Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1851-10-30
(TRAN NSLATloN.)

Two years ago, by Gods providence,
I, who would be only an humble citizen,
held in my hands the destiny Of the
regning house of Austria.
Had been ambitious. or had | be-
lieved that this treacherOus family were
so basely wicked, AS they afterwards
proved themselves to be, the tottering
pillars OF their throne would have fallen
at my command, and buried the crown
ed traitors beneath their ruins, or would
have scattered them like dust before
tempest, homeless exiles, bearing moth
ing but the remembrance OF their per-
fdy, and that royalty which they ought
10 have lost through their own wicked
ness.
!, however, did not take advantage Of
these favorable circumstances, though
the entire freedom OF my dear native
land was the only wish Of my heart
My requests were Of that moderate ma
ture which, in the condition of Hungary
and Europe, seemed best fitted for my
countrymen. | asked OF the King, not
the complete independence of my be.
loved country-not even any new rights
or privileges-but simply these three
things
First. That the inalienabIe rights
sanctioned by thousand years, and by
the constitution Of my la,hcrland, should
be guaranteed by national and respon-
siblc administration.
Second. That every inhabi!ant Of my
country. without regarding language or
religion, should be free and equal before
the laval classes having The same
privileges and protection from the law.
Third. That all the people Of the
Austrian empire that acknowledged the
same person as Emperor whom we
Hungarians recognized as King, and
the same law OF succession should have
restored their ancient constitutional
rights of which they had been unjusty
despoied, modified to suit their wants
and the age.
The first demand was not for any new
right or concessi, u, but simply fresh
guarantee. In the arrangement made
with our ancestors, when, by their free
will they elevated tie house Of Haps-
burg to the throne, a condition was made
that the King should preserve the inde-
pendence and constitution Of the coun-
try. This independence and this con-
stitution were the very vi aIity Of our
national being. During three centuries
twelve Kings of the house OF Hapsburgh
had sworn, III the presence Of the eter-
nal God, before ascending the throne,
that they would preserve our independ-
ence aud the constitution and their
lives is but history Of perpetual and
accurate perjury yet such conduct did
not weaken our fidelity. No n ton ev.
er manifested more iaithiulness TO their
rulers. And though we poor Hunga-
rians made endless sacrifices, often at
the expense Of our national welfare
though these Kings in times OF war or
danger relied upon the unconquerable
strength OF our army-though we ever
trusted in their words-they deceived
US n thousand times, and made our con-
dition worse.
While other nations were able 70 ap-
ply all their energies to promote the
general welfare and develope their
means Of happiness, we had TO stand on
guard, like the watchmen mentioned in
Scripture, for three centuries, to prevent
our trcacherous Kings from destroying
entirely the foundation Of our national
existence-our constitution and inde-
pendence.
Las the representative Of my coun-
trymen, asked nothing more than a con-
stituiional ministry, whose responsibility
would prevent the King from violating
his oath.
The second demand was still less for
any political right We asked for moth
ing more than reform in the internal
administration ol the Stale-a simple
net ofjusiict which the aristocracy ow.