Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1851-12-11
CONGRESS.
WAsHINGroN. Dec. GIL

n0 SeH"lS VI ehS 0'n, upon the resolutions oil Mr..
Seward Of New York, relating to the reception Of
Kossuth.
Mr. Seward said he would abstain at This time
n ON discussion OF the merits Of the resolution If
the distinguished person intended 10 be welcomed
had hoated on our shores, unbidden and un;nyited.
then there would have been no improperly Il Com
gress not noticing his arrival But the United States
found him in prison in Asia Minor and in nrison
for his cause. Congress instructed the President TO
send him, through our representative, assurances of
American sympathy, and rendered him passage 10
the United States IN a national vessel The Pres-
dent had obeyed these instructions. and In his an
nual message he had informed them that the arrival
OF the distinguished stranger was daily expected and
recommended that Congress would consider and
adopt some suitable mode of reception and enter.
tanning OF the man who had been brought here by
their authority. This alone was enough to attract
the attention OF the world. He did not stop here
At the instance of the President, the subject had
been introduced in the Senate, and debate had
ensued.
Under these circumstances, silence would be con.
sdered as neglect, and neglect would be construed
into lndlgnity. The conse quence would be that we
should be inhicting wound on the generous heart
OF that friend OF liberty, in whose bosom we had en-
klndled feelings OF gratitude, and had raised an ex-
pectation OF warm and generous welcome The
effect would be 10 discourage all those friends of lib.
erty who look to this country for sympathy in their
Struggles and to encourage their enemies in their ef-
forts to suppress their aspirations He was unwil.
ting to be understood as allowing tie arrival Of
kossnth to pass unnoticed by Congress, and to put
himself right, he had introduced the subject to Con.
gress, and that, too, in shape SO unxeceptionabe
that all could unite in it. He cared not for the shane
in which the resolution might be put
He was unwilling TO do anything which would in
vove the nation in war. He considered the mission
ol M S.raS
iy better promoted bv maintaining peace at
home and peace with all mankind II he could see
IN this resolution The least tendency towards war lie
would hesitate. He was clearly Of the opinion that
any nation might do that freely and without offence,
which was not forbidden by the laws OF any nation
The laws Of nature require to extena our hospi-
tally to all who require it. And now, while the
eyes OF the world are upon us, shall we refuse to
Kossuth cordial welcome?
AIR. Shields moved 10 amend by substituting after
the word resolve, that committee of three Sena-
tors be appointed by the Chair to wait upon and in.
trodnce Kossuih to the Senate.
The President of the Senate decided the motion
was out Of order, and the Senate was addressed by
Mr. Berien Of Ga in opposition to the resolutions.
Mr.. Berrien said, his opposition did not arse
from any doubt Of the merit of Kossah. He had
been an attentive observer of events in Hungary,
and had s,mpalhized deeply in the msIorIunes Of
her people,
He wonld not say word or do an act to pluck Il
single leaf from the laurel wreath which eniwined
the brow OF the patriot who has SO eminenty dstiu.
gulshed himself in the cause Of civil and religious
liberty. But that with the vast amount Of public
business before them, and which would detain them
here so long, to transact and dispose Of should the
Senate waste its time in the discussion Of the form
in which they would confer an idle compliment A
compliment which the recipient himself would cou-
slider idle one
1t had been said that this case was like that OF
Lafayette, and called for like action. He. did not
think SO.
The case OF Lafayette stands alone. 1t ought 10
stand alone. He would not detract from the hosx
paid to the Marquis de Lafayette 3aiIIe. ~
them on any living man. No other soald ever
It was said that Kossuth had been invited to The
y: ,. lie did not understand this as others did.
pa any one doubt that the object Of Congress in do
ing SO was to afford him asylum where he would
be protected by our laws, that we dispatched YES
sci Tor hm and his companions, in order 70 afford
tneul sale transit to our shores? If thew were IN
remain here,he considered the United States bound
10 anord them an asylum, and perhaps, the means Of
living. y
From the speeches of Kossuth it would be per.
celved that he came here for the promotion of the
principle that every nation has the exclusive RIGHT
70 control ITS own affairs, and he expects and from
the government ii it will, if not, from the peone
acting on the government, to tell European GOV
ernmens that they must abstain from all interference
win hungary IN her struggle with Austria In
union with 6reat Britain are called npon to saw
70 leuss'a, STAND oil, and IT you interfere between
Hungary and Austria we will have TO interCe,a
also. - :
his Is the object Of Kossuh He comes NOT
mere seeking home and an asylum but he saws LET
this declaration be made by America and then Hun.
gary is free. That he will return and renew the
contest with redoubled success.
hossuth comes not to ask your sympathy Com
pllments and honors to himself he does not ask hut
ne does ask your Intervention with Russia in case of
renewal Of The contest Now, was Congress pre-
pared to give kossnth any such promise7 To hedge
ms government TO any such hostile policy. was 10
depart wholly from the long established policy Of the
nation. : =
He proposed to amend the resolution bv adding
thereto the following:
'sAnd be it further resolved. that ,be ,.olon,,a
thus offered 10 Louis Kossuth extends TO his assn.
Glaze Hungarian exiles, who have landed on our
snores. Bnt while welcoming these Hungarian nat
rlots TO an asylum IN country aud to the proiec
non winch our laws afford to them il is due TO can
oor 70 declare, that II is not the purpose Of Congress
70 depart from the settled policy OF this government
WITCH 'oIpids ai interference with the concerns of
other nations.'
lie was not willing to do anything in his seat for
The advancement Of free principles on the other side
OF the ocean, which would leopard the peace and the
safety Of his own country,lo which he owed his first
and absolute duty.
MIR. Hale Of New Hampshire was in favor Of
the Resolution. He said he would offer no
amendment to it. He had been admonished a
few days ago by the Senator from Michigan, that
his amendment had defeated that Senator's reso-
luton, suspendiDg diplomatic relations with Aus
ira. he however was inclined to the opinion
mat DIS amendment on that occasion had lost
strength BY being attached to the Senator's reso-
luton lullon. Laughter.l Nor would he oppose the
senator IRON Mississippi by using any anbgu US
or sinister expressions. He would speak IN Main
English The resolution had been objected 10
because there were no precedents. He accorded
to all the eulOqY paid 10 La[aveft hnl ..oull -