this measure had little merit in it of
itself, still it averted a civil war at that time. In 1834 President
Jackson proposed to Congress that they should give him authority to
secure indemnity from France through reprisals. Mr. Clay, as chairman of
the Committee on Foreign Affairs, reported that Congress would not be
justified in so doing, as the neglect on the part of France was clearly
unintentional, thus war was once more averted through the influence of
the 'great pacifier.'

At the presidential election of 1839 Mr. Clay, General Harrison, and
General Scott were submitted to the Whig Convention as candidates. Mr.
Clay was clearly the choice of the convention, but by one of those
strange movements which so often occur at such times General Harrison
was nominated. Many of Clay's friends were disposed to bolt, but Mr.
Clay promptly acknowledged the ticket, and it was elected. Then followed
the death of the President in office, the obnoxious vetoes of the newly
installed President--Tyler--the division of the Whig party, the
nomination of Mr. Clay at this late inopportune time and the election of
Mr. Polk.

At the next convention Mr. Clay was a very prominent candidate for the
nomination, but Mr. Taylor's military career seemed to carry everything
with it and he was nominated and elected. Had Mr. Clay been nominated at
either this convention or in 1839 he would have been elected, but like
Webster, the presidential honors were not essential to perpetuate his
name. During the year 1849, as the people of Kentucky were about to
remodel their constitution, Mr. Clay urged them to embody the principles
of gradual emancipation, but they refused to do so.

He was again returned to the senate, and during this term brought out
the compromise act of 1850. This measure, while recognizing no legal
authority for the existence of slavery in the newly acquired territory
of New Mexico, yet declared that in the establishment of territorial
governments in such territory no restriction should be made relative to
slavery. It also provided for the admission of California without
restrictions on the subject of slavery, and opposed the abolition of
slavery in the District of Columbia. The bill carried with slight
changes. Mr. Clay being very feeble was in his seat but few days of the
session.

In 1852 he gradually sank until on June 29th, 1852, he died. In him
intellect, reason, eloquence, and courage united to form a character fit
to comm