George Washington to New Hampshire, 29 December 1777 (Detail, GLC03706) Civil War in Global Context: Lincoln and Resolutions in Behalf of Hungarian Freedom by John Cane Burlington High School, Burlington, VT Basler, Roy, ed. The Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln. The Abraham Lincoln Association, Springfield, Illinois. Vol. II.(New Brunswick: Rutgers University Press), pp. 115-116 During the Revolutions of 1848 Magyar (Hungarian) leader Louis Kossuth demanded independence for the Magyar lands from the Hapsburg Empire. His armies drove within sight of Vienna but Slavic minorities resisted in the invasion and the Magyar army withdrew. Austrian and Russian armies defeated the Magyars and Magyar leader Louis Kossuth was captured. He was released to American authorities due to the good offices of Daniel Webster and was given asylum in the American Consulate in London. He came to the United States in December, 1851, where he spent 6 months touring, giving speeches, and attempting to gain sympathy and aid for the Magyar cause. The United States policy was to give verbal support but no material aid. In addition, a great number of Americans were impressed by Kossuth's cause, including Abraham Lincoln, who at that time was serving in the Illinois Legislature and co-sponsored "The Resolution in Behalf of Hungarian Freedom." January 9, 1852 Whereas in the opinion of this meeting, the arrival of Kossuth in our country, in connection with the recent events in Hungary, and with the appeal he is now making in behalf of his country, presents an occasion upon which we, the American people, cannot remain silent, without justifying an interference against our continued devotion to the principles of our free institutions, therefore, Resolved, 1. That is is the right of any people, sufficiently numerous for national independence, to throw off, to revolutionaize, their existing form of government, and to establish such other in its stead as they may choose. 2. That it is the duty of our government to neither foment, nor assist, such revolutions in other governments. 3. That, as we may not legally or warrantably interfere abroad, to aid, so no other government may interfere abroad to suppress such revolutions; and that we should at once, announce to the world, our determinations to insist upon this mutuality of non-intervention, as a sacred principle of international law. 4. That the later interference of Russia in the Hungarian struggle was, in our opionion, such illegal and unwarrantable interference. 5. That to have resisted Russia in that case, or to resist any power in a like case, would be no violation of our own cherished principles of non-intervention, but, on the contrary, would be ever meritorious, in us, or any dependent nation. 6. That whether, we will, in fact, interfere in such case, is purely a question of policy to be decided when the exigency arrives. 7. That we recognize in Governor Kossuth of Hungary the most worthy and distinguished representative of the cause of civil and religioius liberty on the continent of Europe. A cause for which he and his nation struggled until they were overwhelmed by the armed intervention of a foreign despot, in violation of the more sacred principles of the laws of nature and of nations - principles held dear by the friends of freedom everywhere, and more especially by the people of these United States. 8. That the sympathies of this country, and the benefits of its position, should be exerted in favor of the people of every nation struggling to be free; and whilst we meet to do honor to Kossuth and Hungary, we should not fail to pour out the tribute of our praise and approbation to the patrotic efforts of the Irish, Germans and the French, who have unsuccessfully fought to establish in their several governments the supremacy of the people. 9. That there is nothing in the past history of the British government, or in its present expressed policy, to encourage the belief she will aid, in any manner, the delivery of continental Europe in suppressing every effort of the people to establish free governments, based upon the principles of true religious and civil liberty. AMENDMENTS: Resolved, That it is the duty of the United States not to do any act, or lay down anyprinciple in regard to non-intervention, that shall prevent this Nation at anytime , from interfering in favor of any people who may be struggling for liberty in any part of the world , when proper occasion shall arrive. Resolved, That the people of Ireland are as much entitled to the sympathies of the people of the United States, as the people of Hungary; and we here cordially tender to the people of Ireland, and to all the other oppressed people who are struggling for liberty, the sincere sympathies of this meeting. 1. What does the resolution call for Americans to do? Explain. 2. What key documents and traditions of the American experience would support this? Be specific about the documents and passages. 3. Why do you think the resolution fell short of calling for American intervention which necessitated the amendments that were adopted? Explain. 4. What key document and traditions of the American experience would support non-intervention? Be specific about documents and passages. 5. Why does the resolution include the Irish and the French? Explain. 6. In what ways might Lincoln's views expressed in this resolution become politically problematic to him in the Secession Crisis of 1861? Explain.