HENRY CLAY

Henry Clay was born in Virginia in 1777. His youth was one of vicissitudes, but he finally obtained some education, and was admitted to the bar in 1797. He then removed to Lexington, Kentucky, where he soon gained a large and lucrative practice. In 1803 he was made a member of the State Legislature, and in 1806 was sent to the United States Senate to fill the unexpired term of General Adair, who had resigned his seat. Clay, in the short time of his service, made himself prominent as a statesman and orator, and in 1809, having in the interim served as Speaker of the State Legislature, he was again elected to the Senate. In 1811 he was sent to the House of Representatives, and was at once chosen as Speaker. With the exception of a short absence on a diplomatic mission, he continued in office until 1820, when he declined reëlection and for a time retired to private life. He reëntered Congress in 1823, being again elected Speaker, but upon the election of Mr. Adams to the Presidency, for which Clay had been a candidate, Clay was appointed Secretary of State. He retired from this position in 1829, and in 1831 was again sent to the Senate. Here he remained until 1842, when he retired from political life. In 1849, however, he was persuaded to accept reëlection as a Senator, and filled that position until his death in 1852.

His

Clay was one of the greatest of American orators. education was not of the first order, and this militated against his success, but his natural ability overcame this disadvantage. His personal integrity gave force to his words. His vocabulary was not extensive, but he made excellent use of it, and his combinations of words often rose to the dignity and grace of poetry.

There are many excellent biographies of Clay. Those which are most comprehensive and interesting are Life of

Henry Clay, by George D. Prentice (1831); Life of Henry Clay, by Epes Sargent (edited and completed by Horace Greeley, 1852); Life and Speeches of Henry Clay, by Rev. Calvin Colton (6 vols., revised ed., 1864); and Henry Clay, by Carl Schurz (2 vols., 1887).

ON THE INCREASE OF THE NAVY

Clay.

The following speech was delivered on the occasion of the debate as to increasing the naval forces of America by building ten new frigates. A collision with England was imminent, and the need of new vessels was apparent, yet the motion to strike out the clause directing the building of these vessels was lost only by the small majority of five in a vote of ninety-nine. Clay's speech undoubtedly was a factor in the victory of his party, and is interesting both as a specimen of his earlier style and as showing the early feeling upon a topic which has always been of importance in the United States and has called forth perennial discussion. The reference to Cuba and Spain is also, in the light of subsequent events, of interest.

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SI do not precisely agree in opinion with any gentleman who has spoken, I shall take the liberty of detaining the committee a few moments while I offer to their attention some observations. I am highly gratified with the temper and ability with which the discussion has hitherto been conducted. It is honorable to the House, and, I trust, will continue to be manifested on many future occasions.

On this interesting topic a diversity of opinion has existed almost ever since the adoption of the present government. On the one hand, there appear to me to have been attempts made to

precipitate the nation into all the evils of naval extravagance, which have been productive of so much mischief in other countries; and, on the other, strongly feeling this mischief, there has existed an unreasonable prejudice against providing such a competent naval protection for our commercial and maritime rights as is demanded by their importance, and as the increased resources of the country amply justify.

The attention of Congress has been invited to this subject by the President, in his message delivered at the opening of the session. Indeed, had it been wholly neglected by the Chief Magistrate, from the critical situation of the country and the nature of the rights proposed to be vindicated, it must have pressed itself upon our attention. But the President in his message observes: "Your attention will, of course, be drawn to such provisions on the subject of our naval force as may be required for the service to which it is best adapted. I submit to Congress the seasonableness also of an authority to augment the stock of such materials as are imperishable in their nature or may not at once be attainable." The President, by this recommendation, clearly intimates an opinion that the naval force of this country is capable of producing effect; and the propriety of laying up imperishable materials was no doubt suggested for the purpose of making additions to