The penny press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1859-1860, 1860-01-12
The Kentucky Free soiler--C Cassius M
Clay, '-id"


Who is cassius NJ. CLAY, who, on slave soil,
90 boldly denounoes the slave institution? He
was born in Madison County, In which he now
lives, on the 9th October, 1910. He came Of
sturdy, Independent, fighting stock. His
father was General Green CLAY, who was born
in Powhsttan County, Va, In 1757, and was
descended from noted British Grenadisr.
Green Clay came to the County of Ken
tucky, then belonging to Virginia, when he
was but q youth, and divided his time in sur
veying lands, and In aiding TO sxpel the
savagss from the vast wilderness. His expo.
surss were Of the seversst kind, his chain
carriers even dsssrting him; while, for his own
safety from Indians, hs had often to sleep at
night in thick canebrakes, in hollow logs, and
in tops Of trees. He aftsrward engaged in
political affairs, and was sent from Kentucky
to the House Of Delegates, Of virginis, to re-
present the baekwoods frontier.
In August 1899, he was a member Of the
Convention thst framed tho Constitution of
Kentucky. He was for many years repre-
sentative of Madison County in the Kentucky
Legislature. He was Major General of the
Kentucky Militia, and with great confidence
in his bravery, three thousand troops were
intrusted to, him as Brigadisr- General, by
Kentucky, and boldly these neighbors came to
our rescue at Fort Meigs ON the 4th of May,
1918. His prudence and bravery occasionsd
General Harrison TO confide the care of the
Fort to General Green Clay. This sterling
Kentuokisu died on the 31st of October, 1926,
aged ssventy-two years.
Cassius Marcellus Clay was afforded an op-
portunity to discipline his powers by educa-
ton. He graduated at Yale College in 1882,
and on returning to Madison County, repre-,
sented that portion of his native State in the
Legislature during 1855, and in ls4o. He
had acted with the Wing party of his State
and attended the National Convention of 1889,
which nominated General Harrison as candi-
date for the Presidency. We heard his defense
Of Henry Clay during the canvass Of 1874, at
Boston.
On the Sd of June, 1845, he commenced tho
iasus Of a weekly anti-slavery paper, Untitled
TIp Amsrieas, at Lexington, Ky. During
his confinement to his room from sickness, in
August, his press and types were forcibly re.
moved from that place and sent to this city.
He conducted the paper revived at this point
for awhile, bat the Mexican War having
broken out, he on the 7th of June, 1s48, vol.
unteered, and went to the war as Captain of
tho "0ld Infantry" as mounted men. This
was the Oldest military company west of the
Allegheny Mountains. On the Esd of Jan
uary, ls47, hs was taken prisoner at Encar
nacion by the Mexicans. By his courageous
interposition he saved from massacre all of
his fsllow-prisonsrs. During tho same year,
on his return to Kentucky, he was presented
with sword. In 1851 he left the Wing party
after their assent to the Compromise Meas
ures, and by offering himself as a Freesoil
candidate for Governor of Kentucky, received
votes enough to defeat Archibald Dixon, the
Wing candidate, and secured for the first time
. Democratic Governor-Lazarus W. Powell.
Mr.. Clay, as announced by him, answered
on the 10th inst, at Frankfort, KY, the argu-
menh urged by Governor Magonin and Vice
President Breekinridge, against the Rspub-
lican party. He spoke in the State.house
yard. The Hall was not permitted him.