Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1872-04-25
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HENRY CLAY.

HENRY CLAY.
1t will be twenty years next 29th of June
since his death but he left such an impress
upon his country and countrymen, that an
enthusiasm still arises at the mere mention Of
his name. Henry Clay was born in humble
circumstances, at place called "the Slashes,"
near Richmond, Virginia. on the 18th of
April, 1777. His birthplace explains the or
igin of the soubriquet by which he was known
in early life-"The Mill Boy of the Slashes"
Mr. Clay was the seventh son of Rev. John
Clay, poor Baptist preacher His mother
(Elizabeth) was a daughter Of George Hud-
son, of Hanover, Va. She married John
Clay while in her fifteenth year, and gave him
eight children. By her second husband,
Henry Watkins, she became the mother of
eight additional children. She was the faith
ful mother of sixteen scions. She died at
Woodford county, Kentucky, in 1927. Four
of her children by each husband were living
in 184S, but we think all are dead at the pres
ent time.
After receiving only common school edu.
cation-which was poorin those days-Henry
Clay commenced the study Of the law at the
age of nineteen, and such was his progress
that he was admitted to the bar in less than
twelve months. In 1899 he emigrated from
Virginia to Kentucky, and commenced the
practice of his profession at Lexington, which
became his permanent home His first ap-
pearance as politician was his election as a
member of the convention to revise the Con-
stitution of Kentucky. In this body he en-
deavored to secure clause in the Constitution
for the emancipation of the slaves, and there
by incurred much unpopularity. In 1903 he
became member of the Legislature of Ken.
lucky, and in 1906 was elected to the United
States Senate to succeed Gen. Adair, who re-
signed. In this new sphere Of action Mr..
Clay's remarkable powers of eloquence and
argument found full scope, and bis reputation
soon became national. After the expiration
of his Senatorial term he was again elected to
the Legislature of Kentucky and became
Speaker of its House. In 1909 he was again
chosen to the United States Senate, to fill an
unexpired term Of two years. In 1911 he was
returned to Congress as member Of the
House of Representatives, and was chosen by
that body its Speaker, which he filed with
marked ability till 1914, when he was ap-
pointed one of the Commissioners to negotiate
at Ghent Treaty of Peace with Great Bri-
tain. (While he was in England there
was great feeling about Napoleon, who, defea-
ted at Waterloo, wanted to emigrate to the
United States. Lord Liverpool asked Mr..
Clay if Bonaparte would not be dangerous
man in America. 20, no." said Harry; "we
should be glad to welcome him, and would
make good Democrat of him.") Here he
proved himself as skillful diplomatist as q
statesman. He returned home in 1916, and
was at once reelected to Congress. 1t was at
this time that he shone conspicuously as an
advocate of the cause of the South American
Republics. About the year 1920 he identified
himself on the Tariff question as the champion
of protection to Domestic Industry, and also
as an advocate of Internal Improvements.
He also took part in the adjustment of the
famous Missouri Compromise. -
After retirement of three years from pub
lie life in consequence of pecuniary embar-
rassments, Mr.. Clay was again returned to
Congress in 1923, and was again elected
Speaker of the House. and ably seconded the
great New Englander, Daniel Webster, in be-
half of the Greek nation, then struggling
against the Turks.
In the Presidential election of 1924 Henry
Clay first appeared as candidate, and re-
ceived 81 electoral votes; Andrew Jackson
had SO and John Quincy Adams "a, and
Mr.. Crawford Al. There being no choice, the
election devolved upon the House Of Repre-
sentatives Mr.. Clay declared for Mr.. Adams,
and he was elected President, receiving the
vote of 13 out of "a States. Mr. Adams
made Mr.. Clay his Secretary of State, which
gave rise to the famous charge Of Bargain
and Corruption" Mr.. Clays acceptance un-
der the circumstances was mistake, as he
afterwards acknowledged.
Mr.. Clay fought two duels during his politi-
cal career. The first was with Humphrey
Marshall, in 1908, and the other was with the
eccentric John Randolph, in 1926. When
Clay was made Secretary of State by Adams,
Randolph exclaimed in the House-"A union
of the Puritan and the Blacklegw This
caused the duel, Randolph discharging his
pistol in the air. When Randolph was liter.
ally dying, he went to the House to hear
Clay's voice once more. Clay saw him, went
to him, and the great men became reconciled
in each others arms.
In 1881 Mr.. Clay was once more returned
to the United States Senate, and in 1882 run
against General Jackson for President, but was
defeated. He continued Senator till 1912.
In 1874 he was again the Whig candidate for
President, but was beaten by James K. Polk,
the Democratic candidate In 1849, and for
the last time Mr.. Clay was reelected to the
Senate from Kentucky, and made his presence
felt by his support Of the compromise act of
1850, the same which cost Daniel Webster his
popularity in New England. Mr.. Clay's
health began to fail about this time, and he
made voyage to the West Indies, and also
came to Rhode Island, and spent some time
at Newport. He went to Washington for the
last time in 1852, where he expired on the
29th of June of that year. His death caused
profound sensation throughout the Republic,
second only to the death of Daniel Webster,
which occurred on the following 24th of Oc-
tober. Never before in one year, except in
1926, when, on the 4th of July, Thomas JEFF
ferson and John Adams died, has the Repub-
lie lost two such noble sons. Clay and Web
ster-giants in intellect-yet how dissimilar
in characteristics Webster had greater log
ic, but Clay more persuasion of eloquence.
Webster was colossal, cold and distant-a fit
type of his White Mountain home Clay was
the Great Commoner, who won every mans
heart by his suavity. One of his eminent po-
litical adversaries refused to be introduced to
him, "because," said he, II do not want to be
brought within the influence Of his person"
A high compliment to that personal fascina.
tion which was also marked characteristic of
Napoleon. Daniel Webster had not bit Of
it. Mr.. Clay adapted himself to every per-
son as we'll as circumstance. When he came