The Great Commoner. In private life Clay was generous and charitable to a fault. His door and his purse were alike open to the friendless stranger and the unfortunate neighbor. Frank, open, and above the meanness of de ception himself, and consequently never searching for duplicity and treachery in those around him, he more than once suf fered from the vile ingratitude of men who had been cherished by his bounty and up held by his influence. One of his household gave the following picture of Clay, as she knew him: "Life with him was solemn and earnest, and yet all about him was cheerful. I never heard him utter a jest; there was an unvarying dignity in his manner; and yet the playful child regarded him fearlessly and lovingly. Few men indulged their families in as free, confidential and familiar intercourse as did this great statesman. Indeed, to those who had an opportunity of observing him in his own house, it was evident that his cheerful and happy home had attractions for him superior to those which any other place could offer." In the year 183 1, Clay returned to the Senate, in which body he remained until the summer of 1842. During these eleven years he was prominent in public affairs and made many powerful speeches on the great ques tions of the day. In 1835 he received a severe blow in the loss of a favorite daugh ter; all his daughters died early, and of his three sons, one was in a lunatic asylum, another was dissipated, and a third, his favorite son Henry, was killed at the battle of Buena Vista in 1847. The most remarkable controversial per sonal discussion that ever occurred in Con gress took place in 1838 between Clay and Calhoun. The debate lasted, several days, and it was indeed a conflict of giants. This quarrel grew out of the change of the rela tions of Calhoun with the Democrats; it was the most elaborate and finished effort of Clay's career. The exciting debate final-
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ly ended in a spirit of courtesy and good will, but the controversy was renewed again with great bitterness. When Clay resigned his seat in 1842, and took leave of the Sen ate in a speech of great pathos and power, Calhoun, overcome by his feelings, tendered his hand to his retiring enemy, and the rec onciliation was complete. From 1822 to 1848, a period of twenty-six years, Henry Clay lived the strange life of a candidate for the presidency, and such were his sincerity and healthfulness that he came out of this fiery trial still a patriot and a man of honor. When charged in the Senate with using his position for his own ends, he replied. " For many a long year, Mr. Presi dent, I have aspired to an object far higher than the presidency; that is, doing my duty under all circumstances, in every trial, irre spective of parties and* without regard to friendships or enmities, but simply in refer ence to the prosperity of the country." In the elections of 1832, 1839 and 1844, Clay was a candidate for the presidency, and each time was defeated, but not con quered. In the contest of 1844, the party which had placed Clay in nomination started with vast chances in its favor, which were greatly increased by the dissensions existing in the other party. Yet Clay was beaten, and by a man far inferior to him in every respect; there is no doubt that his want of success was due to his views on the slavery question. The following is an extract from his great speech on the Oregon question before the House, March 16, 1846: — "But I oppose war, not simply on the patriotic ground of a citizen looking to the freedom and prosperity of his own country, but on still broader grounds, as a friend of improvement, civilization and progress. Viewed in reference to them, at no period has it ever been so desirable to preserve the general peace which now blesses the world.
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coveries and inventions have multiplied be
