Hannibal journal and western union. (Hannibal, Mo.) 1851-1852, 1852-01-01
THE SPEECH OF
K o S S u T H,
ON HIS
RECEPTION IN NE w Y OR K.

am vet half sick, gentlemen; tossed and
twisted about by fortnight's gale on the Atlan,
tics restless waves, my giddy brains are stiil
turning round in Whirlpool and this gigantlc
continent seems yet to tremble beneath my wa
yering steps. Let me, before | 60 TO work.
have some hours of rest upon this soil OF tree-
dom--your happy home. Freedom ana home!
what heavenly music in those two WoruS' Aias'
have no home, and the freedom of my people
il down trodden. Young Giant of free Amerl-
ca, do not tell me that thy shores are an asylum
IN the onpressed, and home to the homeless
exile. An ASYLUM it is, but all the blessings OF
your glorious country, can they drown INTO OBJ
Ivion the longing Of the heart, and the fond de-
xires for our native land! My beloved native
land! thy very suilerings make thee but dearer
to nv heart; thy bleeding image dwells with me
when wake, as it rests with me in the short
moments Of nv restless sleep. 1t has accompa-
MED me over the waves. 1t will accompany me
when go back to fight over again the ba'tle oi
have no idea but thee; have no 1eehng Oul
thee. Even here, with this prodglous view OF
greatness, freedom and happiness, when spreads
before nv ewes, my thoughts are wandering to-
wards home; and when l look over these thou
sands Of thousands before me, the happy inher-
itance of wonder freedom for which your fathers
fought and bled-aEd when | turn TO you clti-
zens, to bow before the majesty OF the United
States. and to thank the people OF New York
for their generous share in my liberation, ana
for the UNPARALLELED honor Of this reception l
see. ont of the very midst Of this great assem-
blage, rise the bleeding image of Hungary, look
ing to YOU with anxiety whether there be IN the
lustre of your eye ray of hope for her; wheIh-
er there be in the thunder OF your hurrahs
trumpet call Of resurrection. Ii there were no
such ray of hope in your eyes, and no such
trumpet call in your cheers, then wo to Europe S
onnressed nations. They will stand alone in
tbe honr .af need. Less fortunate than you
1ver. thew will meet no brothers hand to help
them in the approaching giant struggle against
the leseued despots of the world. And wo also
70 me. will feel no Joy even here, and the
days Of nv stay here will turn out to be lost Tor
INV fatherland-lost at the very time when eve
nv moment is teeming i'll the decision OF Europe S
destiny. Citizens, much as am wanting some
Louya Of rest, much as / have need TO become
1amiliar with the ground will have to stand
,,ron before I enter upon business matters
upblic,y. took it for duty Of honor, not to let
a.oopa even this FIRST moment OF your generous
xSa,curne, without stating plainly ana openly 10
~ou what sort of man ! am, and what are the eN-
s,ectations and the hopes-what are the motives
which brought me now 10 your glorious shofes'
Eentlsmen, have TO thank the people, C0n-
,kFsss, and Government o. the OIliteu o'ates LOT
~v liberation from captivity. Human tongue
~. no words TO express the bliss which felt
-,b.n THE down-trodden Hungary's wander
mo ehief-saw the glorious flag OF the ,'stars
and stripes" fiuttering over my head-when
6rSt bowed before it with deep respect-when
.aw around me the gallant officers and crew
of tho Mississippi frigate-the most OIL them the
vvorthiest representatives OF true American
~r;ncirles American greatness, American gen
sro.;ty and TO think that it was not mere
chance which cast the star-spangled banner a.
round me. but that it was your protecting Wi
IN know that the United States OF America con
.eious Of their glorious calling as Wen as 0
their mower, declared by this unparalleled act u
be resolved to become the protectors OF humai
Tiohts-to see powerful Vessel oil Aheric
coming to far Asia to break the CHAINS oy Whici
tbe mSohtiest despots of Europe fettered the oc
t;uitv of an exiled Magyar, whose very nam
d;sh'rhed the proud security of their sleep
Sael restored by such a protection, and IN sue
q ,vay. TO freedom, ana oy TrccdoIn 40 so.ISfs.
~on nav he well aware OF what have FELT an
still feel. Mt the remembrance OF TINS proud me
m.nt of nv life. Others spoke-you acted; an
I was freei You acted; and at this act oil your
tvrants trembled; humanity shouted OUT WI
low; the down-trodden people Of Magyars,-ul
down-trodden but not broken, raised iheir hea'
O with resolution and with hope, and the oriliiai
CIV Of your stars was greeted by Europes ol
messed nations as the morning star OIL us"
liberty. Now, gentlemen, you must nc ava
NV boundless the gratitude must be which
feel for YOU. You have restored meto life, b
cause yca restored me to activity; and shCu
INV Gle, by the dispensation Of the Almghl
still prove useful to my tPher innu Ian ana hV'ln0
iy, i will be your merritt will be you, wol
May You and your glorious country be bic 6Ie'; ;
for 4. Europe is on the very eve OF such
mense events, that however feryent my gr'