Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1852-02-28

I
nations, than to hazard its utter extinction amid
the ruins of fallen or falling republics in Europe
| Throughout Mr. Clay's remarks, NJ KossutE
listened with the utmost interest and attention; and
Indeed, throughout the whole interview he illus
trated the rare combination of the profoundest re-
spect without the smallest sacrifice of his person
al dignity, exhibiting in all his bearing the mos
finished and attentive stamp which can be giver
to the true metal of genius He did not enter, in
his turn, upon controversy of Mr.. Clay's views
but began by stating what he thought the reasons
of the repeated failures to establish liberal nstitu
tons in France. Education and political informa.
ton, he said, did not descend very deep into tbs
masses of the French people as illustration o.
which fact he stated that hundreds, when voting
for the first time to elevate Louis Napoleon to the
presidency, thought the old empire was still alive
and imprisoned, and that the vote they then gave
would effect his dehverance. He gradually di-
verted his remarks to the affairs of Hungary,
Austria, Russia and Turkey speaking of the ex-
aggerated estimate of the strength OF Russia OF
the strength and weakness of Turkey-her strength
which consisted in her immense land force, and
especially in her MALTA, faRdwehr, as he term
ed it; her weakness, which was the liability of
the assault of Constantnople by sea. And here,
apparently in alusion to Mr.. Clay's conviction OF
our being unable to effect any thing in a Europe
an war, he spoke of the material aid which might
be rendered Turkey in a war with Russia, by a
naval force for the protection of her capital. AT
ter series of entertaining and instructive remarks
about the condition and prospects of Europe gen
orally, he rose to depart
Mr. CLAY rose and bid him farewell forever, with
the utmost cordiality and the kindlest sympathy
beaming in his face and suffering his eye; and
grasping 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 bow
ing, pressed Mr., Clay's hand to his heart, and re-
piled, in tones of deep emotion, g thank you,
honored sir l shall pray for you every day that
prolong your life Mr.. Clay's eyes filled with
tears he again presented the hand which clasped
his own, probably for the last time, but say no
more.
Thus closed one of the most interesting scenes
it has ever been the fortune of the writer to wit
ness. 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 lifetime, and with its growing great
ness and renown having achieved his own the
sun of his glorious career just going down in un-
clouded brllancy, and sending back the rays of
its declining glory upon happy land the other
still acting, still hoping and fearing, his star just
rising amid storms, and clouds, and darkness !; be-
fore him, all the vcissitudes of an uncertain fu-
ture for himself and for his country the one,
like prophet of old. proclaiming 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 scholar, listening to catch the
words of wisdom, and hear the lessons of expert
ence, which should be treasured up, and which
might yet one day profit his country in her pupi-
lage; to portray that scene Alright would chal-
lenge the skill of the poet and painter The wri
ter would rival, too, the art of Handel and
Haydn, could he transmit to this paper the sweet
melancholy cadenees of the voice of the Hunga-
rian exile, sounding like the low, melancholy wall
of the stricken children of freedom; the trum-
pet 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 nation in its triumPhal march to glory and to
greatness