Clay, CASSIUS MARCELLUS

Clay, CASSIUS MARCELLUS, a zealous abolitionist, born in Kentucky in 1810, graduated at Yale in 1832, and three years after was elected to the legislature of his native state. He opposed the annexation of Texas (1844); started at Lexington The True American, a vigorous anti-slavery paper, the following year; volunteered in the Mexican war (1846); supported Mr Lincoln in 1860; and from 1861 till 1869 was U.S. Minister to Russia. A true son of Kentucky, Clay delivered his political addresses armed to the teeth, was involved in a number of serious quarrels, and in 1877 was tried but acquitted on a charge of killing a discharged negro servant who had threatened his life. See his Life, Writings, and Speeches (2 vols. 1886).