Page:Life of Henry Clay (Schurz; v. 1).djvu/35

Rh bound to submit to chastisement, it was murder, and must be punished as such. It was so punished. The slave was hung; but his self-contained and heroic conduct in the presence of death extorted admiration from all who witnessed it; and this occurrence made so deep and painful an impression upon Clay himself that he resigned his place as soon as possible, and never failed to express his sorrow at the part he had played in this case whenever it was mentioned.

It was not long, however, that he remained confined to criminal cases. Soon he distinguished himself by the management of civil suits also, especially suits growing out of the peculiar land laws of Virginia and Kentucky. In this way he rapidly acquired a lucrative practice and a prominent place at the bar of his state. That with all his brilliant abilities he never worked his way into the front rank of the great lawyers of the country was due to his characteristic failing. He studied only for the occasion, as far as his immediate need went. His studies were never wide and profound. His time was too much occupied by other things, — not only by his political activity, which gradually grew more and more exacting, but also by pleasure. He was fond of company, and in that period of his life not always careful in selecting his comrades; a passion for cards grew upon him, so much so, indeed, that he never completely succeeded in overcoming it; and these tastes robbed him of the hours and of the temper of mind without which the calm