CLAY 



1412 



CLAY 



old. He had few opportunities to attend 

 school, and was forced to take a position in a 

 retail business house at the age of fourteen, 

 but he overcame his early disadvantages by 

 his studious habits, love of reading and a 

 naturally keen and alert mind. Having readily 

 mastered the principles of law, he was admitted 

 to the Virginia bar in 1797 and began practice 

 at Lexington, Ky. Two years later, as a mem- 

 ber of the state constitutional convention, he 

 began his long political career. By this time, 

 also, he had won local fame as a brilliant orator 

 and as a lawyer who was able to win his cases. 



Clay was sent to the legislature of Kentucky 

 in 1803, and in 1806-1807 and 1810-1811 filled 

 unexpired terms in the United States Senate. 

 When first chosen Senator he had not reached 

 the legal age required by the Constitution, and 

 could not qualify for several months. In 1811, 

 then thirty-four years of age, he entered the 

 National House of Representatives, and was 

 elected Speaker on the first day of the session. 

 Five times thereafter he was reflected to the 

 House and to the Speakership, holding office 

 continuously until 1825, except for the term 

 between 1821 and 1823, when he returned to his 

 law practice. At the very beginning of his 

 career in the House he won popularity as an 

 advocate of the War of 1812, and at its close 

 was chosen one of the peace commissioners; he 

 signed the Treaty of Ghent (1814), which con- 

 cluded the struggle. 



Resuming his activities in Congress on his 

 return from the peace conference, Clay became 

 a vigorous champion of the protective tariff 

 and of the government policy of internal im- 

 provements (see CUMBERLAND ROAD), but these 

 issues were soon overshadowed by the greater 

 problems involved in the slavery question, 

 destined to be the dominant issue for years 

 to come. In 1820 he used his influence to 

 secure the passage of the Missouri Compromise 

 (which see), whereby Missouri entered the 

 Union as a slave state. At this time he was 

 first called "The Great Pacificator." 



Though he was opposed to slavery and never 

 hesitated to denounce what he called a "stain 

 on the national character," the leading purpose 

 in his public life was, in his own words, "the 

 preservation of the Union," and in this patriotic 

 ideal may be found the explanation of all his 

 efforts to allay the strife between the pro- and 

 anti-slavery parties. To him the quickest and 

 most effective means of keeping peace was the 

 policy of compromise. 



In 1824 Clay was an unsuccessful candidate 



for the Presidency against Andrew Jackson, 

 William H. Crawford of Georgia, and John 

 Quincy Adams. Clay and Adams were then 

 leaders of the newly-founded National Repub- 

 lican party, later known as the Whig. As no 

 candidate had a majority of the electoral votes, 

 the election was thrown into the House of 

 Representatives. Clay, being fourth on the 

 list, was ineligible, and therefore gave his 

 personal support to Adams, who appointed 

 Clay his Secretary of State. This appointment 

 was the basis for a widely-circulated charge of 

 corruption between Adams and Clay, which, 



HENRY CLAY 



though unfounded, was used to the latter's 

 injury throughout his career, especially by his 

 bitter political rival, Andrew Jackson. The 

 harsh language used by John Randolph in 

 denunciation of this supposed "deal" led to a 

 duel between himself and Clay, in which 

 neither was injured. 



Adams showed excellent judgment in his 

 selection of Clay as head of the State Depart- 

 ment, but the latter felt that a seat in Con- 

 gress offered the best opportunities for political 

 leadership ; moreover, he considered his absence 

 from the House a hindrance in the attainment 

 of what was now the great ambition of his life 

 the Presidency. Having vainly opposed the 

 candidacy of Jackson in the election of 1828, he 

 retired to private life at the end of Adams' 

 administration. 



