The Penn's Grove record., 1897-11-19

HENRY CLAY
was born in Hanover county, Virginia,
April 18th, 1777. His father, a Baptist
minister in humble circumstances, dled
when Henry was only four years old
Ills mother, Il Oma of exemplary
character, was thus LETT a widow with
seven small children, and Henry's edu'
CaliUnal advantages were very limited.
We may get some idea of his ~disadvan-
tages when we think of = poor widowed
mother with seven children TO provide
for. He received what little tuition he
had in IA log CABIN school house from
very Indifferent teachers and at the age
of fifteen was lelt to provide for him
self. In the meantime his mother mar
ried again.
Tie steptather being anxious for The
success OF the children, secured Tor
Henry the position of clerk in IL retail
store in Richmond but noting the lads
brightness and promise used his lDiiiu-
ence in obtaining for Henry an appoint
ment i'll the office of The Clerk OF the
High Court of Chancery. where lie re-
manned four years. Having attracted
the favorable attention of Chancellor
Wythe he became his amanuensis, and
enjoyed his intimacy during the great
er portion of this period until he enter
ed the office of Robert Brooke, then
AttCrney-GeneTal of Virginia, and af-
ter a years study was admitted to the
bar at the age of twenty.
Not satisfied with the success he met
with in his native State he moved to
Lexington, Kentucky and by his ex-
cellent addresses, cordiality and orator
ical gifts, soon won popularity aud very
soon built uL IA lucrative practice.
With a rare tact for making friends, a
ready talent waiting TO be instructed
and a strong determination in seeking
| opportunities, lie quickly began TO show
dawnings of the power which alter
wards distinguished him. Mr.. Clay
once said; 81 ow cess in life to
one single fact,A that at an
early age | comm, nd continued
for some years the ice OF daily
reading and speaking contents OF
some historical orr 4 ntilic BOOK.
These off hand effort Ee sometimes
made in a cornfield, 1 Alers, III the
forest, ami not untre EIy IN some
distant balm viii the and OK Tor
my only auditors LIT Nthis that L
am iuUebted far The III Z, that have
shaped and mouth d uni edestIny."
Rising rapidly by ioice Of his genius,
he soOn made himself felt III State aud
nation. He was peculiarly winning IN
his manners and AN eminent and stern
political antagonist once teElSed an III
PRODUCTION to him on the ground OF Il
determination not to be magnitized by
personal contact, us he had known 9TH
er good ha,ss ut Clay to be. United
with this suavity was a wonderful will
and an inileXible honor.
In early life he turned his attention
to politics. lu1799. When the revision
Of the Kentucky constitution WAS un'
derLaken, he took an active aud honor
abe part on the side Of The minority,
and lisking his popularity he strongly
advocated the abolition of slavery. lie
was elected to the State Legislature III
1903 where his elCquence brought him
into prominence In 1906 he was chos-
en- TO Iepresentillis State in the U. 5.
Senate to ill fhe unexpired term of
General Adaip', who had resigned. lie
toRlHsS ,.ls part IN the public
busiafA GEafasl aStions on a
variety of topics and acting ssSefai
committees: $780,
His first speech on the NY for "
bridge across the Potomac in asca Aons
was Que of the most earn Hyecfeg'
Of the system Of internal 1ooSe n
He was elected and iee BAI ammoie
times to the Senate and kMest4xsaHs
resentatives No one " saN
interested in our nation we"
Henry Clay and he MAJ
his public life. He Wa
home manufactures and 49,,
claims put fs1nglaud and be-
came the leauE E87he younger and
more ardent Z of the party who
favored wal NNAHu gland. In 1914 he
was sent as O. Ne f9U-4Se commissioners to
sign the treaE ty of peace at Client, where
MS acutenes1 k%secuTed for America some
auVantagtS. fDuring his absence he
was again 81 |ected 10 the House of Rep.
re~sentatiydnf
In the leeuth Congress lie was
again made Speaker and III the ensuing
session plead Ned earnestly in behalf of
The recognize hon of the South American
republics, y vi lie labored ..also, to re-
move al European influence from
America
In lSk the admission of Missouri
was comm silered and after much discuss
ion was admlttsd q 7 slave State, 1921,
t T'sn s 'ns spnproqss @rd nroG;bitsG Sy Il ola al,
olhef territories wesT of the Mississippi
ahuiorth OF paralal DGO 81, the south
boundary of Missm.t He declined a
lee,ect,on 10 the fol lowlng Congress,
and did not agsin .rmFpsas in active pol
ltics until 1929 when he became a can
didate Tor The Presidency. with Craw-
ford, Jackson End Adams. Clay was
defeated, Adatns chosen and soon after
his inaugurati&n appointed Clay Score.
taty OF State. }IIe retired with MI.
Adams in 1929.
In 1881 he was elected to the Senate
where he introduced the famous tariff