The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-01-17
Progress of the KOssuth Heresy.

| Progress of the KOssuth Heresy.
Several of the State Legislatures are consid-
erably exercised in regard to the KossUTH doc
trne of intervention in the affairs of Europe,
though but few of them have pronounced de-
finitely and strongly on the subject Maine
and New Jersey have adopted resolutions of
welcome to the Hungarian leader, and gener
ally approving the policy he urges; New York
has spent many precious days in debating the
! pros and cons of the whole matter; the Massa-
chusetts representatives followed the example
of Maine but the Senate repudiated their ac-
ton and contented themselves with empower
ing Governor boutwell, TO extend hospitality
to the exile; Maryland and Alabama have taken
an honorable stand on the side of neutrality and
the principles of WASHINGTON; and Tennessee
has now before it resolutions worthy Of itself
and of the whole country.
Leaving the halls Of legislation, we have
the Democratic Convention of Ohio sanction
ing wholesale crusade against absolutism, re-
CARELESS of the consequences TO this country.
In Indiana, Governor WRIGHT is found aiding
and abetting at meeting of Democratic re-
representatives., and declaring himself ready to
unite with Great Britain against Russia, even at
the cost of war-"war TO the knife, and the
knife to the hilt," as Captain GIBSON, one of
the speakers on the occasion, appropriately de-
.cribed IT,
OF the mere local meetings we have taken
little notice. Nearly all of them have occurred
within circumscribed area, and there is moth
ing on the face of their proceedings incompat-
bic with the belief that they are generally the
handiwork Of a few individuals, having no very
strong claim to be considered the representa-
tives Of the community among whom they
dwell. Some Of the speakers at these meetings
appear very bold-on paper; and the resolu-
tons they present smell terribly of sulphur and
saltpetre. The notorious Harrisburg resolutions
seem to be accepted as models Of this kind of
composition.
Ii is possible that the disreputable disorder
which characterized KossUTH's reception at
Harrisburg may, in some measure, lessen the
admiration which the Harrisburg resolutions
were calculated to excite in his mind. lie
will probably think that, in their eagerness TO
cultivate patriotism and worldwide philan-
thropy. they have overlooked some Of the less
lofty virtues Of ordinary life. Or he may place
a more liberal construction upon the disturbance,
and regard it as evidence Of the energy with
which the residents Of the place-of either
sex-are prepared to carry out their belicose
declarations
One feature Of the various town and village
demonstrations which have taken place is quite
as unseemly as the Harrisburg occurrence, and
even more demoralizing. We allude to the
readiness which judges Of the land and minis
tiers Of the gospel have shown to enter the
arena Of strife, and 10 identify themselves with
opinions and movements that are worse than
questionable. We can imagine nothing more
likely TO destroy the influence Of the pulpit
than the part which many Of its ministers have
played ,ince the commencement Of the Kos
suTH excitement; and though, up TO this point.
New York and Brooklyn bear away the palm
in this particular, they are not without rever-
end imitators in many other places. The
evil is quite as strongly marked in regard
u the conduct Of certain Judicial functional
ries. kOssrTH's most offensive avOwals were
addressed 10 applsuding eXpounders and adj
ambassadors " the law; and he has derived his
most incorporate admirers--happily but few
from the, class which Of all others should be
least exposed to the charge Of panderng 10 ig
norant clamOr and popular deluson. Judges
KANE and KELLY were foremost among the
fighting men at Philadelphia; Chancellor WAL
WORTH took the strongest and most offensive
ground at Washington; and now we have
semi theological, semi political reputation Of
neutrality by Judge CoSKLINe, at Auburn,
New York.
Notwithstanding these unbecominV mani
fesiations on the part Of individual occupants Of
both the bench and the pulpit, and the various
/ public gatherings to which we have alluded,
we retain the conviction that the heart of the
nation is sound upon this question, and that
our people, as a whole, will persist in rejecting
the appeals aud devices Of the great orator,
/ "charm he never so wisely"