The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-02-23

OF wisdom may be drowned by the wild shouts Of
a frenzied mob, clamoring for the establishment oi
freedom throughout the world Aud hence 1t ID
that We have him presented to us as pure repub'
lican, whose exile is consequence OF his minis
tratons at the altar Of liberty, and whose whole
lie has been one long labor in the cause of human
rights.
Now, sir do not believe this; but should not
trouble myself to contradict it, if il not tor
the intention which dictates the cuiogy. That
he has labored and s laborng zealously, to obtain
aid for Hungary, ia not to be denied; and neither
know nor care what amount Of stimulus may nave
been added to hid sxertops by disa appointed amh-
ton and deep rooted enmity to the power that van
qushed him. He would not be human II some SUCH
feeling did not find place IN his bosom. blame
him not, if it is there; and do not to inquire
how far ii may have governed his conduct. But.
sir. the apostle Of freedom should illustrate, by his
own example, its beauty and simplicity, On
former occasion ] Expressed doubts whether he
really understood the simple creed, which has been
the source of all our happiness and all oui great
Since that time be has been among us, and
those doubts have ripened into convictions. And
here again lie. me say, do not blame him. He had
been accustomed TO the pageantry Of courts, to the
"pomp PRIDE and circum6tanco' which surround
the monarchs of the Old World, and he naturally
supposed tDat these were necessary adjuncts TO
favorable impression upon the people. To this ca use
attribute the unnecessary display of uniforms and
sabTos, which gave to quiet hotel IN this city much
the appearance OF the headquarters OF u command
ing general in a conquered country. To this cause,
also, | attribute the bad taste which brought
armed guard into this hall on the day Of his recep-
tiou here; when, for the fret time since their erec
ton, these walls echoed the jingle OF arms Let us
hope That it is of scenes which are to
follow. But when | remembered the peaceful
purposes for which this building grew under the
hands of the architect; when remembered that, to
this body, above all others, the people are accus-
toned To look to check rashness, 20 rebuke vio-
lcnce, and to frown down all schemes Of extrava-
gance and excitement, confess felt something
like shuddcr at the unwonted rafting OF foreign
sabres in the inmost temple OF American liberty.
There is another circumstance l must not omit
TO mention. II kossuth had been the ardent
publican which he Ia represented, there Is one spot
III this vicinity difficulty would have deferred
him from visiting. Neither storm nor tempest,
the summers heat nor winters snow, should have
prevented him from making pilgrimag ge TO Mount
Vernon, and kneeling at the tomb OF the wistst,
The nosest, and the pu'eft OF all those who have
done battle in the cause Of mankind. But that great
man seems to have awakened in him no entnusi-
asm, and the Fpot where the remains OF W ashing-
ton inferred has been undi-tutbed by the tread
OF Hungarian feet. doubt If there is a monarch
in Europe who would have been guilty of similar
neglect; ho would have manifested 50 little revcr
ence for the dead-so little regard for the hoiiest
feelings OF the living.
Mr. President, | have done with The indi-
yidual. il is TO his mission that shall address
myself His fret proposition is, that every ma
ton has the right 10 regulate It's affairs IN it's
own way; and to this shail ntcrpose no objection.
But Mr.. Kossuth and | may differ very widely as
to what constitutes nation, and consequently as
to who ii is in whom this right rosides do not
admit that every part OF an empire, whether II be
called province, State, department, is ma.
ton. Hungary is and has long been part OF the
Austrian empire, and Is more independent VI
the chief executive than Is New York OF the Gen
eral Government, If the State of New York
should undertake to regulate her own affairs IN
her own wny-to appropriate the immense reYc-
nues collected in her ports-to form alliances with
foreign nations, and TO tax the citizen Of Pennsyl-
vauia or Massachusetts whose businees required
him TO pass through her territory, II requires
great stretch Of Imagination ~ suppose that an
army would be collected her borders,
and that her night would be made 10 depend upon
her power 10 enforce il. ] think j but utter
an admitted truth when ] say that the right 10
regulate the affairs OF the United States, TO
watch over the interests Of the whole Union, 10
guard and TO defend them, il here, and must re-
main here, until the people take It away either by
sJccessful revolution by constitutional amend
ments SO, take it, the right to regulate the al
fairs of the Austrian empire resides IN Its exccu
tive head, until the people see fit 10 withdraw the
powers they have vested in bin. IL minority are
dissatisfied, aud wish 10 change their form Of gov
ernmcnt, there is no recourse but revolution and
not until that revolution is successfully accom-
plished can they claim place among the nations
Of the Garth. II IL were possible TO collect all the
Germans in the United States into one state, the
Irish in another, the French in another, although
each might speak its own language aud be gov
erncd by its own local Laws, they would no more
be entitled to the sppeiaton of nations than now,
public. Mere difference Of language and OF local
laws s evidence of nationality. Something
more is needed; and it would be oasy to show that,
in Cnunciating his fret proposition, kossuth has
made case against himsclt
Bot, air, do not wish 10 pursue the inquiry.
II is immatcral whether or not any Fuch right is
to bc found in the law of natons. Indeed II il
somewhat difficult for any one at al CouvCrsant
with the history of tho world 10 suppress a smile
while listening TO learned dissertations in favor of
rights founded on the law Of nations That na.
ton docs not cxist which has not disrcgardcd oil
such laws whenever prompted by interest 70 do
80. To take care Of its own interest 90 provide
tor It's own security, IL and always bas been the
ruling principle oi every nation, irrespective Of
any public law. So universal has been ths prsc-
tce that recOcct bot one instance in all history
10 the contrary, and that wns when Themistuclcs
wished to burn the ships of the other Grccion
statcs, and prevented by the report OF Aris-
tides 10 the Athcuians, that though nothing could
be more advantageous to Athens, nothing could
be more unjust England pureued n different
course at CopcuhaEcnj and, by 30 doing, struck
Of tho hcayiczt bluws ever dealt at the power
Cf Napoleon. ] make comment upon the Off.
fcrert dcgrccs Of morality exhibited by thc en- lent
and the modern, The heathcn and the Christian.
merely state historical facs, aud from them draw
the deduction, that a right without the means If
making II respected is a uockery. IL h admitted
that Hungary has no sug mems. The question.
then, nrlseH, Shall VIC furnish them' Z his is the
point, the whole gist Of the matter. let me bcrin
by supposing that Il is ia our power 10 do so-that
and rCpel Russian invasion-how are we to be ben
rftcd' What portion Of the fruits Of victory is to
iuurc 10 us2 do not address this question 10 din
nor orators, brmiul OF philanthropy and cham
pagnc, 20 vainglorious militia coOncls, who
arc exceedingly anxious to march 10 Hungary
TO morrow, but who could not make il conyC-
uieut 10 march 20 Mexico when our country tC1s
engaged in war | address " 60 grave senators
who arc charged with the interests Of twenty five
millions OF people, aud who arc responsible TO the
present and the future for the manner IN which
they discharge the duties assig gncd them.
General Washington has said:
"There can be no greater error than TO eHqcct
or calculate upon any real favors from nation to
nation. II ia an illusion which experience must
cure and which just pride ought to discard"
There il deep wisdom in THE paragraph, and
he who dlsregards or treats IL lightly wants tile
b. h.ghc5t attribute Of a statcsmau. We can expect
nothing favor from other nations I'D rome
have right 10 expect favors from us Our inter
ference, il VIC iptoricre at all, must be dictated by
interest; and therefore ! ask, in what possible
| manner can we be benefited? Russia has done rs
no injury; we havc, therefore, wrong 20 nvcugo.
Russia lac no territory Of which wish 10 deprive
her aud from her there is no danger against
/ vhiCh 1t is necessary 20 guard Enlightened
seli-intcrs-t docs not offer sipglc argument in
\ favor OF cmbroiling ourselves in quarrel with