A Hajdú-Bihar Megyei Levéltár évkönyve 30. 2004-2005 (Debrecen, 2005)
Tanulmányok - Bényei Miklós: Széchenyi István és Beöthy Ödön kapcsolata, közös diétai küzdelmei
Hajdú-Bihar Megyei Levéltár Évkönyve XXX. 175 The connection of Széchenyi István and Beöthy Ödön and their mutual legislative combats Miklós Bényei The paths of life of Széchenyi István and the leading figure of the Bihar reform opposition, Beöthy Ödön show surprising similarities. Their connection is still undisclosed in detail, so here we publish facts ascertainable from the Earl’s journals and other more simply accessible sources. The date of their getting acquainted is unknown. Then from 1833 they contested beside each other in the feudal parliament. The politician from Bihar mainly supported Széchenyi in the establishment of a permanent Pest-Buda bridge, and supported the national theatre concept also. In the following, 1839-40 parliament their relation slackened slightly; mainly because of the disputes and differences of opinion concerning designation of the route of the first domestic railway line. At the parliament in Pozsony (Bratislava) in 1844 in connection with the question on the burden of taxation Beöthy became closer to Széchenyi again, but the latter stirred up a great storm with his proposal and the plan for two-garage tax only gained partial approval from the Bihar delegate. The Earl condemned Beöthy several times for his opposition to the government and his unmerciful criticism of the aristocracy. He was angry with him and neither was the earlier close relation restored later, not even in 1848, in the times of the revolution.
