xt71ns0ksq1v https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt71ns0ksq1v/data/mets.xml Clay, Henry, 1777-1852. 184344  books b92-84-27376479v1 English R.P. Bixby, : New York : Contact the Special Collections Research Center for information regarding rights and use of this collection. United States Politics and government 1815-1861.Mallory, Daniel. Life and speeches of the Hon. Henry Clay ...  (vol. 1)/ compiled and edited by Daniel Mallory. text Life and speeches of the Hon. Henry Clay ...  (vol. 1)/ compiled and edited by Daniel Mallory. 1843 2002 true xt71ns0ksq1v section xt71ns0ksq1v 














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THE



LIFE AND SPEECHES


            OF TIHE



H O N.



H E N R Y



C L A Y,



    IN TWO VOLUMES.



    COMPILED AND EDITED B3Y
D AN I E L MALLO RY



V O L U M E



I



  ."econb 3E'aitton.



NEW YORK:



ROBERT I



P. BIXBY 
1 8 4 3.



CO.

 








































Entered according to Act of Congress, in the Year Eighteen Hundred and Forty-Three,

              BY SAMUEL N. DICKINSON,
     In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of Massachusetts.























         BOSTON:
SAMUEL N. DICKINSON, PRINTER,
    WASHINGTON STREET.



 























          CONTENTS OF VOLUME I.







PREFACE.. . .              .   . . . .   . .   . . . . . 5
LIFE OF HENRY CLAY. . . . . . . . .      . . . . . . . 9
SPEECH ON DOMESTIC MANUFACTURES,. . . . . . . . . . .19
SPEECH ON THE LINE OF THE PERDIDO.... . . . . . . . . 200
SPEECH ON RENEWING THE CHARTER OF THE FIRST BANK OF THE
   UNITED STATES. . .  . .  . .  . .  . .  . . .  . .  . .210
SPEECH ON THE AUGMENTATION OF MILITARY FORCE .  . . . . . 222
SPEECH ON THE INCREASE OF THE NAVY,. . . . . . . . . . 230
SPEECH ON THE NEW ARMY BILL.. . . . . . ... . . . . 240
SPEECH ON HIS RETURN FROM GHENT.. . . . . . . . . . .259
SPEECH ON THE UNITED STATES BANK QUESTION, . . . . . . . 262
SPEECH ON THE DIRECT TAX, AND THE STATE OF THE NATION AFTER
  THE CLOSE OF THE WAR WITH GREAT BRITAIN, . . . . . . .
SPEECH ON THE BILL FOR FORCING NEUTRALITY, . . . . . . . 286
SPEECH ON COMMERCIAL RESTRICTIONS WITH FOREIGN NATIONS, . .269
SPEECH ON INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT . . . . . . . . . . . 294
SPEECH ON THE WAR BETWEEN SPAIN AND HER COLONIES .  . . . .297
SPEECH ON INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT,. . . . . . . . . . . 300
SPEECHES ON THE EMANCIPATION OF SOUTH AMERICA . . . . . 321, 348
SPEECH ON THE SEMINOLE WAR. . . . . . . . . . . . . 364
SPEECH ON SOUTH AMERICAN AFFAIRS,. . . . . . . . . . . 390
SPEECH ON THE SPANISH TREATY,. . . . . . . . . . . . 3
SPEECH ON THE PROTECTION OF HOME INDUSTRY . . . . . . . .405
SPEECH ON THE MISSION TO SOUTH AMERICA, . . . . . . . . 425
SPEECH ON THE GREEK REVOLUTION. . . . . . . . . . . . 432
SPEECH ON AMERICAN INDUSTRY,.. . . . . . . . . . . . 440
SPEECH IN REPLY TO JOHN RANDOLPH,. . . . . . . . . . .493
ADDRESS TO LA FAYETTE,. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 484

 







iV                       C O N T E N T S.


ADDRESS TO HIS CONSTITUENTS ON THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION OF 1825, .486
SPEECH ON THE ELECTION OF PRESIDENT BY CONGRESS IN 1825,. . . 507
SPEECH ON AFRICAN COLONIZATION,. . . . . . . . . . . .515
SPEECH ON THE CHARGE OF CORRUPTION,. . . . . . . . . . 538

SPEECH ON THE POLITICAL CONDITION OF THE UNITED STATES DURING
  J. Q. ADAMS'S ADMINISTRATION,.. . . . . . . . . . . 554
SPEECH ON RETIRING FROM OFFICE,. . . . . . . . . . . .560
SPEECH ON THE COMMENCEMENT OF JACKSON'S ADMINISTRATION, . . 564
SPEECH ON THE EFFECT OF THE PROTECTIVE SYSTEM ON THE SOUTH-
  ERN STATES, .  . .  . .  .  . .  . .  .  . .  . .  .  . . 582
SPEECH ON THE REDUCTION OF DUTIES ON IMPORTS .  . . . . . . 586
SPEECH ON THE NOMINATION OF MR. VAN BUREN, AS MINISTER TO GREAT
  BRITAIN.   . .  .  . .  . .  .  . .  . .  .  . .  . .  .  .599

 
















                     PRE F ACE.





   IN writing the Biography of HENRY CLAY, we are conscious of
entering a field several times explored, by individuals of great ability,
who have spread before a delighted public the rich rewards of their
researches. But its great amplitude - the loftiness of its hills - the
breadth of its valleys - and the vastness of its enclosures, induce the
belief, that the office of another explorer would not be altogether that
of a gleaner; on the contrary, that the proper performance of its
duties would result in the discovery of new beauties, and in the
acquisition of new treasure. Under the influence of this belief, the
resolution was taken and preliminaries settled of our undertaking,
and ourself brought to its borders, indulging in visions of anticipated
pleasure, not unlike those which an enthusiastic botanist experiences,
who, with feranthos across his shoulders, and analyzing apparatus in
his satchel, is about to enter the fair field of nature, to cull and
examine the loveliest specimens of her skill. Personal gratification,
however, was not the only nor chief motive prompting us to the
undertaking. We desired to procure a larger and better collection
than had ever been made of the mental gems of him who had moved
in patriotic majesty over it, and adorned its enclosures of intellectual
verdure with the brilliants of pure and lofty action; to gather and
collocate these, we were strongly urged by the consideration that we
should thus contribute, in some degree, to carry into execution that
which forms one of the most interesting features of Mr. Clay's char-
acter - a desire to submit his cvery public act to the closest public
scrutiny-a desire which has not been introduced to subserve a
certain purpose, but which is coeval with his political existence, and
which he has, under all circumstances, unequivocally avowed. A
further motive was derived from our own ardent desire to behold a

 





P REFACE.



more deeply-seated and generally-extended conviction of the purity,
disinterestedness, and inestimable value of his services, which, in
view of our own experience, we firmly believed would be the inva-
riable issue of a careful and candid examination of them. That we
sincerely and strongly wished the dissemination and establishment of
this conviction we gladly affirm, not because we attached the slightest
importance to it, considered as a mere isolated fact, but because we
knew it would be productive of great and permanent good in the
minds of all where it should find a lodgment.
  It is a well known and prominent truth, that those who are familiar
with the beauties and sublimities of the natural world, are distin-
guished for expansive, liberal, and noble views. An effect parallel to
this is distinctly seen in those who are surrounded by the magnificent
scenery of the mental and moral world, and whose dwellings are
irradiated by their effulgent luminaries. Hence, a sage custom of the
ancient Greeks, as related by one of their historians, of causing their
youth to be similarly circumstanced - especially those who were
being educated with direct reference to the assumption of the duties
and responsibilities of public life. In qualifying these appropriately
to discharge the former and sustain the latter, their guardians and
preceptors deemed it of vital importance to place before them the
noblest scenes and subjects. In close connection with the precept
'know thyself,' they enjoined that of 'know the good and great of
others.' To them it was well known, that the contemplation of deeds
of mental and moral grandeur was most salutary - that it generated
a desire to imitate and surpass them-nay, more; that it limned
them upon the walls of the saul, and filled it with the most beautiful
intellectual imagery, which would eventually develope itself in action
-magnanimous, patriotic, and conservative of the best interests of
mankind. To attempt to prove that such deeds thickly adorn the
field of Mr. Clay's history would be superfluous, since the fact is well
established in all civilized countries.
  So much in relation to the motives for our undertaking. A brief
statement of the manner and circumstances of its performance may
not be inappropriate.
  Our visions of anticipated pleasure, at its commencement, were
fully realized during its progress. We had expected to be rewarded
by the discovery of intellectual diamonds of the first water, but not
in such rich profusion as we found them. In consequence of the
frequent struggles between our inclination and inability to gather and
bring away all, we fear that many of intrinsic value have been left
behind; but we trust and believe, that the most beautiful and impor-



vi

 





PRE FACE.



tant specimens, will be found in our collection. Entire originality for
it is not claimed, but aid from various sources has been received in
its formation. Deeming the facts and events of Mr. Clay's career
public property, we have freely taken and appropriated them, wherever
found, without considering it incumbent upon us to designate their
locality.
   With regard to the Speeches of Mr. Clay, no labor has been spared
in seeking for them, and it is believed that few, if any, which have
been reported, will be found wanting in our collection. A brief
memoir has been prefixed to each, illustrative of the subject and
occasion on which it was delivered, and the fate of the question. In
this labor, we have been materially assisted by Mr. EDWIN WILLIAMS,
the former secretary of the American Institute; a gentleman well
known for his accuracy and ability in historical and statistical matters.
  In giving the result of our investigations, we express our fears that
it will be found to contain imperfections, notwithstanding our endeav-
ors to guard against them  It has been exceedingly difficult to speak
of Mr. Clay's eminent acts, without sliding imperceptibly into the
path of eulogy. This, perhaps, has led to the error of saying too
much sometimes, and too little at others. For defects of this nature,
however, the intelligent reader will require no apology. But the defi-
ciency most prominent, and one which we lament most sincerely, is,
that of not having done justice to his transcendent talents and abili-
ties as an orator. For this, an excuse must be furnished by our
incompetency; the consciousness of which fell upon us, with over-
whelming force, as we stood in the presence of his eloquence. We
watched its wonderful and spirit-like movements and operations, and
turned away from the task of adequate description, as we would have
shrank from the fruitless endeavor to take the dimensions of a bound-
less and unfathomable ocean. Attempts at describing it we have
indeed made, but they are abortive -dim shadows of its noble sub-
stance, and tenantless abodes of its beauty. Our belief of the utter
impossibility to convey an adequate idea of it through the medium of
written or verbal statement, has been confirmed by the opinion of
those who have often beheld its manifestations. A distinguished
senator remarked to us very recently, that Mr. Clay's eloquence was
absolutely intangible to delineation - that the most labored and thril-
ling description could not embrace it, and that, to be understood, it
must be seen and felt. Neither is it contained in those inimitable
productions of mind - his speeches.  Abundant evidences of its
magic influence are found in these. The monuments heaved up by its
hand of power, stand thick about its gorgeous pathway, which runs



.i.

 






Vill                        PREFACE.

through them all like a golden tissue, but it is not there. Its nature
is too closely allied to etheriality to find a fit terrestrial abode.
  What has been said of Mr. Clay's eloquence, is, to a great extent,
true of his philanthropy and patriotism. No individual was ever less
controlled by sectional feeling. The height of benevolence on which
he planted himself was so lofty as to enable him, while legislating for
his own country, in particular, to have an eye to, and care for, the
interests of all other countries. In what manner and to what extent
they have been benefited, by his exalted and humane services, it is
believed an ample and authentic source of information will be found
in our compilation of them. In the full assurance that these will
endure the ordeal of the closest and most philosophic scrutiny to the
end of time, we present them to the public, and cannot avoid giving
utterance to the desire that they may be speedily subjected to it, and
in the same liberal spirit which distinguished their performance.
Should such a result be realized, we shall consider the time employed
in gathering and arranging them most profitably occupied.


 















         LIFE OF HENRY CLAY.





  BIOGRAPHIC usage might require us to give the pedigree of the
distinguished individual who forms the subject of the following
memoir. Many considerations, however, combine to induce a
departure from this usage. In the first place, we are strongly dis-
posed to question the practical utility of it; and in the second, to
doubt our ability, even after the most diligent search, to exhibit
what is ordinarily the object of such a search-an illustrious
pedigree. Indeed, we regard it as very problematical, whether we
should be able to get beyond the pale of republican simplicity.
But the most cogent consideration is the belief that our efforts
would not be more highly appreciated than were those of the
emperor of Austria by Napoieon Bonaparte. The Austrian
monarch, desirous of proving his future son-in-law royally de-
scended, was busily engaged in mnaking the searches requisite to
establish the fact. Napoleon, becoming acquainted with his inten-
tion, immediately visited hin, and exclaimed, I Stop, stop, sire! I
alone am the author of my fortune, and desire it to be so understood:
neither royal descent nor royalty has contributed any thing to its
achievement, and though I might legitimately claim both, would
not mention either.' We do not know that a similar indifference
is felt by Mr. Clay, in relation to his lineage, but his plain, unosten-
tatious habits, and firm adherence to republican principles, warrant
us in presuming that such is the case. Certain it is, however, that
for his present elevated position, he is as little indebted to any
adventitious advantages of birth or fortune, as was the mighty
conqueror; and with equal propriety might he say, in view of the
means by which he had attained that position, I alone am the
architect of my fortune. Without attempting, therefore, to invest
his origin with the splendors of a titled ancestry, it may suffice to
observe, that family reminiscences render it certain that his imme-
    VOL. 1.       2

 





1  LIFE OF HENRY CLAY.



diate progenitors were distinguished for sterling worth, virtue and
integrity. His father, a Baptist clergyman, labored in his official
capacity with great acceptance. in a district of country in Hanover
county, Virginia, familiarly denominated ' The Slashes,' where,
on the 12th of April, 1777, his fifth child, Henry, was born. I-le
was not destined to enjoy those instructions and counsels which a
father only knows how to impart, - for when he had attained his
fifth year, his father died. This event consigned him entirely
to the care of his mother -a woman of an uncommonly vigorous
mind, richly adorned with feminine graces, and every way compe-
tent to superintend his incipient education.
  Unfortunately, the embarrassed condition of her husband's
estate at his death, besides greatly augmenting her cares, prevented
her from giving Henry that thorough course of study which she
designed him to pursue. So far, therefore, from receiving a liberal,
he did not receive a good elementary education. The lowly district
school of that region, to which his instructions were limited, was
deficient in almost every essential respect. But even under these
inauspicious circumstances, in early boyhood he manifested a strong
desire for knowledge, which in consequence of the pecuniary diffi-
culties before mentioned, could not be gratified. All that the
fondest maternal tenderness could do, was to lead him to the rills
of learning, whose sweet waters, instead of allaying, rendered that
desire more intense, and induced the resolution to seek its gratifi-
cation at their unadulterated source. This, in after life, by his
indomitable energy, he was enabled to execute.
  The means of education afforded him. though meagre in the
extreme, he did not uninterruptedly enjoy  The straitened cir-
cumstances of the family made it necessary for him, in common
with his brothers, to devote large portions of time to manual
employments. He was no stranger to the use of the plough, the
spade, and the hoe, over which literally by the sweat of his brow
he earned his daily bread. He gained for himself the title of
'AMill Boy of the Slashes, by his frequent visits to a neighboring
grist-mill, on the Pamunkey river. These he usually made, seated
on a bag of grain thrown across a horse, which he thus rode with
a rope bridle, without a saddle.
  He appears not to have shrunk from any employment, however
humble, when directed to it by his beloved mother. To her his
attachment was most ardent, and often has he expressed his deep
regret that he was permitted to enjoy her society during so brief a
period. In 1792 she was married to Mr. Henry Watkins, and
removed to Woodford county, Kentucky, accompanied by all her
children, except Henry and his eldest brother. At the age of four-
teen we find him in a small drug store, in Richmond, Virginia,
kept by Mr. Richard Denny. His stay here was short, and at the
commencement of 1792 he entered the office of Mr. Peter Tinsley,-



10

 




LIFE OF HENRY CLAY. i'



clerk of the High Court of Chancery. Here he found employ-
ment more congenial to his taste than any to which he had hitherto
devoted himself, as well as more ample means for mental culture.
   The venerable chancellor Wythe, a gentleman of great personal
worth and profound erudition, attracted by his industrious habits
and amiable appearance, took him into his especial favor, gave
him the benefit of his instructions, and finally made him his aman-
uensis. By the opportunities for familiar intercourse with this
great man, which were now afforded him, the most salutary
impressions were received and rapid advances made in the acqui-
sition of knowledge. He sought to become better acquainted with
his vernacular language, and in this was aided by his friend, who
recommended several works for his perusal, calculated to assist
him. Much of his time was employed in copying the lengthy
official documents of the chancellor, who, being passionately fond
of Greek, interlarded them liberally with passages from his most
admired authors. This rendered his task peculiarly onerous, for
he was compelled to copy them in the original, and by imitation,
as he was ignorant of the language. He acquitted himself, how-
ever, to the entire satisfaction of his employer, won his esteem,
obtained much valuable, legal, and general information, and laid
the foundation of those habits of regularity and methodical appli-
cation which were subsequently of such great practical advantage
to him.
  During the year of 1796 he left the office of Mr. Tinsley and
went to reside with the attorney general of Virginia, Robert
Brooke, Esq. Here his advantages for studying law were better
than they had previously been, of which he eagerly availed himself,
and with much success. The year 1797 appears to be the only
one in which he pursued the study of law uninterrupted, yet it
must be certain that during his residence of several years in the
capital of Virginia, daily cognizant of legal proceedings, and
associating with the most eminent legal gentlemen of the period,
he acquired an amount of legal information neither inconsiderable
nor unimportant. Near the close of the year he was licensed to
practice law, by the judges of the Virginia Court of Appeals. He
entered on the duties of his profession at Lexington, Kentucky
under auspices not the most favorable, as appears from his speech
of June, 1842, at the same place. In this he says he ' was without
patrons, without friends, and destitute of the means of paying his
weekly board. I remember how comfortable I thought I should
be, if I could make pound;100, Virginia money, per annum, and with
what delight I received the first fifteen shilling fee. My hopes
were more than realized; I immediately rushed intova lucrative
practice.'
  Though success most unexpected, crowned his first efforts, he
did by no means relax his exertions to qualify himself more thor-



11l

 




1  LIFE OF HENRY CLAY.



oughly for the profession he had chosen. While other young men
of his own age, and not more eligibly situated, with regard to means
and employment, were spending their evenings in recreations suited
to their juvenile dispositions, he was eagerly conning over his own
self-directed and unaided lessons of learning. Most assiduously
did he devote his every leisure hour in enriching his mind, and in
polishing his mental armor. Modest, unassuming, apparently
feeble in constitution, languid and listless in his movements, he
exhibited little in his deportment indicative of those lofty powers
of eloquence and commanding talents, which in latent energy
were reposing in his mind. An incident, however, occurred a
short time after, at a meeting of a debating society, by which they
were brought to light. He had been a member of the society some
time, but refrained from taking an active part in its exercises.
This was attributed to those traits of character before mentioned.
At the meeting referred to, a question had been discussed at con-
siderable length and apparently with much ability, on which the
customary vote was about to be taken, when he observed in an
under tone to a person seated by him, ' the subject does not seein
to be exhausted.' The individual addressed, exclaimed, ' do not
put the question yet, Mr. Clay will speak.' The chairman by a
smile and nod of the head signified his willingness to allow the
discussion to be continued by him, who thereupon arose under every
appearance of trepidation and embarrassment. The first words
that fell from his lips were, ' Gentlemen of the jury.' His embar-
rassment now was extreme; blushing, hesitating, and stammering,
he repeated the words, ' Gentlemen of the jury.' The audience
evinced genuine politeness and good breeding, by seeming not to
notice his peculiarly unpleasant and trying condition. Suddenly
regaining his self-possession, he made a speech of such force and
eloquence, as to carry conviction and astonishment at once to the
hearts of his-hearers. Subsequently he took a prominent part in
the debates of the society, and became one of its most efficient
members.
  Shortly after, he was admitted to the Court of Quarter Sessions
of Fayette county, a court of general jurisdiction. Perhaps at no
previous period was the Lexington bar more highly distinguished
for the talents and learning of its members than at that time.
Among them were George Nicholas, John Brekenridge, William
Murray, and others, whose long established reputation and profes-
sional skill seemed to set competition at defiance. They found in
Mr. Clay, however, a most formidable competitor: one who,
though bland, courteous, and affable, in the ordinary intercourse of
life, yet on the field of civic strife was as unyielding and invulnera-
ble as the 'gnarled oalr.' His talents secured respect, and soon
placed him on a level with the highest. He possessed the unbound-
ed confidence of the community where he resided, and the ease



12

 




LIFE OF HENRY CLA Y.



with which he secured this was truly surprising. So perfectly
insinuating and winning were his ways, and so captivating his
appearance, that it was usually yielded at the first interview. Such
attributes of mind and person could not and did not fail to surround
him with influential and devoted friends, and secure for him a more
than respectable patronage. A few short months previous he stood
alone, a stranger, unaided, unfriended and destitute, amid the wilds
of the then far-off west. Now, the obstacles which then seemed
gigantic, had dwindled into insignificance. The rough and forbid-
ding aspect of the road which he had marked out for himself to
pursue, had entirely disappeared, and friends and favors poured in
upon him from all quarters, and he found himself borne along by
the breeze of popular approbation, unconscious that it had yet
been awakened.
   One to himn important result of that confidence which a discern-
 ing and generous public reposed in him, was continual professional
 employment. His acute and refined sensibilities, his philanthropic
 heart, and sympathizing disposition, joined to his profound knowl-
 edge of human nature and commanding powers of eloquence,
 pointed him out as one eminently well qualified to conduct criminal
 cases. With these, therefore, we find him much and successfully
 engaged, and it is a remarkable fact, taking into consideration the
 large number of these cases committed to his care, that never in a
 single instance was he defeated. One of the most important early
 criminal suits in which he was retained, was that of the wife of a
 very reputable farmer by the name of Phelps, a woman who stood
 high in the estimation of those who knew her, and deservedly, for
 she had led hitherto an irreproachable life. In a fit of passion,
 caused by some personal reflection of her husband's sister, she
 seized a gun and shot her through the heart. The poor girl had
 only time to exclaim, ' Sister, you have killed me,' and expired.
 The great respectability of the parties caused the most intense
 excitement, and an immense crowd assembled to witness the trial.
 Of the fact of killing the proof was most abundant, and the only
 point to be considered was that which respected the nature of the
 crime. It was argued with great ability on the part of the prose-
 cuting attorney, who labored hard to make it out a case of deliber-
 ate wilful murder; but in this he was foiled by the superior skill
 and adroitness of Mr. Clay, who not only succeeded in saving the
 life of his client, but obtained as light a verdict for imprisonment
 as the law would allow.
 In another similar suit, which occurred shortly after, he evinced,
 if possible, greater ability. Two men, Germans, father and son,
 were indicted for murder, and were tried in Varrison county. The
 act of killing, in this instance also, was proven by evidence so
 clear and strong, that it was considered not only a case of murder,
but an exceedingly aggravated one. The trial lasted five days, at



13

 




T4 LIFE OF HENRY CLAY.



the close of which he addressed the jury in the most impassioned
and eloquent manner, who were so moved by his pathetic appeals
that they rendered a verdict of manslaughter only. After another
hard day's struggle he succeeded in obtaining an arrest of judg-
ment, by which his clients were set at liberty. They expressed
their gratitude in the warmest terms to their deliverer, in which
they were joined by an old ill-favored female, the wife of one and
the mother of the other, who adopted a different mode, however,
of tendering her thanks, which was by throwing her arms around
Mr. Clay's neck and repeatedly kissing him, in the presence of the
court and spectators. Respecting her feelings, he did not attempt
to repulse her, but submitted with such grace and dignity to her
caresses as to elicit outbursts of applause.
   Mr. Clay manifested great sagacity in discerning and turning
to his advantage a technical law-point, involving doubt. The
following case illustrates this. A man by the name of Willis,
indicted for murder, escaped conviction by the disagreement of
the jury, and was put upon his trial the second time for the crime
alleged. After hearing the arguments of the prosecuting attorney,
he brought forward the well known rule of law, that the life of no
one shall be put in jeopardy twice for the same offence, and insisted
on its applicability to the case under consideration, contending that
the trial, according to that rule, was manifestly illegal, and that
therefore conviction would be impossible. At first the court was
disposed to rule out his objections, which was met on the part of
Mr. Clay with a prompt refusal to proceed with the case, unless
allowed to view it in this aspect, and actually left the room for that
purpose. He was soon recalled and permitted to proceed, and,
without the remotest reference to the testimony previously given, he
obtained an acquittal solely on the ground assumed. In only one
instance do we find him engaged as public prosecutor, in which
he procured the conviction of a slave for the murder of his over-
seer. With great reluctance he discharged the duties of his office
in this case, and has often been heard to regret that he had any
agency in procuring the execution of the friendless black.
  In civil suits he also won great celebrity. In the settlement of
important land claims, he rendered himself very conspicuous. It
is related of him that being engaged in one that involved immense
interests, he associated with him a prominent lawyer to whom he
intrusted its management, as urgent business demanded his absence
from court. Two days were occupied in discussing the legal
points that were to govern the instructions of the court to the jury,
on all of which his colleague was frustrated. Mr. Clay returned
before a decision was rendered, and without acquainting himself
with the nature of the testimony, or ascertaining the manner in
which the discussion was conducted, after conferring a few min-
utes with his associate, he prepared and presented in a few words



14

 




                   LIFE OF HENRY CLAY.                        15

the form in which he wished the instructions to be given, accompa-
nying it with his reasons, which were so convincing that the suit
was terminated in his favor, in less than an hour after he reentered
the court room.
   His genius and talents now seen and acknowledged by all had
gained for him high professional honors, and fitted him to act a
prominent part on another and more extended field -that of the
patriot politician. The date of his entrance on this field may be
placed as far back as 1797, and it is worthy of particular remark,
that the first subject he was led to investigate, on approaching it,
was one peculiarly calculated to call into exercise those prominent
features of his character, philanthropy and patriotism. Slavery,
although existing in Kentucky in its mildest form, could not and
did not appear to him otherwise than unsightly and revolting -an
evil, and one of great magnitude; nor did he hesitate to pronounce
it such. To him, its practical tendencies, in public and civil no
less than in private and social life, were obviously bad. He saw it
diffusing its baneful influences through the halls of legislation, and
twining its sable folds around the very pillars of government, con-
taminating and withering. His was not the position of an unmoved
or speculating observer; the mightiest energies, the holiest impulses
of his nature were kindled within him, to arrest its progress, to
break up the unnatural, the unhallowed alliance. But in yielding,
as he did, prompt obedience to those emotions, he did not rush
madman-like, impelled by a blind zeal, into the work, regardless of
results. The sanguinary consequences of such a course rose up
and stared hiin full in the face, with most appalling power, nor
could he shut his eyes to the palpable fact, that it would inevitably
eventuate in the utter annihilation of those very interests he sought
to protect. It appeared necessary, therefore, to advance cautiously,
to sit down, and, divested of all prejudice, wisely count the cost.
He found it requisite to act the part of a skilful and experienced
operator, not that of a conceited empiric; to have the bandage
and the liniment ready before resorting to the scalpel and caulter-
ing iron. After taking the most enlightened view of the subject,
regarding it in all its aspects and bearings, he came to the conclu-
sion, that the only feasible method which would both ensure the
safety of the body politic, and preserve inviolate their domestic
institutions, was a gradual disengagement. Hence lie sought by
every available means, through .the press