Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1852-01-17
GEN. CASs' SPEECH At THE CONGRES
SlUNAL BANQUET.

The following is tull report Of the re-
marks Of Gen. Cass, in reply to the toast Of
"The American Minister 10 France, whose
Intervention defeated the Quintuple Trca-
| ty,"-proposed by Col. Florence, of Phila-
drIphia, at the Congressional Banquet to
Kossuth -
| am under great obligations for your
kindness, manifested ia your sentiment in
relation to my conduct in France-but
merely discharged my duty as an American
citizen. | did just what every one OF you
would have done, had you been placed in
my circumstances. | only advocated the
cauSe of my country. \ fearful attempt
was made at innovation upon the law Of
nations - an attempt, the consequences OF
which human sagacity can scarcely fore
see. -Four powers had united, one was
held in abeyance. | said then, 81 hope
| France will not sign this treaty; but il she
/ does sign it, il will not alter one tithe the
course Of the American people" Ap-
( plause.l Let the Union against them be
( great or small, they will resist it to the last
! extremity, trusting 10 that God who does
not give the victory always to power.
But, my friends, a greater question has
| now arisen. Then we could have defend
ed ourselves against united powers. But a
| question has now arisen, where you cannot
50 easily carry your arn,s-a question in
voving for the future al; questions of hui
man rights. 1t rcjolceS my heart to see
here this guest among us-the leader OF his
counlry's revolution, the asserter of the
rights of men, and the martyr of the inde-
pendpnce OF nations welcomed to our shores.
/ lApplause.I Sir, (turning 10 kossuth,) the
ocean, more meGcitul than the rod of ty-
rants, has seHt you to a country of freedom
and Of safety. [Applause.l That was a
proud day for you, but it was a prouder
day for us, when you left the shores OF old
HellcSpont and put your foot upon an
American deck. Protected by American
cannon, with the stars of our country float
ing over, YOU could deity the world in arms
lAppause.I And, sir, here, in the land o.
Washington, il is not barren welcome
that ] mean TO give you, it is not mer,
salutaton-'I am glad 10 see you; !" bu
, much further than that, / am willing to 90
, am willing to lay down the great princi
pies Of natural rights, and adhere to them
Applause.
| will not say,-"Craven be the maj
that does not respond 10 it."-fur, thanl
God, we are in land Of liberty, wher
every man has right to enjoy and eXer
else his own opinions in bis own way
But will say that he who is not willing t
S respond, aud in an ellectual MANNER to hi
cry Of liberty from the Old Hemisphere
J his heart don't feel like mine. Applause
No, my fellow citizens, no, | am for III
largest liberty TO the largest number owe
the whole face of the earth. Applause
My friends who do not agree In that sent
ment, have no feeling in common with M
$, Now i am willing to say and maintain
that those despotic powers OF Europe, whe
they put their hand upon Hungary, an
marched the Cossack and the Panduer upo
Z the Danube to put down the first flame {
: liberty, they offended against all laws {
Fl nations, recognized throughout the civ
D. lized world.
Well, gentlemen, l am an old man.
Laughter, and cries Of 'sNo you amt
:. But tell you am approaching my three
score years and ten. Iialfa century ago
crossed the mountains boy, on foot an