1887. Two Volumes in One. The biography of Henry Clay, the silver-tongued Kentuckian, who was a respected orator and served as Speaker of the House for longer than any man in the century. He was a compelling presence in Congress and is best known as the author of the famous Missouri Compromise, restricting slavery to the states south of 30 degree latitude; the compromise of 1850, known as Clay's Omnibus measure; and his defense of the American system of protection to native industry against the free-trade principles of Southern politicians. He failed in his two attempts to gain the office of president.