Comments on: The Day Henry Clay Refused to Compromise http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/history/2012/12/the-day-henry-clay-refused-to-compromise/ History with all the interesting bits left in Fri, 17 May 2013 17:51:04 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4 By: Gilbert King http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/history/2012/12/the-day-henry-clay-refused-to-compromise/#comment-2404 Gilbert King Mon, 10 Dec 2012 23:26:00 +0000 http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/history/?p=9339#comment-2404 Great question, Brendan. Aside from Andrew Jackson, another of Clay's enemies was Kentucky Congressman and later Senator, Humphrey Marshall, who despised Clay for successfully defending Aaron Burr on charges of treason. Clay and Marshall nearly came to blows on the House floor in 1808, and attempted to settle their differences in a duel the following year in which both men were wounded. But I couldn't find anything specific about who Clay believed was behind the suit. It may well have been that abolitionists were behind Charlotte Dupuy's freedom suit, and Clay may have simply considered abolitionists his political enemy. Great question, Brendan. Aside from Andrew Jackson, another of Clay’s enemies was Kentucky Congressman and later Senator, Humphrey Marshall, who despised Clay for successfully defending Aaron Burr on charges of treason. Clay and Marshall nearly came to blows on the House floor in 1808, and attempted to settle their differences in a duel the following year in which both men were wounded. But I couldn’t find anything specific about who Clay believed was behind the suit. It may well have been that abolitionists were behind Charlotte Dupuy’s freedom suit, and Clay may have simply considered abolitionists his political enemy.

]]> By: JohnD http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/history/2012/12/the-day-henry-clay-refused-to-compromise/#comment-2402 JohnD Mon, 10 Dec 2012 15:02:57 +0000 http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/history/?p=9339#comment-2402 <I>In 1840, Henry Clay freed Charlotte and her daughter, Mary Ann.</I> So basically, Clay kept Charlotte as a slave until she was too old to be of any further service and then emancipated her so that he wouldn't have to care for her in her old age. In 1840, Henry Clay freed Charlotte and her daughter, Mary Ann.

So basically, Clay kept Charlotte as a slave until she was too old to be of any further service and then emancipated her so that he wouldn’t have to care for her in her old age.

]]> By: Brendan Mackie http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/history/2012/12/the-day-henry-clay-refused-to-compromise/#comment-2400 Brendan Mackie Mon, 10 Dec 2012 11:30:09 +0000 http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/history/?p=9339#comment-2400 This story is a great window into the reality of slave-holding. Any news on which of Clay's political enemies were the supposed instigators of the suit? This story is a great window into the reality of slave-holding. Any news on which of Clay’s political enemies were the supposed instigators of the suit?

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