Litchfield enquirer., 1839-12-19
MIR. cLAY,s LETTER

AshIand 2Osh NOp., I630.
 The public use which has been made of my name, in connection with the office of President of the United States, furnishes inc motives, us l trust it will form the apolo- gy, for this note. address it to you, be. cause our common residence in the same State, appears to me tO render you the most appropriate repository and organ of what wish now to say.
 The Convention at Harrisburg to desig. nate candidates of the opposition to the pre- sent Federal administration tor the offices of President aud Vice President of the United States, has been recommended, aud the pro- priety of it has been generally concurred in, by all who agree, as to the necessity of n change in the general administration. Ii appears 10 me to be the best, ii not the only practicable method of reconciling and uni ting those who, coinciding in general princi- ole, entertained different views as to the most suitable candidates for those high of fees, and have accordingly, frequently eX. pressed, and now repeat the expression of my conviction of the expcdiency of an en- tire and cordial acquiescence in the recom- mendation ot the Convention.
 In the mean time, appeals directly and in. directly, have been made 10 me, by highly resDeciable Convention holden in Pennsyi. vania, and by private individuals, to decline giving my consent to the use of my name, upon the ground that distinguished citizen of the stute of Ohio is the first choice ot the opposition in Pennsylvania, and in the opin. ion of that Convention would be more like ly to conciliate general support than should. lhaye been also addressed by various re- spectabIe and intelligent citizens of~New- York, directly and indirectly recommending me to decline the contest, in behalf of an- other eminent citizen, who has been dis,in. guished in both the military and civil ser- vice of the United States. t
 Whilst have been thus urgently, but re. spec,fully approached, numerous private cit, zens and public meetings and conventions, in various parts of the United States, lone of these conventions, indeed, in Pennsylvania itself,) have done me the honor to express their confidence in me, and to intimate their wishes that might be the candidate of the opposition, for the office of Chief Magistrate
 It is perfectly manifest, that cannot com ply with all these conflicting opinions and wishes; nor apprehend with any one of them, without disregardingthe others,
 Under these embarrassing circumstances, have thought it most advisable to leave the Convention at Harrisburg the free selection of candidates, us being the assembly to which, by common consent, that important duty has been referred. Representing, us it probably will, all parts of the U. States, bring. ing together the feelings and views of all, and comparing and weighing the local informa- ton which it will derive from every portion, it will be most competent to make nomina. tion acceptable to the great majority of its constituents. That it will be faithful to the high trust confided to it's Judgment and pa- triotism cannot be doubted i; and. having a full view of the whole ground, it will be more likely to make selection agreeable to the great body of the opposition, than any separate Convention could do, however en- frightened and patriotic it may be. If the Pennsylvania Convention, to which have first alluded, be right in supposing the dis linguished citizen whom it presses would be more likely to be successful than any other, he ought to be nominated. and undoubtedly, for the very reason, will be nominated, by the Harrisburg Convention, should it enter tain the same opinion.
 With n just and proper sense of the high honor of being voluntarily called to the of- flee of President of the United States, by a great, free and enlightened people, and pro- toundly grateful to those of my fellow-citi- zens who are desirous to see me placed in that exalted and responsible station, must nevertheless say, in entire truth and sinceri- ", that if the deliberations of the Conven- tion shall lead them to the choice of anoth- CT, as the candidate of the opposition, far from feeling any discomfort, the nomination will have my best wishes and receive my cordial support.
 And, gentlemen, hope that you, my friends and neighbors, will excuse the liber- ty take in expressing to you my anxious desire, that discarding all attachment or par tiality to me, and guided solely by the mo- tive of rescuing our country from the dan gers which now encompass it, you will heart fly unite in the selection of that citizen, al- though it should not be me, who may appear to be most likely, by his election, to bring about salutary change in the udministra- tion of the General Government-a change without which we shall be mocked by the forms, and stript of the substantial benefits ot free institutions.
 From the tenor of this note, I scarcely need observe that you are at perfect liberty to make such use of it, as in your discretion may seem proper.
 lam with respect,
 Your friend, HENRY CLAY.
 To Governor Mctcalf, General Leslie Combes, and the other delegates from Ken. lucky to the Harrisburgh Convention.
 From 2e Eastern Argas--Repiped. 5
 The decline Qf Poper Political power of. tentimes, like wheel separated from it's axle. will maintain something like it's regular motion for season beyond the continuance of those causes which first gave it being and impetus. But, with the decline of principle, political power soon begins to feel its impetus weakened. and ofa certainty comes to a dead stand in due time.
 There is u moral--aIl ominous moral to be read in the past history of the party now holding the administration of the Federal Government in their hands. as developed in their past control over the House of Repre- seniatives, and compared with the present probable strength of that body.