The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-12-12
CONGRESSIONAL.
DEFERRED DEBATE.
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, IS;



lion Of welcome TO Kossulh.
MI SUMNER Mr. President, words are sometimes
things: and cannot disg from myself that the reso-
luton IN honor OF Louis Kossulh. pending before
The Senate, when finally passed. will be act OF no
small significance in the history OF our country The
senator from Georgia right when he said thai il was
no unmeaning compliment Beyond its immediate well
come 10 an usrous stranger, il will help to combine
and direct the sentiments Of own people everywhere
h will inspire all in other lands W no engaged in the
contest for freedom will challenge the disturbed at
ention OF despots; and will become precedent whose
Importance will grow. in the thick coming events OF the
future, with the growing might of the republic In this
view Il becomes us 10 consider well what we do and to
understand the grounds of our conduct.
For myself, prepared to vote for il without amend
men, or condition OF any kind, and which
seem to at once obvious and conclusive. In assign
ing these shall be brief and let say that novice as
am in this hall and in all legislative halls. nothing but
ms strong interest the question presented and
hope 10 Say something directly upon it, could prompt
me thus early 10 minge in these debates
The 10 require statement rather than an
argument As understand the last Congress requested
the President to authorize the employment Of one Of our
public vessels receive and convey Louis kossuh 10 the
United States That honorable service was performed.
under the express direction OF the President. and in pu
suance OF the vote OF Congress. by one OF the best ap
pointed ships OF nayy-,he steam frigate Mississippi
Far away from our county in foreign waters in the cur
his Turk sh exile, FIRST pressed the deck OF this gallant
yesselhrst came under the protection Of our national
aag and. for The first lime in his life rested beneath the
ensign oil an unQuesloned republic From that moment
he became guest The repubiicwhich, thus far he
had seen only in delighted dream or vsonwas now his
host and though this relation was interrupted for few
weeks by his wise and brilliant visit TO England, yet its
duties and lis pleasures. as confidently submit not
vet ended The liberated exile is now at our gates. Sir,
we cannot do things by haves; and The hospitality thus
under the auspices Of Congress must under the
auspices Of Congress, be continued The hearts Of the
people already open to receive hm-Congress canno.
turn its back upon hm
il is essential 10 complete and The work OF the last
Congress- but because our guest deserves II at our hands
The distinction is great. know; but ls not so great as
his DESERTS He deserves as the early constant, and
corrptbe champion oil the liberal in Hungary, who
while yet young, with unconscious power, grded himself
for contest, and by series o mastery labors with
voice and pen in parliamentary debates and in the dis
cussons of the press, brealhsd into his country the
breath Of life He deserves il BY the great principles of
true democracy which he caused 10 be ecognsed-rpre
sentaiion Of the people without distinction OF rank or
birth. and equality before The lar. lie deserves II by
The trials he has undergone in prison and in exile lie
deserves by the precious truth which he now so elo
auently procaims OF the fraternity OF nations
As regard his course, am filled with reverence and
awe | see in him, than in any other living man,
the power which may be exeiied by single, earnest,
honest soul, in noble cause In himself he IS more
than whole cabinet-moTe than whole army. watch
him in Hungary while. like Carnot in France, he or
ganzes victory" follow him in exile 10 dis'an, Asiale
Turkey, and there find him, with only scanty band OF
ATTENDANTS IN weak ness and confinement still the dread
of despots sympahze with him IN his happy release
and as he comes more within the sphere oil our I'M
mediate observ vation amazemeni fills us all in the
temIlaon OF his while he proceeds from land TO
land from city TO city, and, with words OF matchless eo
quence, al lines The fiery sword OF freedom and
then the trumpet oil resurrection 10 the naons- Iubd
mrun spargens sonum.
know not how others have been impressed but can
call TO mind no incident in historyno event OF peace or
War-cerainly OF war-nore strongly calculated
better adaped-,o touch and exalt the imaa nation and
the heart Than his recent visit TO England lie landed on
the southern coast not Tar ifom where William OF
Normandy, nearly eight centuries ago, had landed not
lar from where nineteen centuries ago. Julius Cesar had
andsd also but William, the field of Hastings and
Cesar in his adventurous expedition. made no conquest
and unattended Hungarian multitudlDous people,
outnnInberng farthe armes oi those earlier times was
subdusd by his wisdom and eloquence and this exile
from place TO place, raversng the country al
last in the very heart Of the kingdom. threw down the
gauntlet Of the republic. Without equlvocaton, amidst
ihs supporters OF monarchy, in The shadow OF lofty
throne be proclaimed himself republican, and pro-
claimed the republic bis cherished aspiration for Hun
gary And yet. amidst the excitement OF this unparal
esd scene, with that discretion which pray may ever
attend him. as good angelihe ancient poet aply tells
US that no Divinity is absent where Prudence IS present
he oreboe all suggestion Of interference with The exist
ing Institutions OF the country whose guest he was,
virtue OF which every State chooses for itself the nslu
lions and mlers which i, prefers. ~
Such character, ihas grandly bisior'c-a living wal
laee-a living Tell had almost said living Washing
on-deserves our homage. Nor aD tempted TO ask u
there be any precedent for the resolution now under con
sderaton. There is time for all things; and ine time
has come for make precedent IN harmony with his
unprecedented career The occasion is TT the hero IS
near; lei us speak our welcome II s true that, unlike
Laayes,l be has directly served our country but
cannot admit thai this account he Is less worthy
Like Lafayeiie hp periled life and all like Lafayette he
has done penance IN Austrian dungeon like laiay-
sts he has served the cause OF freedom and whose
ever serves this cause wberesoever he may be- IN what
ever land is entitled according 10 his works. 10 the gra
tnde OF every true American bosomof every tue lover
ID mankind.
pieiiy and completeness In this respect il seems TO me
preferable TO that of the senator from Illinois nor - II
obnoxious TO objections urged against that OF the senator
from Mississippi; do sen that Il can give any Just
nnbaxe. an our diplomatic relations, even 10 the sens
tive representative Of Austria Though have the high
authority OF the President IN bis Tor styling
gaest "Governor'-a title which seems imply The de
fdcS independence oil Hungary at the very time when our
govesnsaent declined TO acknowledge 1.-THE resolution
avoids this difficulty, and speaks Of him without title OF
any kind d-smpy as private citizen. As such, II offers
him welcome to ibs capital and TO The country.
The comfy Of nations respect To the bebesis OF the
law of nations ! profoundly bow. As in domestic
afairs all acts brought 10 The constitution, as 10
oaeisione foreign affairs all acts brought
10 the iovebsone of the law OF naions-tha supreme
law, the worlds collected will, which overarches the
bids fobear to do But no text Of this voumnous code,
no commentary, gloss can be found which ofbids us
10 welcome any exile OF freedom.
looking al this resolution in its yafions lighis-as
casyinx out oil the act o the last Congess, as justly due
10 the exsied character Of our guest and proper
lmpossible to avoid he conclusion ~ lis favor On It's
merits IL would naturally he adopted And here might
stop
pnt an appeal has been made agains The resolution
stounds which seem 10 me exlfaneoos and irrelevant
II has been ATTEMPTED 10 inyove il with The critical Ques
lion of Intervention by country in European affairs
and recen, speeches in and New York have been
aaauced to show that such Intervention sought by