Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1852-02-05
From he National Inieliigsnetr ]

has excited general interest in the country and the
reports OF i hitherto given to the public have been
somewhat inaccurate, and at the best, imperfect.
lie company present on the occasion consisted
OF Senators Cas-, Jones, OF Tennessee, Mr.. Fepda
OF this city, and the Hon. Presley Ewing, of Ken
lucky. The las,-named gentleman has been induced
at the instance OF several persons and with the consent
| oil MI Gay, to give more extended and careful re-
| port OF the interview, and especially OF Mr. Clays
remarks, which we publish below, and which may be
regarded as authentic, having, besides the authority of
| Mr. Ewing, the sanction OF Senator Jones by whom
| the report has been examined and approved.
| three o'clock.
On being presented TO Mr.. Clay, who rose to receive
HIM. Sir" said he, Is thank you Tor the honor Of
| this interview"
- beg you to believe" said Mr. Clay, interupting
him, that il is who am honored Will you be
| pleased to be seated p
| After the mutual interchange Of civties. " | owe
you sir" said Mr.. Clav, apology for having
acceded before TO Ihe desire you kind enough 10
| intimate more than once, TO me. But really my
health has been feeble hst did not dare to hazard
the excitement OF So Interesting interview. Besides,
| SIR, he added with some pleasantly, 'your wonderful
and fascinating eoquence has mesmefized SO large
portion of our people, wherever you have gone, and
even four members OF Congress- waving his hand
| towards the two or three gentlemen who were present.
that feared TO under its influence, lest you
might shake my faith in SEINE principles in regard to
the toregh policy OF this Government which have
long and constantly cherished. And in regard TO this
matter, you will allow me, hope. to speak with that
sincerity ard candor which becomes the interest the
|
to US both the votares OF freedom. trust you will
believe me, too when tell you that | entertain ever
the Ivelest sympaihies in every struggle Tor liberty,
IN Hungary, and in every country. And in this be.
lieve, Il express the universal sentiment OF my coun.
rymeD But, sir for the sake OF my country, you mus,
allow me 10 protest against the policy you propose to
| her. Waving the grave and momentous question of
the right OF one nation to assume the executive power
among nations for the enforcement: OF international
law, of the right fhe United ates to dictate 10
Russia the charace OF her relations with the nations
l n. at 0no In he
slderatlon OF the matter. You tell us yourself with
great truth and proprcty, that mere sympathy or the
expression OF sympathy, cannot advance your purpose
GU require material aid. And indeed it is manifest
that the mere declarations OF the sympathy of Con.
gess, or OF the President or of the public would be
OF little avail unless we were prepared 10 enforce those
declarations by resort 10 arms and unless other ma
tons could see that preparation and determin ton up-
| on our part.
| Well sir, suppose that war should be the issue of
the course you propose to u.s. could we then effect any
tnlhg lor yol, ourselves or the cause of liberty p
10 transport and arms across the ocean in sum
| Gent numbers and quantities to be effective against
hhssla and Austria would be impossible 1t is fact
winch perhaps may not be generally known, that the
NEST imperative reason with Great Britain fer the
eose OF lef last war with US, was the immense
OF the transportation and maintenance of forces nd
munitions OF war on such distant theatre, and Vet
she mad NOT perhaps more than thirty thousand men
upon this continent any time. Upon land Russia is
ln0uinerable TO u.s. as We are to her Upon the ocean,
wal between Russia and this country would result
IN me mutual annoyance 10 commerce, but probably
superior 10 that OF any nation in Europe except per-
maps Great Britain. Her ports few, her commerce
united; while we, on our part would otter prey
70 her cruisers rich and eXtensiy commerce. Thus
sir after efecng nothing in such war after aban-
donlng our ancient policy Of amlty and non-lnterven-
ion IN the affairs Oh other nations, and thus justify
Ing Them In abandoning the terms OF foTbearance and
non-lnterference which they have hitherto preserved
towards U.S. alter the downfall, perhaps of the fiiends
OF liberal institutions In Europe, her despots initial
Ing and provoked by our fatal example may turn up
on us In the hour Of our weakness and exhaustion
and, with an almost equally irresistible force of rea
son and OF arms they may say u.s. you have set US
the examples you have quit your own TO stand on for
elgn eround you have abandoned the policy yod pro-
essed In the day Of your weakness. to interfere in
the AFFAIRS OF the people upon this continent, in behalf
OF nose principles the supremacy OF which you say is
necessary TO your prosperity to yosr existence. we
la our tuin, believing thai your anarchcal doctrines
are destructive Of and that monarchlca principles are
essential TO, the peace, security and happiness of our
SUBJECTS, will ohlltcrate The bed which has nouished
such noxions weeds; will crush you as the propa-
gandsts OF doctrines destructive Of the peace and
good order OF the world The indomitabe spirit of
our people might, and would be equal TO the emer-
gency, and We might remain ureubdaed even by so
tremendous combination but the CONSEQUENCES to
US would be terrible enough. You must allow me
sir, to speak thus freely, feel deeply though nv
opinion may be OF but little import, the expression
OF dying man.
Sir, the recent melancholy subverson Of the Repnb-
hcan Government OF France, and that enlightened
natlon voluntarily placing its neck under the yoke
OF desposm teach despair of any present success
lot LIBERAL INSTITUTIONS ID Europe; il gives an i'm
pressve warning not to rely upon others for the vim
Glcatlon OF our principles but look to ourselves and
10 cherish win more care Than ever the security of
our lnslu'lons aud the preservation OF our policy and
principles BY the policy to which We have adhered
since the days of Washington, we have prospered
beyond prece aent; we have done more for the cause
OF liberty In the world than could effect; we have
SHOWN to other nations the way greatness and hap
plhess And II we but continue united one people
ana pefevere Ia the paey which our experience has
so clearly and triumphantly vindcated, we may in
another quarter OF century furnish example which
the reason OF he world cannot resist But il should
Involve ourselves ia he tangled web of European politics
IN war IN which we could effect nothing; and in that
struggle Hungary should go down and we should go
down with her, where then would be the last hope of
he ends OF freedom throughout the world! Far better
Is II Tor ourselves, tor Hungary, and for the cause of
oery thar, adhering to our wise pae ific system and
avoiding the distant wars OF Europe, we should keep
our lamp Stunning brightly this western shore
US ght 10 all nations, than to hazard its utter ex-
JUNCTION amid the ruins OF fallen falling republics
in Europe
Throughout Mr.. Clay's remarks NJ Kossnh lis
tened with the utmost interest and attention: and in
deed throughout the whole interview he illustrated Inc
rare combination OF the prooundest 2ect without
the smallest sacrifice of his personal dignity, exhbi-
ting IN all his bearing the finished and attractive
stamp which can be given to the metal of &c.
MUS tie did Tot enter, in his turn, upon acontrover-
sly OF Mr.. Clays views, but began by stating what he
thought the reasons Of the repeated failures TO establish
liberal in stutions in France. Education and political
information, he sad did not descend very deep into
the masses OF the French people; Illustration OF
"hcn TACT ne ated that hnndreos OF thousands when
voting tor the first time to elevate Louis Napoleon to
the Presidency, thought the old Emperor still
alive and imprisoned, and that the vote they then
gave would effect his deverasce. He gradually d.
yered his remarks to the affairs OF Hungary Austria
Russia and Turkey. speaking ct the exaggerated
innate OF The strength OF Russia: of the strength aud
weakness of Turkey-her strength, which consisted
in her immense land force, and especially in her mill
tia or iandoeF, he termed it, her weakness which
was the liability of the assault OF Consantiuople by
sea And here, apparently in allusion to Mr. Ciay's
conviction four baing unable to effect any thing in
European war; he spoke OF the IN tterial aid which
might be rendered Turkey ia a with Russia By
naval force for the protection off her capital Alter
series OF enter aiming and les rueve remarks about
the condition and prospects Of Europe generally, he
rose to depart.
MIR. Clay rose and babe him farewell forever, with
the utmost ccrdiaity aud the kindest sympathy beam
ing in his iace and suffosng his eye; and graspiug
Kossath's band, he said God bless you aud your IA
mily God bless your couatry-may she yet be ffee"
koS.l,.h LLr cy. 10, Cd IL,