The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-06-29
fST A SsxsaeFx ffsss.
Roles Of scraps and naslngs.
"rHE HuNGARIN EXILE"

"THE HuNGARIH EXILE"
It cannot, think, be denied that the Hangs
rian evile came to the United States with stron
claims to the hospitality ofthe people and thei
government. He was invited by the latter t
take refuge on our shores; public vessel wa
despatched to bear him hther, and he was 70
ceived with as much enthusiasm as La Fayette
the friend and companion of Washington. Ado
to this tina he was identified with the progress
of liberty in Europe, and appeared before us I
an exile and victim at her shrine.
With these claims as an invited guest, and {
prosecuted patriot, he certainly merited cordia
if not distinguished reception. But one event
far beyond this. Had the savior of his country
risen from the grave, and suddenly appeared to
claim the gratitude Of posterity, he could moi
distinguished honors His first step on our
soil was into the arms and hearts Of assembled
thousands, and his progress through the United
States babe fair to be, like that of La Fayette,
perpetual ovation.
But scarcely had he touched the soil of free
dom when he at once announced frankly and
openly his great object in honorng the United
States with visit. lie did not come as an ex-
lie seeking home, or pilgrim to express his
gratitude for benefits received. He came as
second Peter the Hermit, to light the torch of
dscord, and spread the flames of war and dis
sention between two worlds, with vast ocean
between them, and to urge, nay to force on the
government by appeals to the popular feeling,
departure from that policy which had been en-
joined by the last breath of Washington and
sanctioned by its consequences. shall not here
enter into the enquiry, whether this was the orr
ginal object Of Kossuth's visit 10 the United
States, undertaken in consequence of a eecret
understanding with Lord Palmerston, then Brit
sh secretary of foreign affairs, or whether it
was an impulse of tho moment arising from his
enthusiastic reception which awakened hopes
he had not heretofore INDUCED, and precipitated
him into designs he had not hitherto contem-
plated. My conviction, however, is, that the
former was the case, though am now equally
convinced that the present tory ministry Of Eng
land has changed the policy of that government,
which will probably soon be seen acting in con.
cert with the despotisms of Europe, instead of
affecting a sympathy for the Hungarians and
taking flight with the eagles Of Austria and
Russia, instead of that of the United States.
But, however, this may be this attempt of
stranger and an exile to overthrow the long es
tablished policy of that government which had
invited him hither from motives of sympathy
and compassion, attracted the attention and ex
cited the apprehension, if not the indignation
of very many rejecting persons, who were ap-
prehensive of its consequences They viewed
it as dangerous and unwarrantable interior.
ence, not only in our foreign and domestic af-
fairs but as evidence ola design to entangle the
United States in the maze of European politics,
and place them in position which they could
not maintain without being involved in perpet-
ua struggles, or abandon without disgrace.
From this time the enthusiasm in behalf Of the
Hungarian exile gradually subsidized, and sympa.
thy for himself and his cause became mingled
with apprehensions Of consequences, which
might arise from its excessive indulgence
Many thought, and in my opinion thought just.
ly, that the government and people fthe United
States had sufficiently demonstrated their devo-
ton to the cause of human liberty, by interfer.
ing for the release of one of its most distinguish
ed victims, without taking steps in behalf of
other nations, which in all probability would en-.
danger the peace Of their own. They recog-
make these sacrifices to another and distant
people, nor did they believe that any precopt of
religion, humanity, or justice called on them TO
offer up their own peace and happiness at the
shrine of universal philanthropy.
Under this conviction, they gradually found
themselves placed in an antagonistica position
to the man who they had at first welcomed with
sincere enthusiasm. They fclt that the cherish
ed exile was endeavoring to take an unfair ad.
vantage of tho popular feeling in hia favor, by
giving it a direction which in their opinion would
lead to the most dangerous results. They first
cooled into Indifference from thence to dislike
ana llIldIly SctLcu uOWIl lHtO ucteIHIuCu OpP(-
stion, when they saw him not only persevering
in his efforts, but making rapid advances in his
pretensions AS he proceeded towards the
South, his sun began TO decline, and finall sunk
below the horizon.
BY some, this rapid declension will probably
be ascribed to the evanescent nature of all ex-
elements; by others to the caprice of popular
feeling. But it has deeper, and more sub
stantia, as well as justifabe basis. Instead Of
standing before us as fugitive who has sought
and found refuge from the memorable vengeance
of tyrants, he now appears in the light not Of
merely an advocate of the rights of his country,
but mischievous interloper, appealing to the
bomebred feelings Of foreign emigrant., who
like himself have taken refuge in the United
States, and attempting to organize them as
distinct body into political instrument for d.