Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1838-01-10

10 ~ &0A &AtA
the expectancy of bringing 10 the con.
sideration oft a spirit Of moderation,
torbearance, and Cancellation, is so OBJ.
vious, that think we should first d.
rect U united exertions exclusively
to this single object. We shall soon
ascertain how far the administration
viii cooperate with the country in the
restoration ola sound state OF things.
To guard against misconception, |
ought to add, that too much delay, as
well as too much. precipitation, should
alike be avoided, in arrangements con.
nected with the next election Of a Chief
Magistrate. Precipitation would ex.
pose the dislnterestedness o our patri.
otism to animadversion /; pruiracted de.
lay to the danger of divis on and de.
feat.
lagree with you, gentlemen, en-
tirely, in thinking, IN regard to a can
didate for the Presidency, that some
mode should be adopted for collecting
the general sense of those who believe
that the purity of our institutions, and
the preservation of our Liberties, re.
quire a change in the Executive, and
none better appears to me to have been
suggested than that Of a National Con-
vention.
This will not supersede the previ.
Gus employment of all proper means to
produce union, harmony, and concen.
traitor. A resort to such means is
recommended by their tendency to pre-.
vent those unpleasant collisions in the
choice of delegates to the Convention,
which might leave, among the friends
OF the respective persons thought oil as
candidates, a state of irritated feeling,
~unfavorable to that hearty co opera.
ton in the final struggle so essential to
success.
II cannot be too strongly impressed
upon our friends that the question of
the selection of the particular individ-
ual TO accomplish those patriotic pur-
poses which we have in view, although
not unimportant, is Of subordinate con-
sequence. II should never be allowed
to become the paramount object, nor
to divide, moro than is absolutely IN.
avoidable, those who agree in the gen.
eral principle.
Having said this much upon the ge-
neral subject, suffer me now to add a
few words in relation to myself person.
ally. You are pleased Il honor me
with your confidence and attachment,
to appreciate highly my public services
and to desire to place me in the high
est station of the Government. | am
profoundly grateful to you and to all
other friends who cherish towards me
similar feelings and sentiments. For
several years | have not looked to the
event of my being placed in the office
Of Chief Magistrate as probable my
feelings and inclinations have taken y
different direction. Whilst | am not
insepsibIe of the exalted honor of fill
ling the highest office in the gift ofthis
great people, | have desired and sought
retirement from the cares of public
lie life and, although | have moi been
fully able to crafty this disposition, |
am in the enjoyment Of comparative
repose, and looking anxiously forward
to more. | should be extremely un.
willing, without the strongest reasons,
to hazard this tranquility, and to be
thrown into the turmoil of a Presiden-
| tial canvass. Above all, | am most
| DESTROYS not to seem, as in truth | am
not, importunate for any public Office
whatever !; nevertheless, If | were per.
suaded that a majority Of my fellow
| citizens wished to assign me to their
| highest Executive Office, hat sense of
my duty by which ] have ever been
| guided would prompt obedience to their
will ; candor, however, obliges me 10
say that | have not seen sufficient ev-
idence Of such a wish.
Entertaining these feelings and sen-
| timents, and having resolved TO occupy
| aposition ofperfect p~assveness, ! think
| it best to adhere to that resolution
| Should q National Convention Of the
| friends Of reform nominate any other
person he shall have my hearty wish.
es for his success, and my cordial sup.
port and before the assembling Of
such a convention, if one should be a.
greed upon, there may be such dem.
STATIONS of The popular will as clearly
to trace the line Of duty towards our
common country. Requesting, gen.
tlemen, you and all who participate in
the proceedings of the meetings for
warded to me, to accept my grateful
and respectful Acknowledgements, ! am
faithfully, your friend and
obedient servant,
HENRY CLAY.
IAfer the late elections in N. York