The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-12-18
WELCOME TO KOSSUTH.

Mi seward, not sympathizing with the APP
prehensiOn of formidable opposition to well
come TO Kossuth which induced Mr. Foote to
withdraw his resolution, introduced without
delay the following resolution
"Be ii Resolued &C. That Congress, in the
name and behalf of the people of the United
States, give to Louis Kossuth a cordial welcome
to the capital of the country, and that copy
OF this resolution be transmitted to him by the
President of the United States"
The consideration of the resolution occupied
the attention of the Senate during its session
last week, and the debate was very animated
and able. The opposition was confined to a
portion of the slaveholdng membership ablest
of whom were, Messrs. Berrien and Dawson, of
Georgia, and Mr.. Badger, of North Carolina
The Free Soil members of the Senate were
unanimous in its support and distinguished
themselves by eloquent speeches advocating it,
Several Democratic Senators from the North
were among its most effective advocates The
speeches of Messrs Shields Douglas, Cass and
Stockton, abounded in just sentiments, and were
imbued with the right spirit
Mr.. Miller, of New Jersey, was the only
Northern Wing, beside Mr. Seward, who spoke
in favor of the resolution, and he, we regret to
say, sustained Judge Berrien's amendment
which would have changed an act of courtesy
into something approaching to an insult
| Mr.. Foote entered into the discussion with
his usual ardor, and did good service by ex.
posing the foolish blunders into which Senator
from Alabama had been led by the New York
Courier and Enquirer. Mr.. Mallory, of Florida,
also, was earnest in its support.
After all attempts to defeat or impair the
point of the resolution had been voted down, the
Democrats, somewhat ungenerously, undertook
to substitute it, by the resolution originally in
troduced by Mr.. Foote, and then withdrawn.
They were unwilling that Mr.. Seward should
have the credit of this movement in honor of
Kossuth but Rhett of South Carolina, and
Chase of Ohio generously objected to such pro-
cedure, and threw their weight in favor of
Stewards resolution.
On the question, Shall it be engrossed and
read third time l-the test questionable vote
stood
YEAs-Messrs Bradbury, Bright, Brodhead,
Cass, Chase, Clarke, Davis, Dodge of Wscon-
sin, Douglas Downs, Felch, Fish, Foot of YER
mont Foote of Mississippi, Gwin, Hamlin, Hun
ter, James, Jones of Iowa, King, Mallory, Mil
ler Norris, Rhett Seward, Shields Smith,
Spruance Stockton, Sumner, Wade, Walker
and Whitcomb-33
NAYs-Messrs. Badger Borland Clemens,
Dawson. Morton, and Underwood-6.
All the nays from the South Mr. Hale's
name would have been among the yeas. but he
had paired off with Judge Berrien, who was
sick
The resolution was passed Friday afternoon,
and sent to the House the following Monday,
where it was Immediately taken up and, under
the operation of the previous question, put
through at once, by vote of 1871 yeas to 6
nays all the nays from the slaveholding States,
as follows:
NAYs-Messrs Abercrombie, Averett Bragg
Brown Of Mississippi Caldwell, Harris of Ten
nessee, Holiday, Johnson Of Georgia Jones of
Tennessee, Martin, Morehead Savage Scurry,
Stephens of Georgia, Williams and Wood
ward-16.
Mr.. Smith of Alabama on motion to re-
consider the vote squeezed in a speech, in which
he enhanced the brilliant reputation he had
won few days before by moving that Kos
suth be furnished with copies of our laws about
Treason and Misdemeanor Mr.. Smith surely
must be destined for something remarkable.
We are not among those who regret that
any discussion should have taken place on this
resolution Had it passed without debate, by
unanimous vote, it would have seemed merely
matter-of-course act Of courtesy. But the
thorough investigation to which it was sub
Jected, the strenuous opposition it encountered
the ennnciation of great principles which it
drew forth, makes it something more than a
formal act OF courtesy. Its passage is a trib-
Ute 70 the Principle of Republcanism repre-
Sented by Kossuth, and must be regarded as a
triumph over the Conservatism that would
place this country in an attitude of indiffer
ence to the aggressive march of Despotism.