The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-12-09
KossUTH's FIRST DAY IN AMERICA.

KossUTHs FIRST DAY IN AMERICA.
: 1t might have been fairly supposed, after a
stormy voyage of fourteen DAVIS, during the
whole of which Kossuth was desperately sea-
sick, AID with the prospect of campaign before
him, compared to which the whole Hungarian
war was only trife, that he would have been
allowed his titst day in America TO recruit his
strength, and to exchange congratulations with
his private friends. But the patriotic people Of
Tompkinsville, Staten Island, determined 9th.
erwse, and the. lion of the day was made to
parade before he had been twelve hours in the
country.
He had been left in charge of Dir. Dome by
our city authorities to get his land legs on, and
to enable the commercial metropolis of the
Union--the heart of the whole nation--to give
him a reception worthy of his position and OF
the country; but in the meanwhile, he was car.
ried eff by the beseging islanders, " taken up
to the top OF high mountain, and addressed
by several ndisiduals in the most eloquent
manner AS however, Kossuth bore it all with
the most uneXampled good will, no body
else perhaps has right to complain. We will,
therefore, describe the proceedings in the order
they occurred after the close of our yesterdays
report.
....-. THE PROCESSION.
About ono o'clock procession was formed
in front OF the Hospital buildings, when Kos
suth came forward from DR.. Doane's house, and
took seat with the Doctor and Richard Adams
Locke, in a carriage. In another carriage, Ma
dame Kos-uth, Countess Pul>ky and Others OF
his suite, were seated. The procession, consist
ing of severul military companies. civic soeiet r.
mounted citizens, and large number Of car
rages, took up its line of march to large tent,
which had been erected on hill about Eile
! from the Quarantine. 1t passed through the
| principal streets, and was greeted with immense
cheering bv the country people in multudes.
who thronged the way. Arrived at the big
tent, the principal personages took their seats
on raised platform, and ilr. Locke began to
read his address IL was an appropriate and
well written paper, but, like most Of these at
fairs, too long for the occasion and the place.
| tBy the way, let US remind those people who
will have addresses Of this sort to make hereaf
ter, that tie French speakers are models in such
matters, and seldom 90 beyond a half dozen
well selected sentences.) Mr.. Locke's address,,
however, was warmly received throughout, and
was Immediately responded to by Kossuth.
APPEARANCE AND MANNER OF THE ORATOR.
When Kossuth rose, he was greeted by three
tremendous cheers, which were instantly fol
lowed by the profoundest silence. He looked
worn and lie, and would doubtless much rather
have been at home than in that cold air, enthu
siastc and well as his reception was IL.
is thinner than We would infer from the por
traits, but with we'll formed and even handsome
features. His dress was the ordinary lIunga.
rian black.velvct tight coat with loose sleeves
buttoned and lrogged 10 the neck. lie also
wore loose ovefcoat, which he threw off in the
course of his remarks.
! Kossuths face expresses great sas acity and
! penetration, while his temperament indicates the
most intense eafnestress and power of endu
race. There is less Of the scholar in his look
than We had supposed, and more Of the G!an OF
business. leseeu,s capable "f the most pro.
tractcd work. In repo.e there s the touch Of
melancholy about the lips which you see in the
| port site, but when he is an mated there il uuu
,ual fercene-s in-the eye. liz. voice is foil and
| flexible, with most decided foreign accent, and
| yet with clear and distinct English prouuncia
ton. IL is rarely that foreigner after ten
| years sojourn among ia speaks our tongue with
more correctness and haency. Sometimes he
stops Tor a second or t,o Ia call the " ord. and
when he does 80, il is invariably the right word
But the main charm of his oratory is rot W,
| language n r the thought 81 mucn as the man.
ner, which is rare union Of grace with dignity
lie stands in an erect position, with as much
! lirmness as Webster, scarcely moving the body.
while there is an iucc SAINT and graceful play Of
the arms AID head. His gestures. always easy
! md appropriate, are very varied, and show a
natural gift for that mode Of physical expires.
| sion.
lie was not at all boisterous or even inpas
stoned We terday, but simple, plain, direct and
| Quietly in earnest Many If his remarks ere
III the familiar style Of conversation thou there
was the constant oratorica tendency when his
I thought or sentiment rOse in dignity or valne,
10 viv"cicus ani even vehement utterance. His
least tones are strongly sympathetic, and We
can well conceive his power over an audience
when some great then has excited speaker and
nearer alike Into Inignctir unison.
There Is in his 10 X, tore, bearing and whole
| nppear.n &c, the consci,rs css Of power beyond
any display that he is making ut the time. One
feels u at no single effrt gives out the VIII le of
! him, Tut that back of all the externnl mnnifesta-
/ tons there is v,st reservoir Of strength. This,
we should say, was one Of his principal character
istics CfatOrs are often superficial sort OF men,
/ Xix The ltalin improvisitores, with exhaustless
! fertility Of utterance, but without profound re.
! fiction and feeling Kossuth does not appear
! from our first sight of him, to be Of this sort
/ His fuency comes from the fnlncss, rather than
the ,hallowness of his mind Yet, Ia the renec-
tive and ,gcal faculties. we should not compare
him with Webster, as an English writer has done
! He is not so ponderous as Webster, and resem-
bles, in facility and ease of manner, the more
spontaneous Clay
\ HIS SPEECH.
! As the occasion Yesterday was rather an in.
formal one, we shall not report the speech al