Fremont weekly freeman. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1850-1853, 1852-02-21


our subjects, will obliterate the bed which ha
nourished such noxious weeds; we will crusl
you, as the propagsndsis of doctrines so des
tructiye of the peace and good order of tht
world The indomitable spirit Of our people
might and would be equal to the emergency
and we might remain unsubdued even by 81
tremendous combination. but the eohse
quences to US would be terrible enough Yor
must allow me, sir, to speak thus freely, as
feel deeply, though my opinion may be of bu
little import, as the expression of dying
man.
Sir, the recent melancholy subversion oI
the Republican Government of France, and
| that enlightened nation voluntarily placing its
neck under the yoke of despotism, teach US to
despair of any present success for liberal insti-
tutions in Europe; it gives an impressive
warning not to rely upon others for the vim
dication of our principles, but to look to our
selves, and to cherish with more care than ever
the security of our institutions and the preser-
walton of our policy and principles. By the
policy to which we have adhered since the
days of Washington, we have prOspered be-
vond precedent; we have done more for the
cause of liberty in the world than arms could
effect; we have shown to other nations the
way to greatness and happiness. And if we
but continue united as people, and persevere
in the policy which experience has SO clearly
and triumphnntly vindcStpd we may in an
other quarter of a century furnish an example
which the reason Of the world cannot resist.
But if we should invoke ourselves in the tan
gled web Of European politics, in a war in
which we could effect nothing; and if in that
struggle Hungary should go down, and we 90
down with her, W here then would be the last
hope of the friends of freedom throughout the
world? Far better is it to be for ourselves,
for Hungary, and for the cause Of liberty, that
adhering so our wise pacific system, and avoid
ing the distant wars of Europe, we should keep
our lamp burning brightly on this western
shore, as light to all nations, than TO hazard
its utter extinction amid the rufus of fallen or
falling republics in Europe
Throughout Mr.. CLAWS remarks NJ. kossuth
listened with the utmost interest and attention
and, indeed, during the whole interview he
illustrated the rare combination Of the pro-
foundest respect without the smallest sacrifice
of his personal dignity, exhibiting in all his
bearing the most finished and attractive stamp
which can be given to the true metal of genius.
He did not enter, in his turn, upon a contro-
versy of Mr.. Clay's views. but begun by stating
what he thought the reasons of the repeated
failures to establish liberal institutions in
France. Education and political information
be said did not descend very deep into the
masses of the French people; as an ilustra,
tion of which fact he stated that hundreds Of
thousands, when voting for :he first time to
elevate Louis Napoleon to the Presidency,
thought the old Emperor was still alive and
imprisoned, and that the vote they then gave
would affect his deliverance. He gradually
diverted his remarks to the affairs of IIunga-
ry, Austria, Russia, and Turkey; speaking of
the exaggerated estimate of the strength of
Russia; of the strength and weakness of Tur-
key-her strength, which consisted in her i'm
menss land force, and especially in her militia,
or landwehr, as he termed it; her weakness,
which was the liability of the assault of Con-
staniinople by sea And here, apparently in
allusion to Mr. Clay's conviction of our being
unable to effect anything in European war,
he spoke of the material aid which might be
rendered Turkey in war with Russia, by a
naval force for the protection Of her capital
Alter a series of entertaining and instructive
remarks about the condition and prospects of
Europe generally, he rose to depart.
Mr. lay rose and bade him farewell for
ever with the utmost cordiaity and the kind
Hest sy mpathy beaming from his face and suf
fusing Lis eye; and grasp:ng Kossuth'S hand
he said, God bless you and your family God
bless your country-may she yet be free?
Kossuth, apparently overwhelmed by the
warm and earnest sympathy thus exhibited
for himself his suffering family and country,
profoundly bowing, pressed Mr.. Clay's band
to his heart, and replied, in tones Of deep emo
ton, L thank you, honered sir! 1 shall pray
for you every day that your health may be
restored. and that God may prulong your lie!
Mr. Clay's eyes filed with tears-he again
pressed the hand which clasped his own. prob
ably for the last time, but he could say no
more.
Thus closed one of the most interesting
scenes it has ever been the fortune of the
writer to witness Two such men rarely meet
in this world. The one having finished the
course of his destiny, having lived and acted
through the better part of his country'S life
time. and with its growing greatness and re-
nown having achieved his own; the sun of his
glorious career just going down in unclouded
hrilancv, and sending back the rays of its
declining glory upon happy land; the other
still acting, still hoping and fearing, his star
ness; before him. all the vicsstudes of an un-
certain future for himself and for his country !;
the one, like a prophet of old, proclaimng the
principles of the fathers of his country, to
whom he was shortly to be gathered-those
principles, living BY which that country had
achieved her greatness; the other, like schol
ar, listening to catch the words of wisdom, and
hear the lessons of experience, which should
be treasured up, and which might yet one day
profit his country in her pupiage; to portray
that scene Alright would challenge the skill of
the poet and painter The writer would ri
val, too, the art Of Hayden, could be trans-
nit to this paper the sweet melancholy caden-
ces of the voice Of the hungarian exile, sound
ing like the low melancholy wall of the strick
en- children Of freedom; or the trumpet toned
voice Of the old statesman, gathering some
of its ancient strength, and ringing almost As
full and Sonorous as when in days of old its
clarion peal sounded its note of cheer and
COURAGE To n nation in its tTiurphnl march to