Page:Collier's New Encyclopedia v. 03.djvu/28

This page needs to be proofread.
LEFT
12
RIGHT

CLAY 12 CLEARFIELD and became the leader of the opposition to General Jackson's government. In 1832, he was again the candidate of his party for the Presidency, though with little chance of success, owing to the over- whelming popularity of General Jackson, who was re-elected. In March, 1842, he resigned his seat in the Senate, and re- tired into private life, till 1844, when he came forward a third time as a candidate for the Presidential chair. In one of the most exciting political contests that ever occurred in the United States he was again defeated, but by a very small nu- merical majority, obtained mainly through the influence of the administration — then in the hands of his political opponents — and the obstinacy of the so-called "liberty party." The immediate consequence of this defeat was the annexation of Texas, HENRY CLAY a measure to which he had given his strenuous opposition. This was virtually the termination of his public career, though, in 1849, he consented to resume his seat in the Senate, in view of the perilous contest which was then impend- ing between the slave-holding party and its opponents, on the California and terri- torial questions. He was the author of the celebrated "Compromise of 1850," as it was termed, by which, after a long and vehement struggle, this dispute was, for the time being, adjusted. This was the third occasion in his career in which, by giving the whole weight of his abilities and influence to an intermediate course between two ex- tremes, he put an end to a violent con- flict of opinion, which menaced the peace of the country, and the duration of the Union. On the question of slavery, he always favored moderate counsels, and a pacificatory policy. The excitement and exhaustion occasioned by this last great controversy gave the final blow to his already enfeebled constitution, and he died in Washington, June 29, 1852. CLAY SLATE, in geology, a rock con- sisting of clay which has been hardened and otherwise changed, for the most part extremely fissile and often affording good roofing-slate. In color it varies from greenish or bluish gray to lead color. CLAYTON-BULWER TREATY, a convention between the United States and Great Britain, concluded April 19, 1850, and deriving its name from John M. Clayton, Secretary of State of the United States, and Sir Henry Bulwer, British Minister at Washington. The object of the treaty was to aid the construction of an inter-oceanic canal on either the Nica- ragua or Panama routes. CLEANTHES, a Greek Stoic philoso- pher of the 3d century B. C. He was a native of Assus, in Lydia ; but, visiting Athens, he became a zealous disciple of Zeno, and to enable him to attend on that master in the day, he was accus- tomed to labor by night. His mental and bodily strength was immense, and de- spite all obstacles, he studied so success- fully as to become, 263 B. c. Zeno's successor. Of his writings only some fragments remain, among which is his noble "Hymn to Zeus." CLEARCHirs (kle-ar'kus), a Spartan general who commanded about 13,000 Greeks in the army of Cyrus the Young- er when he tried to conquer the throne of Persia from his brother, Artaxerxes II. When Cyrus was defeated at Cunaxa (401 B. c.) , Clearchus and his chief offi- cers were seized by treachery and put to death. CLEARFIELD, a borough of Penn- sylvania, the county-seat of Clearfield co. It is on the Pennsylvania, the New York Central and Hudson River, and the Buf- falo, Rochester and Pittsburgh railroads, and on the Susquehanna river. It is the center of an important coal and fire clay region. Its industries include novelty vsrorks, flour mills, knitting mills, brick- vards, the manufacture of sewer pipes, cut glass, etc. Pop. (1910) 6,851; (1920) ' * 1 — Vol. Ill — Cyc