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Henry Clay (1777-1852), a slave holder (Sterling 190), cannot be counted among the abolitionists; his efforts, rather, involved the formation of compromises intended, at least in part, to satisfy both the North and the South. The abolitionists, however, were thoroughly dissatisfied.
Clay was born in Virginia, practiced law in Kentucky, was a U.S. senator from 1806-07 and 1810-11, a member of the House of Representatives from 1811-25, and speaker of the House during most of the same period. His support of the Missouri Compromise in 1820 earned him the name of Great Pacificator . From 1825-1829 he was Secretary of State and again served in the senate from 1831-42 and 1849-52. In 1831 and 1844 he was the Whig candidate for the presidency but was defeated. He is best known for his Compromise of 1850, by which he hoped to prevent civil war forever (Webster's New Biographical Dictionary 215). His talent for compromise was his contribution to emancipation, if it can be called such (Merrill III 182).
When William Lloyd Garrison was imprisoned, Clay would have paid the fine for his release, but Garrison later said Clay's willingness to do so was no reason for him (Garrison) to abstain from rebuking his later attempts to destroy the abolitionist movement (Merrill V 174).
When in 1839 Clay was told that his attack on abolitionism would adversely effect his political career, he is reported to have replied, "I had rather be right than be President" (Hart 162).
The Clay letter in Milo Townsend's collection was written to Marcus T.C. Gould, Esq.
Marcus Tullius Cicero Gould (February 29, 1792-November 19, 1860) was born in Rome, New York. Orphaned when very young, he was reared by an aunt. He studied stenography and invented the Gould system of shorthand, which became the most generally used system in the United States. He taught stenography at West Point and other colleges (Gould file 112). Becoming impatient with the time wasted in dipping a pen into ink, he invented the fountain pen (115).
After serving for a time as stenographer in the New York legislature, Gould became editor of two Quaker newspapers in Philadelphia. When these failed, he moved to New Brighton in February of 1832. There he sought the society of Friends and developed a friendship with Robert Townsend that lasted as long as both lived (115). (This Robert Townsend--born 1790--was Milo Townsend's uncle and a son of Benjamin Townsend. Robert Townsend was probably Milo's source for the Clay letter.) While in New Brighton Gould was often sent to Washington to report speeches delivered by such people as Daniel Webster and Henry Clay. The biographical sketch of Gould on file at Carnegie Library in Beaver Falls states that he went to Dayton, Ohio, to report on one of Clay's speeches (117), presumably the one about which Clay writes in the following letter. Although Gould lived in New Brighton only a short time, he greatly influenced that town and the entire Beaver Valley (1938 History of New Brighton 34).
Letter 45
from Henry Clay
Addressed to Marcus T.C. Gould, Esq., Cincinnati, Ohio.
Ashland 23d Oct 1842
My Dear Sir
I send by this days mail to your address the sheets of my Dayton speech, which you handed to me at Madison, in their separate pacquets, each containing fifteen sheets.
I think you will be able to decypher my corrections without difficulty. I have a great aversion to two things, one is sitting for my portrait, and the other is revising a speech delivered by me. On this occasion, I have gone through the last operation to oblige you, without attaching any importance to the speech. I hope nevertheless that it will be accurately published; and you are at liberty to say that the speech was "submitted to Mr. Clay, and he was satisfied with the general accuracy."
I fear that you will be greatly disappointed in the demand for it. However that may be, accept assurance of my best wishes for your success and prosperity.
I am faithfully
Your ob. Servant
M.T.C. Gould Esq. H. Clay