Who is Henry Clay from This Fiery Trial: The Speeches and Writings of Abraham Lincoln and what is their importance?

Henry Clay was a politician from Kentucky when Lincoln was a young man. Henry Clay had strong opinions regarding slavery that included the idea that slavery needed to be abolished slowly and that the freed slaves should be encouraged to move to other countries where America would help them establish a new colony. Lincoln was a great admirer of Clay, and in his early political career it is easy to see how closely Lincoln's beliefs shadowed those of Clay. Lincoln seemed to solidify this idea when he presented a eulogy at Clay's funeral that spoke of their shared values.