause not so Industrious. But one prominent
feature in these facts is, that our aristocracy is
not SO opposed to the extension Of constitutional
rights as even the other aristocracies Of the
middle ages, and as was formerly the aristocra-
Icy OF this country. 4 say was, because con-
fess the aristocracy Of England haveknown how
TO meet the exigencies ofcthe time, to share
their privileges with the people, and to bear
with them their proper share Of The public bur
Idens of the country. And theyshave had their
reward, for the aristocracy Of England has re-
manned frms while other aristocracies have
been scattered to the winds. But in Hungary
the mobiles were difiused among the people, mere
lagriculturists, landlords, manufacturers and la
borers, and therefore the word in one case must
be taken with a meaning different from its ac-
!ceptation in other countries, and must add that
although the people were not by the ancient
constitution allowed to speak for themselves,
still we always found among the aristocracy
generous and valiant men, ready TO stand forth
as the champions of their country, and of the
rights of humanity. TCheers. To enable them
to do so, thoy had framed two institutions-one
was what may call the parliament of Hungary
and the other was the county municipal institu-
tons; which latter more than the parliament
are the safeguards of the rights of the people
Besides, these county institutions, were so fra
med that they could be the only media through
which the government could convey orders TO
the magistrates and other officers. These coun-
Ity meetings were composed of noblemen who
resided in the counties, and in some counties
amounted TO twenty or thirty thousand, ev-
cry one of whom had the right of voting at the
elections for magistrates, who were the only eN-
Iecutive power of the country.
If the government wanted any order execu-
ted it must be done by the municipal magistrate
but he could not come into immediate contact
with the government, who in the first Instance
must send their orders to the county meeting.
Such meeting had the right TO discuss the or
Sders of government, and more than ona case has
occurred IN whch.the order was not forwarded
to lie magistrate for execution, but rc1nous-
france was sent to the government for sending
il. They formed 'hns a. strong barrier against
the encroaclnnents Of The governments and no
country has needed such. a barrier more than
Hungary, for more than three centuries ihe
House Of Hapsburg has not had at its head a
man who was friend TO political freedom
q Loud cheers. Now, the House Of Haps6G.g
ha ruled in Hungary for these three centuries,
not hy conquest, but by the free choice of the
naticn: not without conditions, but firmly bound
bv treaties, the chief feature of which was, that
when the King was admitted TO power in the Or
der of his hneal succession, he was TO rule and
govern Hungary by means of its own public
institutions. and according TO lis own laws; he
swore solemnly to 10 so, and prayed to the eter-
nal God to bless him and his race, and he was
true to his oath. Thirteen Kings we have had
Of this dynasty, and no man can charge me with
Iexaggeraton, when say that the rule of these
thirteen Kings has been a continuous perjury.
I T Great sensation. caused by the wonderful en-
ergy which NJ. Kossuth threw into the delivery
| of this SENTENCED Yes, perjury, thai is the
word. Renewed cheering. Gentlemen, lam a
plain man, and call things by their right names.
Cheers and laughter. Now, when the Hunga-
ran nation elected the head of the house of
IHapsburg her sovereign, the country contained
upwards of 1000 German geographical square
miles, which / am informed is equal TO about
100000 English square miles, and fifteen mil
lions Of people, no small or insignificant realm,
YOU will admit Hear, hear. AT that time,
'ioo, the house of ,Hapsburg ruled constitutions
ally in all their own provinces, but subsequent
ly these provinces lost their rights; and
through the whole of the three centuries, thC
direction of the house Of Hapsburg has beef tC
obtain undisputed, absolute dominion over al
their territories.
Shortly after the Pesth struggle there wa,
mot Il single province Of the Austrian empire
that had :onsttution-the ambition Of th'
house Of Hapsburg having absorbed the const
tutional rights of all Our constitutional right
were not absorbed because we did not belong 4
the Austrian empire, nor had we any connec
ton with it, except such as that Of Hanove
with this country, with this exception, that tn
: line of succession is not limited IN the sam
manner, We administered coronation oath
: setting forth that there would be no connectio
between Hungary and any other province, an
that while we acknowledged the same sove
reign, our rights were to be preserved, and W
4 were to be governed solely by our own laws an
customs. We also provided that, in case III
: sovereignty should, in the line of succession
e fall into the hands Of child, the same cours
: should not be pursued as in the case of Austri;
S In such case the regent of Austria would
= some elder member of the royal family; but "
G provided that Hungarian palatine should
= appointed, so as that our constitutional righ
: should not be absorbed. These rights were a
so protected by our municipal Institutions, whiC
/ with aH inherent strength that could never
: completely broken, steadily resisted the el
It Icroachment of the crown
d Perhaps may illustrate the defensive streng
Il of these institutions by alluding to the siege
/ Saragossa by Napoleon When Napoleon HI
battered down the walls, he was as far frC
o success as ever, because he had to fight sins
rs battles with the citizens in every street. So
is was in Hungary with her municipal institution
v GCheers i remember an occgYion when
ID house Of Hapsburg, in defiance Of the Parl
" ment, levied troops and raised the taxes fr'
4 one TO two and-e-hak times as much as th
lie were before, and when the majority Of over
S, ty-two Of our counties, influenced by terror a
IS, every other means at tho disposal Of the G'