Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1852-05-07
An Interview aoih Mr.. Gay-Hs Tievs an.
oo,1e

~Ae 4ftec/CtccV UCHt INIT. CtUV-f1LS PIelcS ana
Principles.
A Washington correspondent of the New ork
Express gives an interesting account of recent
interview with Mr.. Clay, the following extract
from which will be read with more than ordinary
interest:
"The constrast of year to me was most pain
full, and Mr. Clay looks physically, only like the
wreck ofthe man he was. There is hardly strength
enough in his hands to convey food to his mouth,
and he is helped to and from his bed like feeble
child. He rises very late, and as he told me, has
not known for long time what it was to enjoy an
hourotsweet, refreshing, natulalsleep. But like
an old forest oak, beautiful even in its decay. Mr.
Clay still survives and exhibits the marks of past
strength, and present power. The lustre of his
eyes is undlmmed. He both sees and knows his
friends. The grasp of his hand is as fervent, earn
est and kindly impressive as ever it was. His
voice continues to be all sweetness and melody
except when its tones are moved by that bodily
weakness which makes it painful for him to speak
and it is always very painful for him tospeak
long.
But the greatest blessing which God vouch-
safes to dying man is his. He has that peace
of mind which the world can neither give nor
take away, and an intellect as unclouded as in the
day of its greatest brilliancy. Most of his thoughts
are devoted to that change of existence from
which none of us are exempt, and that
the change may come in an hour or a day,
or it may be postponed till the spring or the sum
mer flowers fade, and die. In the meantime, Mr.
Clay is TRANQUILITY prepared for the messenger
whenever he comes, and he remarks of his death
in a confding, Christian spirit, that though sit
may be presumption in him to say so, he looks
forward to the world beyond the grave with faith
in God, and trust in better life." He is a mem-
Der 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 question of the day he takes a
deep interest. mention it as an example wor-
thy of imitation to public men, that he told me
that he neUer made q personal explanation IN his
life, whale a member Of either House Of Congress.
strict Parliamentarian, and the most accom-
plished Speaker that ever presided over the deb-
erations of any public body, his respect for the
propreties of lite, and his love of order would nev-
or allow him to obtrude his private griefs upon
the public body.
In regard to public questions and public men his
views are unalteraby the same. He spoke of
kossuth a graceful and accomplished man,
and of the pleasure which his interview afforded
him last winter particularly in the Intelligence
displayed by him, and in the respectful attention
which the Hungarian Chiefmanifestodf for his opin-
ions, but kossuth's complaint that that interview
had become public, surprised him. there was
no request, expectation, wish manifested that
it should be private. On the contrary, it was an
interview in the presence of several members of
Congress, and of other distinguished public per-
sons. Whatever limited at private opinion was
from the public report, and it was in
the discharge ofa public duty-perhaps the very
last duty of his public ife-that Mr.. Clay felt
called upon to resist the doctrine that it was
lawful and proper for the United States, under
any circumstances short of self preservation, to
interfere practically in the affairs of the govern
nents of Europe.
thought, too, that he was shocked that so grave
1 subject WAR should be trifed WITH as it was
~ kossuth in his play upon 'those three little
letters w-a-r," at the Banquet given by the mem
bers of the New York Bar, and more recently in
his New Jersey speeches, where he speaks of
material aid" for the purchase of ''toys'' for