The Great Commoner. But as far as my situation in early life is concerned, I may, without presumption, say it was more my misfortune than my fault. But, however I regret my want of ability to furnish the gentleman with a better speci men of my powers of verbal criticism, I will venture to say it is not greater than the dis appointment of this committee as to the strength of his argument." When Clay took his seat in the House, the great question was whether the United States should longer submit to encroach ments by Great Britain, and some of his ablest speeches were made in support of the war policy; finally war was declared in 1 8 1 2. In the course of the spirited debates that preceded that great event, Clay com pelled Randolph to submit to the rules of the house, a not very easy task, as the sena tor from Virginia had long been to the house like "a bull in a china shop." During the war, Clay vigorously sup ported the administration, and his glowing words stirred the heart of the nation. Al most everything he said and did was illum ined by a grand conception of the destiny of his country, a glowing national spirit, a lofty patriotism. Whether he thundered against British tyranny, or urged the recog nition of the South American republics, or entreated for compromise and conciliation regarding the tariff or slavery — there was always ringing through his speech a fervid plea for his country, a zealous appeal in be half of the honor and the future glory of the great republic. Clay was a second time chosen speaker, in 18 1 3, but in the following January he re signed to accept the appointment of com missioner to treat with Great Britain for peace. He went to Europe, and peace was finally concluded on the 24th of December, 1 8 1 4, at Ghent. He was firm and intensely patriotic at all times, and it was a just judg ment which he pronounced upon himself when he said, " if any one desires to know the leading and paramount object of my
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public life, the preservation of this Union will furnish him the key!" Soon after he returned from abroad, Clay was re-elected to Congress, and on the 4th of December, 181 5, he was chosen speaker for the third time, which office he held for the following ten years, with the exception of one term; he took a conspicuous part in all the great debates that occurred during that period, and his fame and influence con tinued to increase. President Madison of fered him a place in his cabinet, or any foreign mission he might select, but he de clined the honors. When General Lafayette came to Wash ington, in December, 1824, he visited the House of Representatives, and Mr. Clay, as speaker, made the address of welcome, in the course of which he said: — "The vain wish has been sometimes in dulged that Providence would allow the pat riot, after death, to return to his country, to contemplate the intermediate changes which had taken place; to view the forests felled, the cities built, the mountains lev elled, the canals cut, the highways con structed, the progress of the arts, the ad vancement of learning, and the increase of population. General, your present visit to the United States is a realization of the con soling object of that wish. You are in the midst of posterity. Everywhere you must have been struck with the great changes, physical and moral, which have occurred since you left us. Even this very city, bear ing a venerated name, alike endeared to you and to us, has since emerged from the forest which then covered its site. In one respect you behold us unaltered, and this is in the sentiment of continued devotion to liberty, and of ardent affection and pro found gratitude to your departed friend, the father of his country, and to you, and to your illustrious associates in the field and in the cabinet, for the multiplied blessings which surround us, and for the very privi lege of addressing you which I now exer
