The southern press., 1852-02-05
From The Mteligeneer Of Tuesday.
m. K0ssuth and mr.. Clay.

Clay has excited general interxs in the coun-
try, and the reports Of it hitherto given to the
public have been somewha. inaccurate, and, at
the best imperfect.
Ii The company present on the occasion consist.
ed of Senator'S Cass, Jones, Of Tennessee, MIR.
Fendall, of this city, and the Hon. Presley Ew-
ing, OF Kentucky. The lastnamcd gentleman
has been induced, at the instance of several per-
sons, and with the consent Of Mr.. Clay, to give
a more extended and careful report of the inter
view, and especially Of Mr.. CLAWS remarks, which
we publish below, and which may be regarded
az authentic having, besides the authority of Mr..
1 Ewing, the sanction of Senator Jones, by whom
the report has been examined and approved.
i M. Kossuth was introduced by Mr.. Cass at
about three O'clock
Ga being presented to Mr. Clay, who rose to
receive him, "Sir," said he" thank you for the
honor ofthis interview"
81 beg you TO believe" said Mr.. Clay, inter-
Iupting him, :" that it is who am honored Will
you be pleased to BE- seated"
1 After the mutual interchange of civilites, 81
owe YOU Sit" said Mr. Clay, "an apology for
not having acceded before to the desire you were
kind enough to intimate, more than once, to see
me. But really my health has been SO feeble
that did not dare 10 hazard The excitement of
so interesting an interview. Besides, sir" he
added with some pleasantly, "your wonderful
ard fascinating coquence has mesmerized so
large = portion of our people, Mherever you have
| gone, and even some Of our members Of Con-
gress," waving bis hand towards the two or
three gentlemen who were present. that feared
to come under its Influence, lest you mi gh shake
my faith in some principles in regard to the for
eign policy Of t is government which have
long and constantly cherished. And in regard
to this matter, you will allow me, hope, TO
81 eak with that sincerity and candor which be-
comes the interest the subject has for you and
! for myself and which is due to us both as the
votares OF freedom. trlst you will believe
me, too, when tell you that entertain ever
the liyeiest sympathies in every struggle for
| liberty, in Hungary, and in every country. And
| in this, believe, | express the universal senti
ment Of my countrymen. But, sir, for the sake
of my country, you must allow me to protest
against the policy you propose to her.
Waving the grave and momentous question
| Of the right Of one nation to assume the execu-
tive power among nations, forthe enforcement
of international law, or of the right of the United
States to dictate to Russia The character of her
relations with the nations around her, let us
come at once to the practical consideration of
the matter. You tell US yourself, with great
truth and pgopriety, that mere sympathy, or the
/
purposes You require material aid. And in
deed it is manifest that the mere declarations of
the sympathy of Congress, or of the President,
| or Of the public, would be of little avail unless
we were prepared to enforce those declal atoms
! by resort 10 arms, and unless other nations
could see that preparation and determination
! upon our part. Well, sir, suppose that war
should be the issue of the course you propose
to us. could we then effect any thing for You,
ourselves, or the cause Of liberty! To tran-por.
men and arms across the ocean in sufficient
numbers and quantities TO be effective against
Russia and Austria would be impossible. II is
a fact which perhaps may not be generally
known, that the most imperative reason with
Great Britain for the close Of her last war with
US, was the immense cost of the transportation
and maintenance of forces and the munitions
Of war on such distant theatre. and yet she had
not perhaps more than thirty thousand men upon
this continent at any the. Upon land Russia
Is invulnerable to US, as we are To her. Upon
the ocean war between Russia and this coun
try would result. in the mutual annoyance 10
commerce, but probably in little else. learn
recently that her war marine is superior to that
of any nation 10 Europe, except perhaps Great
Britain. Her ports are few, her commerce
limited, while we on our part would offer as q
prey TO her cruisers rich and extensive com
merce.
thus, sir, after effectirg nothing in such war,
after abandoning our ancient policy OF amity and
non Intervention in The affairs Of other nations,
and thus justifyirg them in abandoning the terms
Of forbearance and. non interference, which they
have hitherto preserved towards us after the
downfall, perhaps, If the friends of liberal insti-
tntioas in Europe, her despots, initiating and
provoked by our fatal example, may turn upon
Us in the hour Of our weakness and exhaustion
and, with an almost equally irresistible force Of
reason and OF arms, they may say TO Us, Z" You
have set us the example, you have quit your own
TO stand on foreign ground, you have abandoned
| sboliey you prolessed 10 the days of your
weakness, to interfere in the affairs of the peo-
pie upon this contiren;, in behalf of those prn-
ciples, the supremacy of which you say is neces.
sary 10 your prosperity TO your existence. We.
in our turn, believing that your anarchical doc.
srines are destructive Of, and that monarchical
principles are essential 20, the eacc, secnrity
and happiness of our Subjects will obliterate the
bed which has nourished such noxious weeds
we will crush you, as the propagandists Of doc
trines so destructive TO the peace and good order
Of the world" The indomitablc spirit Of our
people might and would be equal 10 the emery
ency, AID we might remain unsubdued even by
so tremendous a combination, but the conse.
qacnces to US would be terrible enough You
must allow me, sir, TO speak thus freely, as
feel deeply, though my opinion may be Of but
little import, as the expression Of dying man.
"Sr, the recent melancholy subyersion of the
republican government Of France, aud that en-.
lightened nation voluntarily placing its neck IN
der the yoke Of despotisn, teach MS 10 depair OF
any present success for liberal institutions in
Europe; Il gives Us an impressive warning not
TO rely upon others for the yiDdication Of our
pr ncioIcs, but TO look TO ourselves and TO cher.
ISL nore care than ever the security of our
IND d and the preservation Of our policy
and tiples by the policy to which we have
adhdISd since the days of Washington, we have
prospered beyond precedent; we have done more
for the cause Of liberty in the world than arms
could effect have shown 10 other nations the
way TO greatness and happiness. And If we but
continue united as one people, and persevere in
the policy which orr experience has so dearly
and triumphantly indicated, We may in another
quarter Of century furnish an example which