The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-01-13

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parts in the institutions of human society, and
suffer all, at the same time, to enjoy their own
sentiments III matters OF religion and Of duty to
4 God. May the time come when freedom, civil
and religious, now fully enjoyed over all this
portion OF North America, may also be enjoyed
in every country throughout the whole civilized
world.
4 What any man does for liberty, civil or reli-
/ gious, is treasured up, he may be assured, where
IL will not be lost. Human life passes away
like tleeting shadow, individuals appear and
disappear on the stage of human action, but Just
principles are permanent, and truth is eternal !;
and whoever connects himself intimately with
these ever.enduring subjects, will have taken
care that his name, and his character, shall not
perish from the memory of men.
On the topics, gentlemen, which this occasion
seems to invite, have nothing to say, because
in the course my political life, not now a short
one, | have said all that | wish TO say, and all
that wish to transmit to posterity connected
with my own name and history What said
OF Greece twenty-five years ago, when our friend
was too young to be in political life, Irepeat to-
/ night, rerbun post rerbnm, exactly as said it
then. Great applause. What said of Spain
at a later period, when the power of the restored
Bonrbons was exerted to impose upon Spain
dynasty not wished by the people of Spain, that
repeat in English, and Spanish and French,
and in every other language, if they choose to
translate it, Applause
May also be SO egotistical as to remark that
have nothing new to say upon the subject of
Hungary? Gentlemen, in the autumn of the
year before last, out Of health, and retired to
my paternal home among the mountains of New
Hampshire, was obliged to confne myself to
my house; but was among the mountains
whose native air was born to inspire No
thing saluted my senses, nothing sauted my mind
or my sentiments but freedom, full and entire,
applause; j and there, gentlemen, near the crave
of my ancestors, wrote letter, which most of
you may have seen, addressed to the Austrian
Charge d'Affairs. Great applause, which was
continued for some time. lean say nothing of
the ability displayed in that letter; but as to its
principles, while the sun and moon endure and
while can see the light of the sun and the moon,
| stand by them. Great applause.] In letter
dated February last, moved by those considera-
TONS which have influenced all the Christian
world, making no particular merit of it, / ad
dressed letter to the American minister at
Constantinople, ut the court of the Sublime
Porte, for the relief of M. Louis Kossuth and
his companions in exile; and happen to know
that that letter was not without some effect. II
is proper here for me to say that both the letters
to which have alluded, were despatched with
the appreciation of the President of the United
States. They were, therefore, so far the acts
of the government of the United States in its
executive capacity. Now, shall not further
advert to these topics tonight, nor shall 90
back to former times and again discuss the pro-
visions of the Holy Alliance but say that 10
the sentiments avowed by me, think in the
year 1923, in the cause of Greace, and in the
more subsequent declarations of opinion, there
is that which ] can never depart from without
departing from myself. should cease to be
what am if were to retract single sentiment
which has been expressed on these several occa-
sons.
Now, gentlemen, ] do not propose, at this
hour of the night to entertain you, or to attempt
TO entertain you, by any general disquisition
upon the value of human freedom, upon the in
alienable rights of man, or upon any general
topics of that kind; but I.wish to say few
words upon the precise question, as | under
stand it, that exists before the civilized world
between Hungary and the Austrian govern
ment. | wish TO arrange the thoughts, to which
desire to give utterance, under two or three
general heads.
And in the first place / say, that wherever
there is in the Christian and civilized world
nationality OF character wherever there exists a
nation of sufficient knowledge, and wealth, and
population, to constitute a government then
national governments necessary and proper
result Of nationality of character. We may talk
of it as we please, but there is nothing that sat
isles the mind Of man in an enlightened age,
unless he enjoys the protection of government
under the institutions of his own country. No
matter how easy be the yoke Of foreign pow
er no matter how lightly IL sits upon the should.
ers, IL II is not imposed by the voice Of his own
nation and Of his own country, he will not, he
cannot, and he means not TO be happy under its
burden. Applause.
There is, gentlemen, one great element of hu-
man happiness mixed up with others. We
have our official affections our family affections
but then we have this sentiment of country
which imbues all our hearts, and enters into ali
our other feelings; and that sentiment of coun.
try is an affection not only for the soil on which
we are born, il not only appertains 10 our
parents and sisters and brothers and friends, but
TO our habits and institutions, and 10 the gov
ernment of that country in all respects There
is not civilized and intelligent man on earth |
that enjoys entire satisfaction in his condition,
If he does not live under the government of his |
own nation--hs own country, whose voltions
and sentiments and sympathes are like his own.
WIN - PehetuJ happy w any country Wnen |
he must say, "This is not my country; il is the
country Of another power; ii is a country be.
longing TO somebody else" Therefore / say
that wherever there is a nation Of sufficient in
telligence and numbers and wealth to maintain |
government, distinct in its character and its
history and its institutions, that nation cannot
be happy but under a government of IFS own
choice. Applause.
Then, sir, the next question is, whether Hun
gary, rs she exists in our IDEAS as we see her,
and as we know her, is dictinct in her national |
ity, is competent in her population, is also com
peteut in her knowledge and devotion 10 cor.
rect sentiment, is competent in her national ca
pacity for liberty and independence to maintain
government that shall be Hungarian out and |
out! Upon that subject, gentlemen, have no
manner of doubt. Let us look little at the |
position in which this matter stands. What is |
Hungary! am not, gentleman, about to IA
tigue you with long statement but wish to |
say that, as | understand the matter, and have
taken some pains 10 look at il, Hungary con-
r1,,tat,o,, fn