Madison-Jackson County AlArchives Biographies.....Clay, Clement Claiborne December 17, 1817 - January 3, 1882
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Carolyn Golowka http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00012.html#0002972 June 21, 2006, 9:50 pm

Author: "Alabama:  Her History, REsources, War REcord, and Public MEn From 1540 to 1872,: by Willis Brewer, pages 357-359

Clement Claiborne Clay, a statesman and a citizen of national reputation, is a 
native and resident of Madison, and son of the foregoing [Clement Comer Clay].  
He was born Dec. 1817, and was graduated at our State University in 1834. He 
read law at the University of Virginia and was licensed in 1840.  HE began the 
practice at Huntsville, but early gave his attention to public questions, and 
entered the general assembly in 1842.  In 1844 and ’45 he was again elected to 
that body, and by it elected judge of the county court in 1846.  This office 
here signed two years after, and again betook himself to his profession.  In 
1853 he was a candidate for the lower house of congress, but was defeated by 
Hon. W. R. W. Cobb of Jackson.  When the legislature met, that winter, his 
party in that body nominated him for a seat in the U. S. Senate over several 
distinguished members of the party, and he was elected for a term of six years, 
to succeed Col., Clemens, receiving 85 votes, to 37 for Hon. R. W. Walker.  He 
at once took his seat in the federal senate, where he remained nine years.  He 
was re-elected in 1859, receiving every vote cast.  When his State dissolved 
her relations with the federal Union, he withdrew with his colleagues.  The 
legislature of 1861 elected him a senator in the 1st congress of the 
Confederacy, the vote standing 66 for him, to 53 for Col. Watts of Montgomery, 
and 5 for Geo. P. Beirne, esq., of this county.  In this capacity Judge Clay 
was unremitting in his efforts in behalf of Southern independence.  He served 
two years, and went before the general assembly of 1863 for re-election.  He 
was opposed by Col. Seibels of Montgomery and Hon. J. L. M. Curry of Talladega, 
and after several ballotings, he withdrew in favor of Hon. R. W. Walker, who 
was chosen.  In April 1864 he departed on a secret and confidential mission to 
the British provinces of this continent, and only returned in Jan. 1865.  When 
the surrender of the confederate armies in Virginia and North Carolina took 
place, he started on horse-back for Texas, but hearing that he was charged with 
complicity in the murder of President Lincoln and that a reward was offered for 
his apprehension, he rode one hundred and fifty miles to surrender himself to 
the federal authorities at Macon, Georgia.  Instead of appreciating this manly 
vindication of his honor, the federal authorities immured him in the casemates 
of Fortress Monroe, and retained him there twelve months without bringing him 
to trial on the false charges of treason and assassination.  He was cruelly and 
disgracefully treated and released in broken health.  Since that time he has 
been planting in Jackson county.

Judge Clay is of ordinary highth, and frail and thin appearance.  His features 
are of the refined and intellectual mould, and his eyes brown, with a 
meditative expression.  His manner is easy without cordiality, and grave 
without austerity.  He is a cultivated scholar, whose mind has been ripened by 
study, reflection, and experience.  His letters and speeches are few in number, 
but models of their kind.  He is moderate and prudent in council, and, as Lord 
Bacon said, “not strong-headed, but stout-hearted.”  His moral character unites 
all the qualities of a christian gentleman, and he commands the respect of 
every one.  His influence in matters of public import, as well as otherwise, 
has been always for good.

Judge Clay married the daughter of Dr. P. R. Tunstall, then of Baldwin, a lady 
of fascinating attributes of mind, and elevated qualities of heart. While her 
husband was in Washington Mrs. Clay was one of the brightest ornaments of 
society there.


Additional Comments:
In 1843 Clement Claiborne Clay was married to Virginia Caroline Tunstall who 
was born in North Carolina in January 16, 1825 and died in 1915  Clement is 
buried in the Maple Hill Cemetery in Huntsville, Madison County, Alabama.  They 
had no children.  

Virginia remarried to David C. Clopton and was his third and final wife.  
Virginia wrote a memoir of her time in Washington DC in a book calle "A Belle 
of the Fifties" (1904).  David C. Clopton again left Virginia a widow when he 
died in 1892.

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