The people, penetrated by one universal inspiration of lofty principles, told me everywhere that Hungary must yet be free; that the people of Ohio will not permit the laws of nations, of justice, and of humanity, to be trampled down by the sacrilegious combination of despotism; that the people of Ohio takes the league of despots against liberty and against the principle of national self-government, for an insult offered to the great republic of the West; that it takes it for an insult which Ohio will not bear, but will put all the weight of its power into the political scale.  Would that all the United States with equal resolution might spurn that insult to humanity.

That is the language which Ohio spoke to me through hundreds of thousands of freemen—­that is the language which Ohio spoke to me through her senators and representatives in their high legislative capacity—­that is the language which Ohio spoke to me through her chief, whom it has elevated to govern the commonwealth and to execute the people’s sovereign will.

The executive power, the legislature, the people, all united in that harmony of generous protection to the just cause which I humbly plead; but that is not all yet.  Sympathy and political protection I have met also everywhere; and have met it as well in the public opinion of the people as in the executive and legislative departments of several States, though it is a due tribute of acknowledgment to say, that nowhere to that extent and in equal universality as in Ohio, but that is yet not all.

The sympathy of Ohio was rich in fair fruits of substantial aid—­from the hall of the State legislature down to the humble abode of noble-minded working men—­and associations of the friends of Hungary, spread through that powerful commonwealth, promise a permanent, noble protection to the cause I plead.

Even the present occasion of bidding farewell to Ohio is of such a nature as to entitle me, by its very organization to the hope that you consider your noble task of aiding the cause of Hungary not yet done; but that you have determined to go on in a practical direction, till the future, developed by your active protection, proves to be richer yet in fruit than the present is.

Considering the almost universal pronouncement of public opinion in this great and prosperous commonwealth—­considering the practical character of the people of the West, the natural efficiency of this organization, and who are those who with generous zeal have devoted themselves to carry it out on a large extent,—­I may be well excused for entertaining some expectations of no common success—­of a success which also in other parts of this great Union, may prove decisive in its effects.  No greater misfortune could be met with than disappointment in such expectations, which we have been by the strongest possible motives encouraged to conceive.  To be disappointed in hopes we have justly relied on, would be beyond all imagination terrible in its consequences.  I shudder at the very idea of the boundless woes it could not fail to be attended with, not for myself—­I attach not much value to my own life,—­but for thousands, nay for millions of men.