The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-12-10

was confined to action by the Senate alone.
MIR. BERRIEN said the proceedings IN the case
Of Lafayette were the result OF action by JOINT
committee of the two Houses, appointed under a
joint resolution. He agreed with his colleague who
few days since opposed the resolution oil the sen
ator from Mississippi His opposition rose from nc
doubt Of the merits of Nj. Ko5suth He had been
an observer ofthe events which had taken place IN
hungary, and he had deeply sympathized WIN
their misfoTtunes. That struggle was Tor an an
cient charter under which rights were somewhat
unequally conferred; but he never had doubted
that when the independence of Hungary had been
obtained and recognised, she would progress so far
as 10 adopt more free and liberal principles. lie
would do nothing nor say q word the effect Of when
would be to pluck single leaf from the laurel
wreath which now adorned the brow OF the patriot
who had distinguished himself in the struggle
for civil and religious liberty. But, in view OF
the vast amount of public business which they
had to transact should they waste their time In de-
batting upon the forms of an idle compliment
compliment which will be judged by him for whom
1t il meant as an idle one
1t had been said that this case Is like that OF La
fayette, and that we should follow the course
adopted in that case. Lafayette French no
bleman, possessed of privileges and rights belong
ing to his rank. Actuated by love for liberty,
he forbore all those privileges il was his right 10
enjoy he abandoned home, country. and all, and
bore his part in struggles. He was our patio',
our friend and brother He shared all the perls
and hardships When he came amongst us after
wards, we received him with honors But he came to
not to advance principle hch it had been said
connected with the upheavings OF revolutions,
but he to visit the scenes Of his early efforts
in our cause. He came to witness and admire the
progress of a free government which he had con-
tributed much to establish. His case sto d
alone; il ought 10 stand alone. He wac unwilling
the compliment paid to the Marquis dc Lafayette
should be conferred on any living man. No other
man could stand in the relation to the United
States that Lafayette had occupied
He did not agree with Senators when they eaid
Kossuth had been invited here by Congress, and
he itai
guest of the nation. Did any doubt that the
object Of Congress in doing was to afford them
asylum where they could remain undistut bed
with the protection afforded them by our laws
We had despatched national vessel for them; was
not that TO afford them sale transit to shores
II they were to remain here, perhaps we would be
bound 10 afford them an asylum and the means OF
support. Kossuth, however, came here not to seek
asylum. He came here for the purpose of pro-
noting the principle that all nations have the
right TO control their own affairs and he expect
ed from us-the Government, il IL may; II not,
from the American people acting as the Govern
ment-a declaration to the European governments
that they must abstain from all interference
with Hungary in her struggle with Austria. In
union with Great Britain, we must cay to Russia,
"Stand off, and il you interfere between Hungary
and Austria, we will be called upon to interpose
our power" Mr.. b. referred to the speeches oil
Mr.. Walker and the American consul, MIR. Cros-
ky, upon this subject, and also to the speeches OF
kossuth since his arrival here, from which it was
evidently the purpose of the latter in coming here
to ask for the enforcement of the principle that nc
foreign power shall interfere between Hungary
and Austria in the contemplated struggle. Sym
pathy and public honors to himself were not what
kossuth asked-theEe were all idle and of value;
but it was to obtain pledge OF the Intervention oil
this Government to prevent interference by Rug-
STA; in which case he considered Hungary already
I free.
Now, was Congress prepared to give this pledge!
Had they the power to pledge this Government ir-
redeemably to course of action which will result
in war? He regarded the course now proposed to
be pursued as calculated more than any other &c
provoke in the minds of the Emperor of Russia
hostile sentiments to the United States.
II was wholly departure from all the former
policy of this Government Was the Senate pre-
pared to adopta measure which Will result in dc
| parture from such policy?
Kossuth, upon his landing on our shores, says
that he asks not for sympathy; he wants something
more substantial and real. He wanted the aid OF
| the great American epubic-peaceaby if il may
by moral power, but forcibly if it must by the arm
OF the Governmental protect his country from in
tervention by European despots These declara-
tons of his objects are before the Senate; and now
the civilized world cannot fail to infer that, by
passing this resolution, we welcome him as the
agent of his country, seeking the recognition OF
this principle In order 10 exclude this conclusion,
he would move to amend the resolution by adding
thereto the following amendment:
-And be IL further resolved, That the welcome
thus offered to Louis Kossuth be extended TO his
associate Hungarian exiles who have landed on
our shores; but Wnlle welcoming these Hungarian
patriots to All asylum in country, aud to the
protection which laws will afford to them, il is
due to candor to declare that it is the purpose
of Congress to depart from the settled policy Of
this Government, which forbds all interference
with the domestic concerns of other nations.
He unwilling to do any thing, in his zeal for
the progress Of liberty on the other eide OF the
ocean, 10 leopard the safety and peace of his own
country, to which he owed his first and absolute
duty.
Mr.. HALE followed in support of the resolution
MIR. MILLER was in favor of extending vel
come to Kossuth but desired to do 80 without com
hitting the country to any thing beyond it.
Mr.. FCOTE, of Mississippi, replied to- the Sena-
tor from Georgia; after which,
On motion, by Mr.. SUMNER,
The Senate adjourned