The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-05-05
Interview with MIR. CLAW,

Editorial Correspondence Of the Ne,o York Express.
| WAsHISGToN, April %.
Ii has been more than year since had the plea
sure Of an interview with MIR. CLAY, and being
again in Washington for few days, the ,nelan
choy satisfaction has been allowed me of visiting
| him ut his room III the National Hotel. He occu
pies his old quarters at the southeast corner of the
building, and which, when he shall be no more,
will become sacred the sick chamber of the great
| statesman OF the country. In Europe travellers go
far out OF their way to visit the dwelling places Of
the once distinguished men Of the old world. Pill
grimages made even by thousands annually to
| Ferney to see the chamber where such man
Votarc distng uished only for his intellect and
wickedness, lived and died. and the little pic lures
| of Washington and Franklin to be found there
| with the remembrance Of the splendid genius Of
| the great French author, compensates American
| for the labor and expense of such far off visit
| So either ascending descending in the scale of
merit, we love to visit the houses and familiar
scenes Of civilians and sol diers who have filled
| large space in the public mind. Mount Vernon,
| with something of the same spirit, will ever be
| halowed ground TO the countrymen Of Washing
ton, and those who permitted to visit the cham
| Der where he died will remember the place, "a as
ISOLATED with name not only historical and sacred
but the final habiaton of one beloved and respect
| ell throughout the world
| do not think the world has produced but one
| Washington. He was the great captain of the
| whole civilized world, and such was the judgment
| of Frederick the Great Of Napoleon, and of the
| most renowned men Of the old world. To America
! he was pre- eminenty the man of the last century
as Mr. Clay, II seems TO me, is pre- eininently the
man of the present century IL to-day the thought
of Mr. Clay, and to which he gives most frequent
1 LII Al
power nor place, influential friends nor patrimo-
| n.y. inheritance titles. and yet no man has such
friends as have" are words often upon bis lips.
There is constant proof Of this friendship in the
tenton of the troops of friends xious to serve him
Little kndnesses, delicaely bestowed, pour in upon
him. sometimes by invisible hands, sometimes by
kind wishes, inquiries and anxieties TO serve him.
| sometimes in the presence Of those-and such are
often female friends-whose sympathies are panied
to Mr.. Clay suffer % he does from the want Of
quiet sleep, and from that desthke and torturiuq
cough from which for months he has suffered 80
much. and for which he receives no relief
The contrast of year TO me was most painful
and Mr. Clay looks physically only like the wreck
Of the man he was. There is hardly strength
| enough in his hands to convey food to his mouth,
and he i. helped to and from his bed like feeble
child lie rises very late, and, as he told me-
has not known for long time what il was
TO opjoy hour OF sweet, refreshing, natural
sleep. But, like old forest oak, beautiful even
in its decay, MIR. Clay sti survives and exhibits
the marks Of past strength and present power. The
lustrc Of his eyes is undimmed lie both sees and
knows his friends. The grasp Of his hand 10 fer
vent, earnest and kindly impressive "a ever it was
His voice continues 10 be all sweetness and melod v
| except when its tones are moved by that bodily
weakness which makes IL painful for him to speak
and it s always very painful for him to speak long
Bot the greatest blessing which God vouchsafes 10
| dying man is his lie has that peace of mind
which the world can Mother give nor take away,
| and an intellect as unclouded as in the day Of its
| greatest brilancy. Most of his thoughts are de-
voted to that change Of existence from which none
Of us arc exempt, aud that change may come in an
| hour or n day, or II may be postponed till the
| spring or the summer flowers fade and die In
the mean time Mr.. Clay is TRANQUILITY prepared for
the messenger whenever he comes; nd he remarks
OF his death in confidng, Christian spirit that
| though cit may be presumptuous in him to say 40.
| he looks forward to the world beyond the grave
with faith in God, and trust in better life" Ho
| 10 a member and communicate of the Episcopal
| church, and, among the few books in his room the
Word Of God occupies the most conspicuous place.
| On the public questions of the day he takes
| deep interest. mention IL n an example worthy
/
he made personal .rplanafon in his life tuhiie
a member Of either House If Congress a strict par
| Humanitarian, and the most accom- pshcd Speaker
| that presided over the deliberations OF any
public body, HE respect for the prophecies Of life
and his love Of order, would never allow him 20
ob,rude he private gricfs upon The public body.
| In regard TO public questions aud public men his
| views are unalterably tho same. lie spok of Kos
snh asa graceful and accomplished man. and Of the
pleasure which his interview afforded bin last win
tor, particularly in the intelligence displa ycd by
him, and in the respectful atten ton which the Hun
gsrian chief manifested for HE opinions; but Kos.
suths complaint that that interview had become
public surprised him there was no request c.pec.
toton, wish manifested that il should be private
On the contrary, il was interview in the prcsenc.
OF several members Of Congress- and of other d.,in.
auished public persons Whatever hintcd at private
opinion suppressed from the public reports and
was in the discharge Of a public duty-pcrhaps the
very last duty of his public lo-that Mr. Clay felt
called upon to resist the doctrine that il was law.
ful and proper for the United Statcs under any
circumstances short Of self preservation TO inter.
fere practically in the affairs Of the governments
OF Europe thought, too, that be was shocked
that 90 grave subject ne wAs should be triHed
with, as it Ivy Kossu,h in his play upon "tho,e
three little letters war, at the banquet given by
the members Of the New York Bar, and more re
| Gently IN his New Jersey speeches. where he spca ks
Of material aid" for the purchase Of "toys" for
Hungary -mcaning those grim looking and loud
mouthed messengers Of death, whose music in
their time, have either made millions of widows
and orphans, or MANNED for life the bravest and
worthiest OF those who should love to hail ne their
fother and their friend the Prince of Peace