Page:Life of Henry Clay (Schurz; v. 1).djvu/212

200 That this train of reasoning was Clay's conscious motive in doing what he did will not be asserted. It is more likely that he simply followed his instinct as a devoted friend of the Union, leaving for the moment all other interests out of view. Although he had not originated the main part of the compromise, having exercised decisive influence only at the close of the controversy, yet, by common consent, he carried off the honors of the occasion. As the peculiar brilliancy of the abilities he possessed, his involuntary showiness, made him always the most conspicuous figure whenever he appeared in a parliamentary contest, so he had impressed himself in this instance upon the popular mind as the leading actor in the drama. He retired, therefore, to private life with a larger stock of popularity than he had ever possessed. What he had lost by the appearance of captiousness in his opposition to Monroe's administration was now amply retrieved by the great patriotic service rendered in bringing a very dangerous controversy to what was considered a happy conclusion. It is interesting to hear the judgment passed upon him at that period by another public man of high distinction. After a visit he had received from Clay, John Quincy Adams delivered himself in his Diary as follows: —

“Clay is an eloquent man, with very popular manners and great political management. He is, like almost all the eminent men of this country, only half educated. His school has been the world, and in that he is profi-