Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1828-06-14

sooner perceived tnc nut S'"i"S "
manners OF young Clay, Than he became ns
patron and instructor. with hlih' tue -
nban. who possessed no recommendation from
friends or fortune, found an ASYLUM q
a home. Under the auspices of this kind oeh.
factor. Mr.. CLAY soon acquired a proficiency
in the law; and in the autumn OF IVY, &c
moved 10 Lexington, in Kentucky, "here ne
engaged in the practice Of his profession wiz
such success, that he was the next year inuuo.u
to marry, and received the hand OF the aaug"'
Ter IF Coionel Hart, who had emlgratea tro.n
near Haperstown in Maryland, His domestic
attachments. however; did not In the least "ea'
ken either his strong sense OF duty TO MS couh>
,rv or that ardent love of liberty Tor when ne
had been so distinguished, for in the same year
that he married, he commenced thGt pohtiea'
career, which.he has ever since so ~unremi'e"s,
" nursued and which has conferred such signal
benefits upon his country.
twas in that year (l7e8) that the memora>
BILE alien and edition laws became the SUBJECT
of 60 much contention throughout the Union;
and in none of The states was The disputatioh
more warmly maintained than in Kentucky.
In the midst Of this angry and doubtful con-
HIct, Mr.. Clay unhesitatingly threw himself IN.
TO the ranks of the opposition, and youEg as ne
was, he was soon able TO produce the most pow
erful and fortunate effect. In his zeal Tor the
rights, he sometimes addressed the crowd from
a wagon, a ~scafold, or a cabin, or In a court
house, jus, as an opportunity presented. twas
on these occasions that the dawn OF his uhfiV'
allied eloquence was displayed. The people lis
tened with delight to his speeches, and became
speedily convinced Of the unconstiIutionality
and pernicious tendency Of the contested laws.
A young man Of such powers OF mind, open
.-l o.e nj rsonlttI0p
could rot be suffered 10 remain long in private
life, s. as soon as age rendered him elleihie,he
was elected to a sea, in the state Legislature, al>
though he was al the time absent from heheieh'
bourhood. The elections in Kentucky contin-
ne open for three days. On the last day OF the
es ction he happened to return home, and re
ceiyed the first intimation OF his being a candi>
da,e from some Of the electors whom, as he ap.
preached the vicinity Of Lexington he meet re-
turning from the polls.
From this time, Mr.. Clay continued to be a
leading member urthe House Of representatives
of Kentucky, until 1906, when he was elected
to the Senate of the Unired States, to serve me
remainder Of the term for which governor a"
dair, who had resigned, was elected.
The nexr session, Mr.. Clay again entered the
Legislature Of Kentucky Of which he continued
an aCtive,and efficient member, until 1909, when
he was again transferred to he Senate Of the u
nited States. During this second period OF his
services in the National Senate he greatly dis
t,nguished himself Oh TWO memorable ques-
tons. The first related TO the occupa ion, by
President Madison, of that part Of Louisiana
which lies betwe n The Mississippi and the Per
| dido, and i. usually Called Yves: Florida. His
spee CHI on this OCCASION was a triumphant VIM
dica,ion of Mr.. Madison's conduct, AID was
generally admiusd-i rprrIrJrS N
question, aud to afford stronger proofs Of lis va
lidity than that made by any other member
Mr.. Clay entered the Housr Of Representatives
on the 4th OF November, 1911, aud on the same
day was elected Speaker. In that station, ii is
belle eyed that no man ever acquitted himself
with more Fl mness, dignity and importantly,
and vet no man ever presided over a body mo'e
| violent, agitated by the d,ssenlions OF party
than the Lower House ofCongress has IRE quent-
" been since he occupied The chair. During the
6rstperiod Of mis- presiding over Its delibera-
lions, preparations were made for the war which
was declared in 1912 He was interchangeable in
his exertions II maintain the cause Of The couu.
try, & 10 place il in a condition 10 NEE the crisis.
While Mr.. Clay remained In the House Re-
pre- sen,atives he re,er ceased encouraging the
disheartsned, and contributing all in his power
W - NiSO'oho Di'SN ~ ~ NV -" - oS-
| clard in favor Of the imposition Of taxes for
that object, Immediately At its commencement,
| which would have avcrtrd many OF the subse-
gurnt financial embarrassmenIs; bo, he, Mr..
Chev.s, and heir coadjarors were overruled by
the cautious policy Of the tabinet.
Wrhou solicitation, and we believe, even
without expectation on his part, he was in
January 1914, appointed one Of The ministers 10
treat for peace File signed the treaty al Client,
and repaired 10 London, where he assisted in
coucluding NE convention Of London, the ba.
sis OF all our subsequent commercial policy.
During his ahse zee from the United States,
ana without his knowledge; he was again elect
ed from his cid ~dtstric, to III. House Of Repre-.
sent,t,ves. On his re urn entertaining some
constitutional scrupi.s abou, the validity of
this proceeding. he resigned, and was immedi-
a,ely re- ieclrd in tie { Il Of 1915. on taking his
seat IN the House. OF Representatives, he was
once more placed in the Spe ker's chair, where
he remain, d until the las, session of The sis.
leenth Congress, when his rlvate affairs not
permitting him to go to Washington until
sometime after the session, he resigned the