Fremont weekly freeman. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1850-1853, 1852-02-21
I'll iscrIIanruns. /
M, Kossuth and NE. Cav.

Inc interview between Nj. hOhSutn anu EdF
Clay has excited q general interest in the
country. and the reports of it hitherto given
to the public have been somewhat inaccurate,
and, at the best, imperfect
The company present on the occasion con
sisted of Senators Cass, Jones, of Tennessee
Mr. Fendall of this city, and the Hon. Presley
Ewing, Of Kentucky The last named gen
1leunan has been induced, at the instance OF
several persons, and with the consent Of Mr..
Clay, to give a more extended and careful re-
port of the interview, and especially of Mr..
Clay's remarks, which we publish below. and
which may befregarded as authentic, having
besides the authority of Mr.. living, the sane
ton of Senator Jones, by whom the report has
been examined and approved.
NJ Kossuth was introduced by Mr.. Cass at
about three O'Clock.
On being presented to Mr. Clay, who rose
to receive him, Sir, said he, 4 thank you for
the honor of this interview.
4 beg you TO believe said Mr.. Clay, inter
ruptng him, that it is l who am konored.-
VIII you be pleased to be seated?'
After the mutual interchange of -civilikies,
1 owe you, sir, said Mr.. Clay, 'an apology for
not having acceeded before to the desire you
were kind enough to intimate more than once,
to see me. But really my health has boen so
feeble that did not dare TO hazard the ex-
citement of SO interesting an interview Be-
sides, SIR he added with some pleasantly,
your wonderful and fascinating eloquence has
lHesmerzed large portion of our people,
wherever you have gone, and even some of
our members of Congress- waving his hand
towards the Two or three gentlemen who were
present, that feared to come under its influ-
ence, lest you might shake my faith in some
principles in regard to the foreign policy of
this Government which Ihave long and con-
stantlv cherished And in regard to this mat
ter. you will allow me, hope, to speak with
that sincerity and cnndor which becomes the
interest the subject has for you and for my
self, and which is due to US both as the votar-
les of freedom. l trust you will believe nee,
too, when tell you that entertain ever the
liveiesI sympathies in every struggle for lib
erty, in Hungary, and in every country. And
in this, believe. ] express the universal SEN
timent of my countrymen.
But, sir, for the sake Of my country, you
must allow me to protest against ihe policy
you propose to her. Waiving the grave and
monentous question of the right of one ma
tion TO assume the executive power among na-
tons, for the 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 propriety
that mere sympathy, or the expression, cannot
advance your purposes; You require mate
rial aid. And indeed it is manifest that the
s az oe
gress, or of the President, or of the public,
would be of little avail, unless we were pre-
pared to enforce those declarations bY resort
30 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 anything for you, our
selres or the cause of liberty? To transport
men and arms across the ocean in sufficient
numbers and quantities to pc effective against
Russia and Austria would be impossible. 1t
is fact whiGh 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 transpor-
tation aud maintenance of forces and the mu-
tnitions Of war on such a distant thentre, and
vet she had not perhaps more than thirty
thousand men upon this continent at any
time. Upon land Russia is invunerable to
us, as we are to her. Upon the ocean, a war
between Russia and this country would result
in the mutual annoyance to commerce, but
probably in little else. l learn recently that
her war marine is superior to that of any ma
ton in Europe, excep: perhaps Great Britain.
Her ports are few, her commerce limited
while We on our part would offer SIS a prev
to her cruisers rich and extensive com
merce. -.a
Thus, sir, after etFecting nothing in such a
war, after abandoning our ancient policy OF
amity and intervention in the affairs OF
other nations, and thus justifying them in
abandoning the terms of forbearance and non
interference, which they have hitherto pre-
served towards US; after the downfall, per-
haps, of the friends of liberal institutions in
Europe. her despots. initiating and provoked
by our fatal example. may turn upon us in the
boHr d our ssaaz-ess and exhaustion, and
s'th an almost equally irresistible force OF
reason Ss4 af arms, tAvy may say, to hs, you
have get Us tas up.e-you have quit your
own 10 stand on foreign ground you have
abondoaed die policy yoa profes.ed in the
day OF yrUy weakness, - interfere in the az
fairs Of lhe peepie upon Ilsis continent in be-
half of these principles the supremacy oi
which you say is necessary to your prosperity
to your existence. We, in our turn, believing