on on that body which
foretold his future greatness. He was now returned to his State
legislature where he was elected speaker, a position which he held for
the next two terms.

Another vacancy occurred and Mr. Clay was again elected to fill the
unexpired time in the United States Senate. This time he remained a
member of that body two years, and it was during this term that he
placed himself on record as one of the first and most powerful of early
protectionists; he also favored the admission of Louisiana as a State.
His term expired, he returned to his constituents, who promptly elected
him to a seat in the House of Representatives, and immediately upon his
appearance in that body he was chosen SPEAKER of the House!

This is an honor without parallel in the whole history of our
legislative affairs. It was at this session that John C. Calhoun and
William H. Crawford first made their appearance in the National
Congress. The duties of this high office he discharged with marked
ability and great satisfaction through that and the succeeding Congress
until 1814, when he was appointed one of the commissioners to negotiate
at Ghent, a treaty of peace with Great Britain. Abroad Mr. Clay proved
to be a diplomate of no mean ability, and during his absence he was
re-elected to the National Congress, and upon his re-appearance in that
august assembly was immediately chosen speaker.

Mr. Clay was one of the unsuccessful candidates for the presidency in
1824, receiving thirty-seven electoral votes, but became Secretary of
State under John Quincy Adams, who was chosen president by Congress. In
1831, after a temporary retirement, he was elected to the National
Senate, this time for a full term of six years. His services during this
period were very important. His compromise measure was probably, under
the circumstances, one of the most important bills that ever passed the
senate. As is well-known, it secured the gradual reduction of the tariff
for ten years, thus satisfying the South, but allowing the manufacturers
time to accommodate themselves to the change. Mr. Clay was a strong
protectionist but this was a compromise on both sides which Clay was
willing to make, even though it might be to satisfy a political
opponent--Calhoun--to whom he was bitterly opposed.

Certain it is when he saw his country in danger Henry Clay was not the
one to allow partisan hate to stand in opposition to any bill which
might tend to peace, and while