Hungarian American Coalition News, 2002 (11. évfolyam, 1-2. szám)
2002 / 1. szám
KOSSUTH IN AMERICA Kossuth's reception in America was unprecedented. After Lafayette, he was the second foreigner to be presented to both houses of Congress, and he was honored with a State Dinner by the President of the United States, even though he was not a sitting Head of State. Both honors illustrate the extraordinary recognition of Kossuth's magnetic personality, which was well manifested in the powerful delivery of his speeches. The goal of Kossuth journey was to receive recognition from Congress and raise money for an army so that he could revive the Hungarian revolution. At the Banquet of January 7 his admirer, Secretary of State William Webster gave some hope by saying: "We shall rejoice to see our American model upon the Lower Danube and on the mountains of Hungary...I limit my aspirations for Hungary, to the present...Hungarian independence, Hungarian selfgovernment, Hungarian control of Hungarian destinies". Although received enthusiastically by the House of Representatives, and his case was taken up by the Senate in April of 1852, his efforts for United States intervention in Europe received no encouragement. Henry Clay, Wiliam Seward and President Fillmore had explained that the doctrine of non-intervention could not easily be overturned. During his visit Kossuth visited numerous cities in Connecticut, and especially in Massachusetts, and also in New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Missouri, Georgia, Mississippi and Louisiana. Failing in his mission he returned to Europe to continue his quest in Europe. He vehemently opposed the Hungarian compromise with Austria of 1867 that created the Autro-Hungarian Monarchy. He died in Turin, Italy on March 20, 1894. Kossuth in the Capital of the United States Kossuth reached the city of Washington in December of 1851 and, notwithstanding the strong influence against him caused by the Austrian and Russian ministers, was received with great enthusiasm. The Hon. Daniel Webster, Secretary of State introduced the great Magyar Statesman to President Millard Fillmore, 13th President of the United States. From Kossuth's Speech to President Fillmore Mr. President, enlightened by the spirit of your country's institutions, when we succeeded to consolidate our natural and historical State's right of self government, by placing it upon the broad foundation of democratic liberty; inspired by your history when we had to fight for independence against annihilation of centralized absolutism, consoled by your people's sympathy when a victim of Russian interference with the laws of Nature and of Nature's God; protected in exile by the government of the United States supporting the Sultan of Turkey in his noble resolution to undergo the very danger of a war. I stand before your Excellency a living protestation against centralization oppressing the State right of selfgovernment. May I be allowed to take it for an augury of better times, that in landing on the happy shores of this glorious republic I landed in a free and powerful country, whose honored Chief Magistrate proclaims to the world that this country cannot remain indifferent when the strong arm of a foreign power is invoked to stifle public sentiment, and repress the spirit of freedom in any country. May God the Almighty bless you with a long life, that you may long enjoy the happiness to see your country great, glorious, and free, the corner-stone of international justice, and the column of freedom on the earth, as it is already an asylum to the oppressed. Sir, I pledge to your country the everlasting gratitude of Hungary. President Fillmore’s Reply to Kossuth I am happy, Governor Kossuth, to welcome you to this land of freedom; and it gives me pleasure to congratulate You upon your release from a long confinement in Turkey, and your safe arrival here. As an individual, I 3 • Hungarian American Coalition • Spring 2002
