The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-12-31
Governor Kossuth's Repiy.

GENTLEMEN: beg leave TO express to you my
dial thanks for the communication OF those views and OF
those principles which you have been pleased 10 imbody
in your address Having the honor to be in the capital
of the United States where those whom the people choose
execute its will in the legislative and executive branches
of its government here in that place, have no other
mission than only TO get knowledge of what is the decs
ion Of the people OF the United States through its Con-
gress and government and to acknowledge the high ben
eff which have received by having been welcomed in
the OF the nation by The Congress Of the United
States wish 10 return my humble thanks for this ben
eft and then having got notice OF what is the decision Of
your nation in respect TO that cause which smy duty TO
represent, to arrange my future action according find
myself happy unfortunate here Therefore, here |
may be permitted to be, If not silent, at least brief
The ain of your Association is the ptoPag alton of
democratic principles | was not aware that the ami
versary day Of the battle of New Orleans the sh
Of January. thought il was the 2ith OF December ;
bat in that must have been mistaken, You were hap.
py that glorious day II you had encountered the
9th OF January at that time, Russian interference against
your victory you would not perhaps be happy you
now tApplausel
There many things in the history Of your grea,
public which inspire those who contend for the right
OF the nations OF Europe TO govern themselves in the
same manner you govern yourselves II | am
not Mistaken your struggle for Independence arose out
OF the endeavor OF England TO ceniraze America in ST
James and in Westminster Ii struggle OF the pfn-
ciplc OF eefgovernment against the principle OF
Capitalization. IL was struggle for the princi-
pie Of the right OF every State and every
lion TO govefn itself That is our case. We had for
thousand years our self government l, was mis-
fortune that was not founded democra,ical prnc
pies Bu happy in the year ls4s 10 avail
selves of the opportunity TO transform that ancient self
government from arlstocraca basis TO democratic
basis !, was that step which awakened the treachery
OF the House OF Austria. The old mobiles OF Hungary.
being handful Of men-not half a million-were OF
course strong enough defend the right of self gov
eminent OF nation against the encroachmens OF
tralizing Austria But when we made Hungary demo-
cratic county, the whole peope-l5, 900 000-became in
tcresed in the maintenance OF our efgovernment.
Austria saw there chance for it's criminal inen-
tons when the people stand upon the broad bases OF uni
versal freedom and democratic institutions. Applause
We had to fight for the principle OF sefgoyernment
against the principle OF Capitalization. We have had TO
6gh for under inauspicioas auspices than you.
You were further from your cnemies-secluded by an
ocean, when the word "s,eam" had not yet bloted out
the difficulty of distance. Besides, you received aid
real aid-valuablc aid which materially helped you in
the achievement OF final success We had our enemy in
the immediate neighborhood We had another arisio-
cratic power in neshborhood, ready 10 pour down its
myrmidons upon us. Still received aid God
blessed our arms. They such arms as those BY
whsh your victory at New Orleans was achieved. Our
ooun,rymen from the workshop and from the mer
chants counting house We had beaten Austria but
then we me, interference, which you met not
There some difference in situation Perhaps that
difference is claim to the sympathy OF such generous
you are-a claim to the sympathy OF such a free
and great people as your people (Applause
have had opportunity a, Baltimore 10 express some
views 10 convince the people that il impossible for Hun
gary, under the most aurpc'ous circumstances, TO
endure that oppression which heavily weighs II
down My people will not endure IT, They will rise.
They will struggle once more But, again, we have in
our immediate neighborhood Russia. ! fear not the
power Of Russia in the Of my nation II my nation
eould fully develop its resources But Russia is only
thirty hours distant from She pour down her
armies before we can receive aid. In few days Rus
.a can march her armies borders, and crush Hun
gary before our people develop their resources There
ia the difficulty.
1t is on that account that came to the only nation
in the world which enjoys self government on the basis
OF republican institutions [Applanse We believed
that those principles, being ins,led into you from your
very childhood covld not fail to ns some sympathy
into your generous hearts for my country came with
the hope that the only free republican government Of the
world conscious OF the position OF its country would
be pleas ed 10 consider that Europe again the OF
extreme DANGER il the interference OF Russia pre-
vented by those who are mighty they free My
nation believes that the United States, presenting them
selves before the world in that imposing attitude, will
restrain tyrsnis without any Let me say that ]
came not TO try 10 engage your arms and the blood OF
your hearts to fight bastIes We will fight our bat
lies ourselves [Applause1 came not to entangle you
in a war We can fight our own battles. We are
a nation capable OF achieving own freedom. II we
have fair play. II nation like Hungary, with fifteen
million. OF inhabitants moi able 10 eight ts own battles
by lie own force against its own enemy--if Il 10 not
strong enough to settle lie domestic matters ny ito
own ssngh-it deserves not merits not TO Dc Tree All