Taking his seat in the Senate in the winter of 1849, and still more alarmed at the fierce dis play of sectional feeling on the slavery question, Clay interposed in the cause of peace with the series of resolutions subsequently known as the Compromise of 1S50 (see COMPROM ISE MEAS URES) ; and, in a stirring speech, delivered in spite of his advanced age and increasing in firmity, with all his accustomed energy and fire. lie appealed with effect to the patriotism of his hearers for the restoration of harmony and the preservation of the Union—an effort which was rewarded by the triumph, for a time at least, of his pacific policy. His last speech in the Senate was on the subject of a revision of the tariff of 1844. Unable to occupy his seat for more than a few days of the session of 1851 52, owing to his failing health, he continued to the end to manifest an interest in public affairs. The last incident of importance in his career was his interview with Kossuth. when, a short time before his death, lie warned the Hungarian pa triot of the futility of soliciting the interference of the United States in the internal affairs of Europe, and declared the true policy of this country in dealing with foreign nations to be that set forth by Washington in his Farewell Ad dress. Sinking rapidly after this, be died in Washington on June 29, 1852, in the seventy sixth year of his age.
Clay is one of the most attractive figures in American history. No statesman has possessed
more magnetism or been a more gallant party leader. The wisdom of many of his policies may be doubted, but his own zeal. integrity, and bril liancy as an advocate cannot be denied. His oratorical powers have been traditional only, be cause his speeches. partly on account of his lack of culture, have not held the attention of readers; but both in the Senate and on the platform he yielded in fire and charm of eloquence to none of his great rivals. His patriotism is above suspi cion, but he was unfortunate in living in a bor der State and in occupying a middle position be tween the irreconcilable extremes of freedom and slavery. This fact made him 'The Great Paci ficator,' but it probably cost him the Presidency, and has somewhat lowered his standing in his tory. In private life Clay was not free from some of the vices so prevalent among, the men of his comparatively coarse period. but he was essentially of a fine nature and made hosts of loyal friends. Perhaps the impression he made upon his contemporaries cannot be better de scribed than by the statement that Clay was Abraham Lincoln's "beau ideal of a statesman." For the most complete edition of his speeches and writings, consult: Colton, Life and Times of Henry Clay (revised edition, 6 vols., New York, 1864) : and for his biography, Schurz, Henry Clay, "American Statesmen Series" (Bos ton, 1887). See also the histories of Schouler and Rhodes.