The southern press., 1851-12-23
The Bar Dinner.


ANOTHER SPEECH BY KoSsUTH.
After the speech was concluded, the company
withdrew into an anti-rOom, and, after waiting
ten or fifi cen minutes, went into the basement
where supper had been prepared There were
fre tables set, the whole length OF the room
and one across the head. Over the latter was
canopy of bags, and the room was profuseIy and
very elegantly decorated. The tables were
beautifully spread, in a very elegant style.
Chief Justice Jones presided Kossut, sitting
at his right and Pulsky at his left. Grace was
said by Rev. DR.. Bellows. After about three
quarters of an hour spent in especially close at
tention to the viands,
The president announced the first regular
toast,
The PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES:
Which was unk with enthusiasm and three
cheers. The second regular toast,
The GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF New YORK
Was then given and received with loud ap-
plause. The third regular toast was then an
nounced,
HUNGARY--her noble deeds have made heI
history inter esting-the patriotism of her people
makes her worthy cfimmortaty.
This was received with tremendous applause
when silence had been restored,
M. Pulsky responded. He said;
GENTLEMEN-I beg pardon that it is only l.
who ain to respond to this toast,-that it is not
my chief, the only man who is entitled to Il
toast to Hungary because he represents Hunga-
ry because he is lawful Governor of Hungary
and because he is the only man who can re-
store my country to her liberty and independence
You have often heard the rights of Hungary
expounded and you do not expect me to speak OF
her wrongs 1t is too sorrowfu! a story for II
han AT A 4 -, g.
words about the history of our freedom | also
have the honor of belonging to the bar.
Cheers. In Hungary every one who fills high
public stations must be lawyer; because it is
felt that those who administer the laws should
know the law. Cheers If you look at the
history of Hungary, you will find that this peo.
pe,-the last Of all nations of Europe, except
the Turks-fron Asia, brought not only the
seeds but the whole system OF liberty, as it ex
isted among us down to our latest days. The
cause for which we struggled was not a new one
| can cite documentary evidence to prove that
everywhere liberty is older than oppression.
Cheers. Freedom is the original state op-
preston crept in later-when, vi on the steppes
Of Asia, in the nineteenth century, the tribes of
Henry met together, wishing to find a new
home. They sought the inheritance of their
old ancestor, the great Attia, king of Hungary,
Then the seven tribes met and decided that
they would elect one G. ief in war, and give him
and his house the right always to be their chief,
but only By election. They then decided that
all the other chiefs sholld remain always in the
council of their Prince, and never be excluded
They decided that everything they win by con
quest should be partly divided among them,
And lastly, that if any should prove unfaithful
and treacherous to their Prince, they should be
put to death; and that if their Prince should
prove unfaithiul, and not maintain these points,
he should be banished forever
This was the beginning of the Hungarian
nation, and these poiuts, which were the first
established, were also the last in our history.
The moment our Prince became unfaithful-the
moment he refused to sustain our fundamental
laws, we deposed him. We remained faithful
to the last--through all circumstances We stuck
to it. Cheers If am asked where is that
charter-how can | prove that it was agreed
upon on the steppes of Asia, among those bar-
baran tribes, answer that it was not written
upon paper, but upon the hearts of the people.
Cheers. And it was more holy and lasting
than any of those charters written by kings and
signed BY seals. Cheers.l
All the late charters of Hungary are but con
hrmations of that first agreement between the
depend upon statute law. They were puaran-
teed by common law. Cheers Our statutes,
of course, confirmed the old rights of IIunga y,
but they confirmed them only. Our liberties
existed in our breasts--in our life blood They
were not merely defined by narrow and barren
codes They depended not upon the letter, b 1t
upon the spirit, which AS the Scripture says,
gipeth life. IL was for these oil principles Of
common law, that we struggled We never
acknowledged that Parliament was omnipotent
over the great principles Of nature. Our prin-
ciple was that of self elfgovernment, and am
happy to see that in this great nation, founded
upon the same principle, has received us so
kindly ns guests. Cheers Seeing the great
ness of this people, gives me hope--because
the same causes are in operation---,hat your
glory only is the foreboding of ours Cheers. |
The principles on which the Constitution of the
United States is founded are the same as ours
This is a link which should bind us together.
besides the link of gratitude on our part. MAY
these two links always biud Hungary and the
United States in one
Mr.. Pulsky sat down amidst the oudest aud
most tumultuous applause.
The next regular toast was then given:
The Judiciary--fhe bui,oark of our Consfifu-
lion, our laws and o,p freedom.
Judge Duer responded. He Said that on be-
half of the Judiciary, he would return thanks for
the toast. Few even better deserved acknowl.
edgment. Its truths always ought to be present
to every mind and they could not be too often
repeated. It's deep import to the people of the
United States and sl who desire to initiate their
example should be understood There could
be no liberty without Constitution, and a
Constitution would be waste paper, but for the
moral independence of judges. In carrying its
provisions into full effect and in compelling obe-
dience to its provisions, they were the preserv-
ers of the liberties of their country. The moral
independence of ihe judges, means the entire
freedom of their minds from all sinister infln-
ences, 50 that they would not wrest their decis.