Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1851-12-16
KossUTH AsD THE COUNTRY.

not Us the subduea rebel. or a wandering
exile seeking protection and home; but as
tae champion Of popular rights in tie old
world, and to urge our people to rally to their
support His enthusiasm, bis cloqaeucc. bis
late suffcrings Of outrage and oppression,
sink deep into tie American heart. lie Is
welcomed to the Nations soil Ito the frcsidos
OF its people--to the pride Of country that
is the beacon light of the free, with an ardor
and adulation that have been seldom, if ever
surpassed. Addresses from public authori-
ties, banquets, aad PROFESSIONS mark bis tri-
umphal entry. AL ages and conditions
the Clergy the Representatives Of the poo
plc-thc people themselves all vie with each
other in their offerings of welcome, and hospi.
tally, aud fa,tcry. Well may these things
bew.llor bis brain aud confuse biz conception
of the real sentiment with whi,h lis mission
is regarded. Indeed we might well hazard
fears for the Nations prnpriety, had heap
poarea in our midst when the guns Of tie
Despots who vanquished and enslavel Lis
Country were thundering over its plains
Let the welcome to Kossutb and bis brave
comrades be the most cordal-lct the Nation
take care Of bin This much we eve to lin
and ourselves Shall we do more is the
question no propourds and which we must
answer.
To sustain his appeal Kossuth plants bim-
self upon the ground that Tie Law of Nations
would justify US in using our power to prevent
Russia from extending her aid to Austria,
in queling any attempt on the part of Hun.
gary to regain her lost liberties in other
words, he asks cur intervention to prevent
the intervention another nation, wth which
We are at peace. How far this is in accord
ance with tho right Of another to dispose Of
ITSELF as he states it, the law does not make
manifest. . The interest Of each nation, in
every relation, we imagiue is the only author
ity to which it would appeal il all such eases
If it be law, we are at loss to understand
how it would not be much more the right and
the daty Of this and ether governments, to
prevent the suhjugation Of a weak by mon
ster nation and the acquisition Of its terrific
ny by force, that Of Poland for example, by
the powers Of Russia. Austria and Prussia,
who divided itspossessions among themselves.
Should such wrong always be visited By the
world in arms? Is each nation at all times
to check anlpunish the invasion Of one pow
cr by another This would involve another
inquiry,--is each naticn to be the aveuecr Of
all others wrongs? must blood eternally
flow? Il is not moreover question in fact
as to the right Of one NATION to dispose of
itself. TIE aspect in which it is presented
is that Of Prorincc or State Of M Empire
revolving against tho parent government, to
establish its own liberties and independence,
and we are inlpored to iuterposc our author
ity on this occasion, to arrest the irteryen-
fact, and what would be the operation of the
principle. If Austria and Russia were Re
publican and Hungary CosSack and upon a
revolt by the latter State there should be
like interposition by Russia to suppress it,
should this government arrest those who
would thus be aiding to uphold the popular
principles 1.-THE doctrine be that no nation
shall interfere to prevent disposition Of ii .
self by another then we have no right to
give NJ. kossuth that practical aid and sym
pathy which he seeks In all suc!. matters
it becomes us to remember what was the pol
icy Of the Country as settled by Washington,
and adopted by every subsequent adminisira
ton 1t is that which is embodied in the adj
monitions of bis Farewell Address, where his
countrymen are warned against the insdi
Gus evils of foreign influence aud urged Ito
have with foreign nations as Hulc political
connection as possible" and net "to mplicatc
themselves by artificial ties in the ordinary
vcissitudes of foreign politics or tile ordiaa-
ry combinations or collisions Of their friend.
ships or enmities This is our distinctive
policy Ours is mission Of peace, Shall
we let 60 our moorings?
There is chapter Of the Hungarian strug-
gle which should not fail however, to be no.
ted. In that contest Hungary was at wal
with the Sclavonians and Croaiians also Of
its Southern border Numbering nine millions
Of people, who for eight centn,ics had beef
in subsection to tie kingdom Of Hungary
which contained but four ard half millions
all constituting part ofthe Austrian En-!
pire. Not until pithia hrelpe days of tho
downfall of Hungary, did resolution pas.
the Hungarian Diet granting equal right ana
privileges to the oppressed soLAvoNIANs--
when as we fnd by the admission of Kossutl
hmselfin bis reply to the Baltimore addresses
:.