The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-01-24
Letters from Kossuth, Capt. Leng, Omeers
of the Mlns1as1Dp1. ke.
IrrIcrLrrEs ABOARD THE NIssIssIppI.


The following highly important documents
we copy from the Baltimore Sun. They
are copied from the New York Daily Times OF
Thursday morning, and give 10 an authentic
shape, all the facts in relation to the difficulties
which occurred at Marseilles between Gov. KOS
suth and Capt. Long, of the U. 5. steamship
Mississippi, and will, no doubt be read with
deep interest. The Times introduces these let
ters by stating that the action OF our govern
ment, in sending for Kossuth and his compan-
ions, met with the strong disapprobatlo OF
John s. Hodge, esq.,, u s. Consul at Marseilles;
that Com Morgan, of the Mediterranean Squad
ron, was opposed to detaching any Of his YES
sells, particularly the Mississippi, for the pur-
pose and that Capt. Long was opposed to going
in her. With this pre-existent state Of feeling
on the Fart of those three official personages, it
il not surprising that their conduct towards
the Hungarian exiles was not remarked by
any great degree Of loving favor. The Times
then, after noting several subsequent events,
familiar to our readers, and the arrival of the
Mississippi at Marseles, with Kossuth on board,
and his request sent to Louis Napoleon to allow
him to pass through France, concludes its intro.
ductiOn as follows:
On the third day an answer was received re-
fusing him permission Kossuth gave to IA Mar
and the answer which he had received. They
were published. This alarmed the Prefet and
Consul Hodge; and the consul addressed u let
ter, couched in violent and offensive terms,
charging Kossuth with having compromised the
flag of the United States, to Capt. Long, who
handed the letter to Governor kossutb, thereby
implicitly endorsing its sentiment.
Kossuth, who had been waiting on shore the
answer of the French government, returned on
board the Mississippi. Soon there were many
boats floating about the ship, filled with people,
who sang the Marseiiles hymn, and sent up cries
of America" Captain" &c, &c. Captain
Long paced the deck with stern look, and in
much apparent excitement. A beautiful wreath
was taken from the United States flag in one of
the boats and thrown up to the deck Of the Mis-
sssippi But Capt. Long still deigaed no no.
tice Of the compliments aud honors which the
patriotic people were showering upon him. A
general order was given to come down from the
poop, guards, and other prominent places. Capt
Long then walked up to Gov. kossuth and re-
quested him to withdraw from the poop of the
ship, adding that he was compromising our flag,
| or that if he remained there he would compro.
mise our flag. Gov. Kossuth Withdrew, and on
| the came dsy he addressed the following letter
to Consul Hodge,
u. S. FRIGATE MISSISSIPPI,
September 80, 1851.
| Sin The government Of the United States
having accorded me- its generous protection,
knew very well to have accorded it to man
who has the honor to meet some sympathy every
where where the words " freedom and human
rights" have an echo in the breasts of men.
The people of the United States themselves
expressed their sympathy highly enough; and
the government of the United States did not
take this expression for a-motve not to grant
me its protection; but rather for motive to
grant it.
So the government of the United States will
be pleased. confidently trust, to hear that even
in every place of Europe where we stopped, this
sympathy is freely, openly, warmly shared by the
people
That is one view which take about the po-
| litcal direction of the sentiments Of your gov
eminent.
The other is, that / confidently trust that
your government was willing to give me liber-
ty, and not prison, sir; else | would not have
accepted your governments offered protection
| to me.
since my arrival here.
requested permission to pass through France.
| No answer was given me before the third day.
| was ashore meanwhile; and you know that |
not even left the hotel, in order that might not
provoke any manifestation of that sympathy
which consider not only lawful not to push
Oak, but even bound in honor to feel honored
with, and thankful to accept. You know the
people of Marselles were rather anXiOusly scru.
pulous not to cause any difficulties to me by the
display of their sympathy. All was quiet.
| The refusal came. 1t was an answer to my
letter, written to M lie Prefet by myself. The
answer was given through your interference
but it was, and must have been given to me.
Yourself, sir, considered it to be 80, because you
handed me the letter without any restriction,
rather with the advice to take copy oft
would have felt authorized to do So even with
out your advice; because it was only and ex-
clusively myself who was concerned in the mat
ter
A government, and chiefly a constitutional
| one--yes, a republican one-should never shun
publicity of the orders ii judged lawful and con-
venient to issue. Does government, on the
contrary, shun its publicity? In my opinion, the
and side with publicity, which is in no way con-
trary to law, even in the French republic.
| Besides, | had a right to compl.in; the French
republican government having without any rea-
sonable motive, Il having offered to pass rapidly,
without stopping in any place, and even declared
to you to be willing to accept every loyal and
honorable advice of the government in respect to
my passage that my passage would and
could not produce any excitement, whereas, TO
forbid this passage could but produce excite
ment, of courseD had a right to complain
against the refusal, violating without any motive,
the rights of humanity and hospitality, which
was the more entitled to claim, as the French
constitution proclaimed to the world to take for
its basis the principle Of freedom and fraternity
/ And yet made no complaint. only com
municated to a newspaper, without any addi.
tonal remarks, the letter wrote and the answer
received. 1t was lawful-it was due to my
position, and not esen contrary to The rules OF
etiquette, which am acquainted with, and will
ever observe, except where etiquette should
claim the sacrifice Of my honor and my rights.
l But you know, sir, it was not this commun
cation which caused the people of Marseilles tc
express to me, in warm, but dignifed ant
graceful manner, its sympathies because thi.
happened at noon and afternoon; the letters
were published in the evening; the remarks, ant
annexed opinion of the editor, have nothing t.
l do with.