student, and invited him to enter his office. Clay gladly accepted the offer, and in No vember, 1796, he was admitted to practice, through the influence of his distinguished friend. Soon after her marriage, his mother re moved to Kentucky, and Henry followed her there, locating himself at Lexington. His fees at this time were very small, and he was often unable to pay his board; but he diligently pursued his studies, and prepared himself for the part he was soon to be called upon to perform in the great arena of life. The Kentucky bar had in its ranks a num ber of distinguished lawyers, but the young man fearlessly fought his way to the top, and rapidly acquired practice, fame and wealth. Clay was employed on many important cases, and became famous as a criminal lawyer. Early in his professional career he secured the liberty of two clients who were charged with deliberate murder. Clay ad dressed the jury in his most passionate and eloquent manner, and they were so moved, that, in spite of the evidence, they rendered a verdict of manslaughter only; the case was tried again, and he finally secured their acquittal. It was said that not one of his clients who were tried for capital crimes ever received sentence of death at the hands of the law. Henry Clay's political career began soon after his removal to Kentucky. In 1797, when the plan for a new constitution for that State was under discussion, he advocated the abolition of slavery. He said, at this time, "when we consider the cruelty of the origin of negro slavery, its nature, the character of the free institutions of the whites and the irresistible progress of public opinion throughout America, as well as in Europe, it is impossible not to anticipate frequent in surrections among the blacks in the United States; they are rational beings like our selves, capable of feeling, of reflection, and of judging of what naturally belongs to
them as a portion of the human race. By the very condition of the relation which ex ists between us, we are enemies of each other. They know well the wrongs which their ancestors suffered at the hands of our ancestors, and the wrongs which they be lieve they continue to endure, although they may be unable to avenge them. They are kept in subjection only by the superior in telligence and superior power of the pre dominant race." During the delivery of this speech, every muscle of the orator's face was at work. He was thoroughly in earnest; his whole frame was agitated, as if each part was in stinct with a separate life; his small, white hand, with its blue veins apparently dis tended almost to bursting, moved grace fully, but with all the energy of rapid and vehement gesture. He made a powerful impression, but the majority of the people were slave-holders, and for a time he was very unpopular. But Clay cared nothing for this; the clear conception, the high purpose, the firm re solve, the dauntless spirit speaking on the tongue, beaming from the eye, informing every feature, urged the whole man onward, when he knew he was right. Purity of mo tive was the most prominent characteristic of his public career. One of his personal friends gives the following anecdote : "On one occasion he did me the honor to send for and consult with me in refer ence to a step he was about to take. After stating what he proposed, I suggested, whether there would not be danger in it, whether such a course would not injure his own prospects, as well as those of the Whig party in general. His reply was, 'I did not send for you to ask what might be the effects of the proposed movement on my prospects, but whether it is right; for / -would rather be right than president! '" Clay, through all his public career, fav ored the gradual abolition of slavery, and was criticised severely by his Southern
