True American. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1835-18??, 1839-12-21
Presidential Candidate.

The following is the no;e Of Henry Clay read in the
Harrisburg Convention, The Saturday If the meeting
Of that body.
Henry Clay has been orr favori,e raudlat. for the
Presidency for the last eighteen years. We have ever
thought him patriot man not only possessed Of
transcenlen talents, but one " no has continually and
upon all occasions sacrificed self 10 his co,nrys good
his party advancement, and tho pscifcu,ion Of the
hros of sectional feeling. lie has stood foremost
in tho front rank othe principles he pro'esse bearing
the brunt Of the bnt,ir aud all the odum Of purity feel
ing He has frequently, although more than any other
man entitled to the greatest distinction Of the Whiss
magnu,mousy fnllrn back and lett the field to less
capable and less worthy men.
In s24, Henry Clay intrigued out Of the vote of
Louisiana, by bargain Made bet. cen thu suppo tiers
Of John Quincy Adams and General Jackson. In 1885,
he was intrigued out Of The candidsturc, by the willy
champions Of Judge White In 1889, lis friends coun-
ting upon his good nature and great mngnunmity, have
thrown him aside for General William Henry Harri-
son. Again; we find Clay for years and years, the
very sentinel on the extreme outposts Of the citadel Of
our party, and the Luwa:k Of iihe,ics, who hns
brunled the battle storm, and molly breasted the otus.
Of the opposition. giving way IN Inferior The ,,ou-
missioner at Client, who pre- served for W the ny;ol,,e-
ness of our great river; the author Of the inlep.ndenc-
of Mexico; the paciicutor Of he Missouri question, be
saviour Of the Union, the friend of universal Ih.r,v ,
occ'mp he'd o'ptor, the finished statesman, the india
pu'nbe patr", has again given way for the sake Of
the cause he has ably nd nobly supported in fuvor
Of an inferior, whose services arc compa,a,ycIv fx
and smal.
We'll, we are Wing, good and true Wing; We shall
adh re to party; shall for Harrison it is .ur
duty it is inclinaton but with what different fee>
ings would we have hoisl-d mast head nailed j.
there. the mime Of Henry Clay. We have been his
supporters, his voluntary, unpaid, heartfelt sup
porter we may therefore, be excused in droppng some
tears Of regret that he has been intrigued
| from
Henry Clay, more than any other MN, must enov
the PLEASURE the delight arising from the firm
having performed his uty faithfully to his party
| periodically 10 his country.
We shall supper. Harrison with the best eroce
may.
ASHLAND, November 20, 1899.
! Gentlemen Tile public use which has heen made
of my name, in with the office Of President
Of the United States furnishes the motive M trnst II
will for tbs apology, for this address to you
because our common residence in the State ap
pears to ME To render you the app, opriac repos
| tCLy and organ oil what wish 10 saw,
The C"nven'"n at Harrisburg to d,~gna. candi
d"tcs OF the Deposition TO the present Federal Admins
raon Tor the offices of President and Vice President
Of the United Sa,es has Eeen recomnrn ded and the.
ropriey Of has been generally cocnrred in bv ALL
who agree as to the necessity ola change in The General
| The only praccabe method Of ,econcIins and uniting
tho-e Who c"incding in thu general principle enter.
tanned different view the suitable candidates
for those high flies, and have ucco gly frequently
expressed, and no" repeat the expression OF NV convic-
ton OF the expedenc, of an entire aid cordial acuu
essence in the recon endutions Of the Convention.
In the meantime, appeals directly and indirectly have
been made to mt by hi.hly respectable Convention
holden in Pennsylvania, and by private Individuals 10
| decline giving my consent to the use Of nane upon
the ground that distinguished citizen Of the Stnie of
Ohio is the first choice Of the Opposition in Pcnlsvlva
MA, and in the opinion tha Convention would he more
likely to c"nc'in,c genera support than should.
have been also addressed nv various respectable and
Intelligent citize,s Of New York. directly and Indirectly
recommending NE 10 decline the in behalf nfa
other eminent citizen, swho has been distinguished in
both the mill aid civil service Of the United States
Whilst have been thus urgently but respectfully
approached numerous private citizens and public NEST
lngs and conventions i'll various parts of the United
States tome OF the conventions, indeed in Penns ylvanin
ITSELF have done me the honor to express their conf
dence in me- and to intimate their wishes TINT ns lit he
ire candidate u the Opposition for the Office Of Chief
Mag isrnr.
1t is perfectly manifest that cannot comply with all
these conflicting opinions and Wishes nor, appralend
with any one of them ~ilhouf d;suLging the ut cr>.
Under these embarrassing circumstances have thought
II most advisable t. leave the Convention at Harris
burg the free selection of candidates bein: the ass
duty has been referred Representing, as it property
will all paris Of The United States, bringing together
The feelings aud views of all and comparing and weigh
ing the local inf rmnon which it will ticr, fr every
port H. il Will he most competent to make nomination
acceptable to the great majority of its constituents
That ii will be ta, hful to tina high trust coniid-d to its
Judgment and patriotism, cannot he doubed and hav-
ing full view of the whole ground, it will be like
~ TO make selection agreeable the great budy of
the opposition than any scparat" convention could do
however enlightened and patti 'Iic it may he. If the
Prnns yvara Convention, to which have lust uu,Ied
be right in supposine that the distinguished citizen
whom it prefers would be likely be success fl
than any other he Dug to be nominated BY the Har-
rlsburg Convention, should entertain the opinion.
With just and proper Of the high honor of be-
ing voluntarily chilled TO the office Of President Of
the United Stntes by great free, md enlightened PEG.
citizens who are DESTROYS to placed in that ex
allied and resron ible stlion must nevertheless. say,
IN entire truth and sinceritv that If the deliberations of
.he Convention shall lead them the choice of another
ss the candle late of the opposition far from feeling any
discomfort, the nomination will have my best wishes
and receive my cordial support.
And, gentlemen, l hop" that YOU. my friends and
neighbours, wi excuse the liberty tnke in expressing
t. yon my anS desire that dscarding all attach
nen or rartsay I" me, and gnird solely bv the
tive of 'cscuing country from the dangers which
now encompass it, Won will hrn'i unit. in the srrc-
ton Of that c'tz"n nn:,-h ii should not he me. who
may appear To be most Likely. by hrs rlertnn To bring
he"e' al '"vrrnmcnt-n change " bout which II, III
be Knocked by the ftna, and ,lrl of tie substantial
bo,eGts Of free Institutions.
From the tenor Of this note, scarcely need observe
that YOU arc at perfect liberty to make such oft US
your discretion may seem proper.
am, with high respect, your friend.
HENRY CLAY.
TO Gov. Thomas M-tcalt Gen. Leslie Comhe. and
the other Delegates from Kentucky to the Harrisburg
Convention.