United States Senate Chamber
Medium
Classification
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; gift of Mrs. Richard K. Doud
Accession Number
NPG.77.11
Rights
Public Domain
Tags
About this artwork
As a member of the U.S. Senate, Henry Clay (1777–1852) had always stood ready to use his substantial influence to make peace whenever issues threatened to divide North and South. His efforts on those occasions had generally been successful. In 1850, however, as the quarrel between the two regions over the westward extension of slavery reached an impasse, Clay seemed too old and frail to stem the crisis. Nevertheless, on February 5, he walked haltingly into the Senate and for two days defended hi...