IV. The “Greek Question” As An Issue of U.S. Foreign Policy
B7. Statements by Other Congressmen
(Booras, pp. 171-79)
DANIEL P. COOK of Illinois
On the principles of the American Declaration of Independence Greece has dared to act; she has broken her chains and set up for herself a free government; in recognizing that government we break no international law.
HENRY W. DWIGHT of Massachusetts
No, Sir, not to England, but to America, did Greece appeal from the Senate in Calamata in language we cannot refuse to hear: “That having deliberately resolved to live or die for freedom, they were drawn by an irresistible sympathy to the people of the United States."...
The descendants of those heroes, who first conquered freedom, and of the sages who first caught civil liberty to mankind, are now struggling under the yoke of barbarian bondage; it is to us who have partaken of their arts and sciences, their literature and region, their forms of political power, and their notions of civil liberty that they appeal for sympathy.
FRANCIS BAYLIES of Massachusetts
Unaided and alone the Greeks have nobly sustained their ancient character. They had been subjected to the greatest hardships-they had beheld their infant children torn from their embrace their wives and daughters consigned to the outrages of a brutal soldiery, and no hand had been extended to rescue them. But in due time a noble principle of resistance was awakened in their souls-they rose in the majesty of their strength and con-founded those men of blood...
Who could have expected that such noble virtues and true bravery would have sprung up among an enslaved people, as has been exhibited by the Greeks: Every attempt to assert their rights has been met with violence; their implements of resistance have been wrested from their hands; the sabre has been applied, where any disaffection was manifested. Under all circumstances, it was natural enough that they should be distrustful of their own powers; but it is truly wonderful that their character should have showed out so splendid.
PATRICK FARRELLY of Pennsylvania
The President tells you the Greeks are gone, forever gone, out of the hand of the Turk; may we not even notice them?
WE are not sending an agent to Greece to excite her to begin a rebellion against the Turk; that is begun already, and more than half finished too, sir. For one, I believe they are able to maintain their independence, and well maintain it; they will not forget their ancestors. And, as a confirmation of this opinion, I pray you, sir, look at the last news from there. The coincidence of their modern and their ancient spirit is striking indeed, Sir, the selfsame act has now been performed in Attica that was done two thousand five hundred years ago-the inhabitants of Athens have all migrated to Salamis, to avoid subjection.
(Hatzidimitriou 257-258)
Source: Constantine G. Hatzidimitriou, Founded on Freedom and Virtue: Documents Illustrating the Impact in the United States of the Greek War of Independence, 1821-1829 (New Rochelle, New York: Aristide D. Caratzas, 2002).