The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-03-13
MIR. WEBSTER TO MIR. MARSH.

WASHINGTON, February %, 1851.
GEORGE P. MARSH, esq, &c., &C., Consfantinops:
Sir am directed by the President to address
you on the subject of the Hungarian refugees,
who are now in the Turkish dominions.
1t is understood by this government that Mr..
Kossuth and forty or fifty others, his companions,
are in confinement in Kutayeh, in Asia Minor,
where they have been for year or more, and
that they continue to feel an earnest desire to
come to the United States
BY a despatch of my predecessor you were
instructed to offer to the Sublime Porte to re-.
ceve Mr.. Kossuth and his companions on board
of one of the national ships of the United States
to convey them to this country
1t would have been extremely gratifying to
the government and people of the United States
if this prop position Gould have been at that time
accepted; but it is understood that its not hav-
ing been complied with by the sublime Porte,
did not arise from wish on his imperial majesty's
part to detain them or from any unwllingness
that they should proceed to the United States,
but was in consequence of the Sutans offer to
Austria to detan these persons for one year at
the expiration of which time, unless further con-
ventions should be entered into to prolong their
detention, they should be at liberty to depart.
If this be so, the time is near at hand when
their release may be expected, and when they
may be permitted to seek an asylum in any part
of the world to which they shall be able to pro-
cure the means Of transportation.
1t is confidently hoped that the Sublime Porte
has not made, and will not make, any new stpu-
lation with any power for their future detention !;
and you are directed to address yourself urgent
ly, though respectfully to the Sublime Porte on
this question. 5t.
You will cause it to be strongly represented,
that while this government has no desire or in
tention to interfere in any manner with ques-
tons of public policy or international or NUM-
cipal relations of other governments, not affect
ing the rights of its own citizens, and while it
has entire confidence in the justice ard mag
nanmity and dignity of the Sublime Porte, yet,
on a matter Of such universal interest, it hopes
that any suggestions proceeding from no other
motives than those of friendship and respect for
the Porte, desire for the continuance and per-
petuity of its independence and dignihed posi-
ton among the nations of the earth, and sem
timent of commiseration for the Hungarian ex-
lies may be received by the Porte in the
same friendly spirit in which they are offered,
and that the growing good feeling and increas-
ing intercourse between the two governments
may be still further fostered and extended by
happy concurrence Of opinion and reciprocity Of
confidence upon this as upon all other subjects
Compliance with the wishes of the government
and people of the United States in this respect,
will be regarded as friendly recognition of their
and az q proof Of national good
will and regard.
The course which the Sublime Porte pursued
in refusing to allow the Hungarian exiles to be
seized upon its soil by the forces of foreign
State, or to arrest and deliver them up itself to
their pursuers, was hailed with universal appro-
baton. it might be said with gratitude, every
where throughout the United States And this
sentiment was not the less strong, because the
demand upon the Sublime Porte was made by
governments confident in their great military
power, with armies in the field of vast strength
flushed with recent victory, and whose purposes
were not to be thwarted, or their pursuit stayed
by any obstacle less than the interposition Of
an empire prepared to maintain the inviolabty
of its territories and its absolute sovereignty
over its own soil
This government, jealous Of its own terrific
rial rights, regarded with great respect and
hearty appreciation the firm and lofty position
assumed by his impartial Majesty at that time,
and so proudly maintained under circumstances
well calculated to inspire doubt, and against de-
mands urged with such gravity and supported
by so formidable an array His imperial Maj
esty felt that he should be no longer an indie
pendent prince IL he consented to be less than
the sovereign of his own diminions.
While thus regarding the political position
and conduct of the Sublime Porte in reference
to other powers, his imperial Majesty's gener-
osity in providing for the wants of the fngtives
thus unexpectedly, and in 40 great numbers,
throwing themselves upon his protection, is con-
sidered equally worthy Of admiration.
On the other hand, it is not difficult to con-
ce'ye what may have been the considerations
which led he Sublime Porte to consent TO re-
move these persons from ito frontiers, require
them TO repair TO tho interior, and there to re-
main for limited time
A great attempt at revolution against the es-