Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1851-12-30
Biographical ano Gistorital.
KOSSUq,H AID HUNGARY.
By rARKE GOODWIN.

More than six hundred years ago the Hun
earan nation possessed what was a novelty
and wonder for that time, written constitu-
ton of government. But what IS still more
remarkable, is, that that constitution might
be called free constitution 1t was free in
the same sense that the present English
Government is called free it provided for
municipal institutions it limited the powers
of its monarchs and aristocracy, and it stipu-
lated for the perpetual independence of the
nation, and the preservation of certain great
personal and popular rights. 1t was, indeed,
the Magna Cadrta Of the realm
Originally, the Magyar race, which was al.
ways the dominant race of Hungary, were IN
the habit OF electing their own chiefs, and of
determining all their affairs by vote Of
the whole people. But after some years they
conferred the supreme power upon single
elective monarch, who took the most solemn
oaths of fidelity to the Constitution, and who,
as often happened in feudal times, was rather
friend Of the people than the nobility. The
crown became hereditary at later day, yet,
throughout all the changes of royalty, the
municipal institutions and popular rights were
retained.
In the year 1926, the Emperor of Austria,
by intermarriage aud the consent of the ma
ton, became King of Hungary, AMI during
the next century, the crown was made herad-
itary in the House of Hapsburg; but in
these arrangements it was expressly condl-
/ toned that the ancient Constitution should
not be disturbed The head Of the State,
though an Emperor in his own doiainions,
possessed of absolute and Irresponsible pow
er, was only constitutional King OF Hunga-
ry. He was King, not by divine right, not
according to his own viii and pleasure, but
! King by the consent of tue Nation sworn
before God and man to maintain its Constl-
tuition and laws, and to protect the rights OF
its citizens He was a King, too whose acts
might be reviewed by the Legislature, whose
plans had to be submitted to the Counties,
whose edcts were not laws until they had
been approved by the municipal bodies He
was King, them whose authority was cir
cumscribed and delegated, and whose fats
amounted to nothing if opposed to the spirit
of the local administrations
This was the protection and safeguard Of
the people, but alas it proved also the cause
Of their oppression and death. For it will
readily be conceived that the existence Of
such nation, of a nation with free municipal
institutions and popular suffrage, must be, IN
the nature Of the case, a stumbling block and
rock of offence to the ambitious designs of an
absolute government, How could the two
survive together? Absolutism, in its inmost
heart, is exclusive, all absorbing unlimited
one 1t has no Observation-Disclosures no rival
1t is itself alone, or it is nothing. According
", from the first moment when the royal
crown of Hungary was placed upon the head
of the Imperial ruler OF Austria, The macbi-
nations of the latter to gain exclusive contro
of the former began, and they did not cease
until all but the name Of Magyar was blot
ted from the earth The whole history o.
the dynasty of Hapsburg has been an unva-
rying record Of It's attempts to vanquish and
absolutizo the Hungarian Constitution Some
times by open force, sometimes through q
shallow pretence of legislation, and more of.
ten by systematic cunning and fraud it ha:
undermined, or Slapped Or Topped oil, or ex.
t;nguished, one after another OF the bulwarks
and popular defences of the Hungarian sys
tenn, Never in the dark annals of our race
has tyranny been more systematic more sub.
tic, more unhesitating. or more inhuman, ii
wrestling their rights from the hands of tn,
governed, than Austria has been in her per-
secutions Of her Independent and generous
but proud spirited confederate.
Indeed, it is almost incredible to what
heights of audacity and outrage she has been
carried in her determination to crush this to-
nacious and obstirate nation into on obedient
province, to convert proud kingdom into 9
tawning and serviceable member of the en-
piro Our hearts sicken when the taleis told
or else grow irenzied in the tumults OF theil
indignation. Wheh we recall the atrocious
careers, in this respect, of Leopold, Of Joseph
of Maria Theresa. of Ferdinand, We have il
our minds all that is cold ard heartless il
despotism You will find parallel only il
the wllfulness Of oriental magnifcoes or il
the malgnity of an lberian inquisition,
We cannot here, oecourse, enter into his
tory of the successive measures by which the
Magyar nationality has been cxtipguished
the detail would open up a chapter too long
and sorrcwful; but we may say briefly that
the end at which Austria aimed was no less
comprehensive and magnificent in its wicked
ness than the complete and final destruction
of the Magyars as o distinct people, 1t was
a work begun in the first place by an open
suhvertion Of their Constitution; carried on
by the suppression of their religion protract
ed through the forced amalgamation Of their
language, and not even ending in the arbi-