New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-05-19
sdversaries can and will; but You can let
your Senators know what you think and
how YOU feel at home. Fail not to do it at
once


first words of man who for three years
has lain under the ban of the worlds exc
Grafton. We ask the impartial reader,
when he has perused this mournful chapter
in that mournful history, whether his feel
ing of Gorgey is at all altered, whether the
impression of this extract,-in which he
brings all the force of his, enmity to bear
upon Kossuth, and in which he has had, of
course, the assistance of all that Russia
and Austria could afford to blacken the
character of the great Hungarian,-is not
the impression of the history of that time,
as it was written from day to day in blood
and fire, that Gorgey was a man purely
and sel6shly ambitious, finally sacrificing
his country to venomous hatred of his
chief.
1t will be seen in the extract that he first
charges Kossuth with usurping authority
to appoint Commander in Chief. But 1t
will be further seen, and fatally for HIM
self, that he acknowledges the extreme
crisis of affairs at that moment: and in shat
crisis, in all such crises, We do bat repeat
the lesson of History and the axiom of a
wise Philosophy, when We say that the duty
of the responsible head of a nation in an
abnormal state like that of Revolution, is
to act as the exigency of the moment and
his own inspiration dictate. Further than
this-the complaint of Gorgey destroys
that suspicion of weakness which has some
what tainted KOssuth's fame, and which
was based upon his not doing the very thing
with which he is now charged. Out OF his
own mouth the traitor is condemned. In
great crises, it is universally acknowledged,
the guiding genius must become law to
himself.
But besides this, Gorgey's account shows,
that although BEN was summoned by Kos
suth, as he asserts, illegally, yet Bem's
commission was after all countersigned by
the Minister of War, to which Gorgey and
Csanyi retort, without any proof, that the
Minister of War was incompetent to do
this, because he and the Governor knew
perfectly well that the Diet meant to nomi-
nate Gorgey, and that Szemere had appraised
the Diet that the Government would ap-
prove the nomination. This is distinctly
denied by Szemere, who says that he mere
ly informed the Diet that the Government
had taken cognizance Of the nomination.
Messrs. Gorgey and Csanyi consider this
equivalent to a promise of confirming the
nomination. They will probably enjoy a
monopoly of that opinion.
General Gorgey then proceeds to crafty
his vengeance against Kossuth, under
cover Oi ot~si.-o .L------- .-Ly .L~ d.
visional Government was held in disrespect
in his camp. Kossuth was opposed to
Russia, it seems,-he listened to twaddling
stories-hs was hen-pecked he was
fond of honors, and he spread false reports
to revive the tagging spirits of his coun-
trymen. This last item is the only one of
the slightest Importance, and that, if true,
is not fault of weakness or of hen pecked
husband; il is resource, perhaps mistaken
and ill-advised, certainly commendable in
intention--to sustain the hope and heart of
struggling men. Kossuth, if he used it,
and we have nothing for proof of it but the
word of Gorgey, did what other great and
struggling and devoted men have done,
and will not suffer for it, in heroic and
humane minds.
Our author goes on to scott at the alb
surdity of the idea of making peace with
Russia, rather than striking once more,
with the last effort of Nature in expiring
Hungary. 1t is needless to scott. Austria
had been routed by Hungary. Russia was
the active power in opposition, and Hun
gary had been declared an independent
State. Besides, Hungary did not wish to
make terms with Austria; there was moth
ing for it but to treat with Russia.
Gen. Gorgey thinks fit to scott at this
policy, and speaks of the last stroke of the
nation as It's true hope of deliverance. But
the unhappy man forgets that he has Just
admitted the extremity of the country;
he forgets his confession that in his
camp in the army of the General upon
whom high hopes were raised and to whom
in great measure the defense of that native
land was entrusted,-the Government of
the country was held up to ridicule among
officers and men. Here is the damninp
sting of his confession. However ingenious