The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-12-11

Kossuth Defining his Position.
The movements, the speeches, the purposes OF
Kossuth almost exclusively occupy the attention
of the New York journalists at the present mo-
ment. The papers of that city are stuffed full
of addresses TO-, and addresses from, the great
Magyar, who is the popular idol at present, and
who conducts himself, under such trying circum-
stances, with great dignity, and more discretion
than we had been inclined, from the first reports
of his declarations, to give him credit for.
MANY allowances should be made for hasty and
inconsiderate expressions on the part OF ma"
situated as he is, and acting and speaking under
and in the midst of such high excitements--but
he has been rendered so conscious Of the i'm
pressions produced by his own first speeches, as
to find it necessary to put forth an explanation.
The following notice which appeared simulta-
neously in the different city papers, bears the
impress of having proceeded from his own hand.
He thus defines his position:
The impression having gone out through
some of the public journals that the purpose OF
Gov Kossuth aims at forcible Intervention in
foreign affairs we take leave to say, on author
ity, that such is not the fact. He asks simply
that England and America shall unite in affirm
ing the policy that "every nation shall have the
right to make and alter its political institutions
to suit its own condition and convenience" and
that the two nations ENGLAND and America)
shall not only respect, but cause 10 be respected,
this doctrine, so as to prevent Russia from again
marching her armies into Hungary. He holds
Al tb Ia N ID hot raonluta
attitude, powerful enough to prevent nterfer-
ence and the going to war to repulse an inter-
vention already commenced Gov. Kossuth has
not intended to suggest that America should
copy the example of France during our revolu
tion according to the letter, but according to the
spirit The circumstances are widely different,
and all that can be hoped is that great and free
country like this should act in behalfof freedom,
according to the time and the circumstance in
which it is placed.
This is substantially the idea set forth by
Kossuth in England, and stops very far short of
the acquisitions which his Staten Island, and
other speeches in this country, seemed to make
upon the people of this country in behalf OF
his own. Still it opens new and very grave
questions in relation to our future foreign poll
cy, and will doubtless enlist the attention and
most earnest deliberation Of all who recognize
the difficulty of laying down the limits and de-
filming the true character of the relations exist
ing, and hereafter to exist, between this govern
ment and the revolutionary governments OF
Europe. We live in stirring times, and new
events and changes of circumstances require
suitable notifications of policy, to meet and
cover them And we think, that any man who
possesses eyes and understanding, must see
that the position and destiny of this republic
for all coming time, both with regard to intern
al and external relations, now being mould
ed and modified by the events which are taking
place in the other hemisphere, and within our
own borders
1t is progressive age, and ours progressive
people: but all progress is not advance in tn
right direction, whilst to stand STILL in the mlds
of universal movement is to retrograde, if thu
expression may be permitted. Hence we re
gard the coming of KossUrH, and the impress
sion on the public mnd which the development
of his ideas will produce, as very grave matters
and tending, if not Immediately, yet very surely
TO important results. The mere holiday pa
geants of his receptions amount to nothing
but the recollection of his words, and the revivg
of his ideas in practical forms, after his depal
ture on his chosen mission, will and must bea
fruits. Whether those fruits will be crude an
unwhoesome or the reverse, we candidly con
faoa inability 4 nd ant
We have but heard the first peals of the thun
der, the reverberatons of which have just com
menced among the distant hils-the echo from
the remote has not yet returned to the ear OF
the most eager listeners, nor will for some tim,
10 come, nor until the feverish excitement of tn
reception and presence of this great revolutions
ry man has passed away Whenever he departs
he will leave behind deep traces of his visi
sowing the seeds of new ideas at each step of h
progress, and confounding at once, by his cours
the speculations of the foolish and the calcula
tons Of the wise.
As matter most interesting to our readers, W
CLEAN the following additional items of informs
ton, in relation to his views and proceeding
from the papers. yesterday published wha
purported to be his reply to the PHILADELPHIA
delegation, in which he refers to the proceed
ings of Congress. 1t seems that an importau
paragraph was omitted in that report, whic
we now supply from the New York Herald :
The Virgnans, stopping at the Irving Hous
waited upon Kossuth on Monday, and presente
him with the following:
ADDRESS OF THE v1RGIHfANs.
Sir: am honored in being the organ of con
municaton between my fellow. citizens of tn
Ancient Dominion who are accidentally in tn
city, and your excellency. We come as a bod
to tender our congratulations upon your arriva
and extend cordial welcome to our countr,
q We are proud in being the citizens of a Stat
that ever avowed detestation of tyranny
every form, and has inscribed upon her banne
the proud motto of sic semper uranus Stat
that gave birth to a Washington, Henry, Jeiie
son, Madison and Clay--names illusirious
history, and familiar to the friends of liberty
every clime We trust that in dine time van wi