New-York tribune., 1903-07-23

varied and in many respects remarkable ca
reer was that of General Cassus Marcellus Clay.
He was born in Madison County, KY. October 19,
1870 of Virginia parentage, and inherited large
fortune in land and slaves from his father, Green
Clay. His education was received at Pennsylvania
University and at Yale College, and he was gradu-
ated at the latter in 1892 While in college he heard
William Lloyd Garrison speak and so i'm
pressed that he came TO believe property In slaves
to be wrong. At the centennial celebration Of the
birth of Washington at Yale he was the orator. and
made a remarkable speech in favor Of freeing
slaves 1t created excitement in the North and
CONSERVATION in the South, but young Clay went
back to his Kentucky home prepared to stand by
his principles which he defended with his life on
many occasions. He entered on the practice Of
law and was elected to the Kentucky Legislature
in 1885 and reelected in 1887 and in 1S40, but his
pronounced advocacy of anti-slavery doctrines led
to his defeat in 1871 He denounced by
both political parties and assailed by pulpit
press and platform speakers. Even his life was
threatened and he had to go heavily armed and
had q number OF narrow escapes and exciting
encounters. He opposed the annexation of Texas
and started an anti-slavery newspaper in LeXlng-
ton in 1915 called The True American" which
served to stir up more fervent opposition to him
than before. He resisted successfully an attack
on the Office. but while he Ill with brain fever
the presses and fixtures of the Office were carted
off to Cincinnati.
When the Mexican War broke out, Clay. although
he opposed 1t. enlisted and commanded a company
OF cavalry He made a prisoner, but was
exchanged, and a sword was presented to him on
his return home.
In 1850 he was the anti-savery candidate for
Governor of Kentucky, but suffered defeat. It was
in this campaign that he had bloody duel with
Angus NJ Turner OF his opponent who died
from his wounds. but Clay recovered after six
months, in course of which his life was despaired
OF several times. He especially expert with
the bowie knife and the pistol and used both with
terrible effect in political alteration with Major
r. e
but who recovered.
In the early days of the Republican party Cassfus
NJ Clay was one Of the active in its councils
and after the election of Lincoln he was appointed
Minister to Russia. Before his departure from
Washington in 1861, ne took an active part in the
preparation for the defence Of the city from the
threatened Confederate attack, and organized the
iay t Bat{aGn WhiGh guarded the city until the the
ceeded to st. Petersburg, but returned in a year
as ne haq oeen appointed a major geenral OF vol
uhteers Dut ne declined to take active service In
the field until slavery was abolished in the States
and remained there as Minister until 1863.
prietor in Kentucky, and, while taking an active
interest in public affairs took especially promi
for President in 1872, Samuel J. Tilden in 1876 and
James G, Blaine in 1854; The part which he took
burg was active but the credit for the acquisition
Of that Territory was never fully app9rtoned be;
In 1877 General Clay shot and killed negro,
Perry White, whom he thought was planning to
attack him. and the coroners jury found that he
shot in self defence.
General Clay in early life married a Miss Mar
cellus, Of Lexington, who bore him several chill
dren, but afterward secured a divorce from him
There was much newspaper notoriety given to & the
teen years, Dora Richardson, in 1897, when he was
eighty-seven years old. She was the daughter of
who had been his hOusekeeper and he
had become greatly interested in the child But
his child wife deserted him for a younger
the following year. and he secured a divorce from
her.
In his later years he had many strange notions
in regard to the danger Of being attacked and his
fine house White Hall, practically a fortress.
One OF the latest reports about him that he
desired a reconciliation with his former child wife
4 volume Of his speeches published in 1S4S,
and he issued THE Life. Memoirs. Writings and
Speeches of Cassius NJ. Clay" in two volumes. in
1886.