Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1839-12-17
POLITICAL.
MR. CLAY.
The following letter from MIR. Clay was read to the

The following letter from Mr.. Clay read to the
Harrisburgh Convention:
Conference.-The public use which has been made
os nv name in connection with the office OF President
Of the United States furnishes the motive, as trust u
viii form the apology for this note address II TO you
because our residence IN the same STATE, aP'
pears to me render you the most appropriate rePos
t,ry and organ of what wish now to say.
The G invention at Harrisburg to designate cana'-
dates of the Opposition to the present Federal Admins
Iaton for the Offices Of President and Wee presioeh'
has been recommended, and The proprety OF mas pce
generally concurred in by all who agree as to Tue eces
sitv of chance i'm the general Adm nstration IL ap-
peared to me be the BEST il not the only practcaoe
method OF reconcilng and uniting those, wh' cohc'u
inc in the general principle, entt aIned different views
as to the most suitable candidates tor these Ign oces'
and have accordingly, frequently expressed, and now
repeat the expression of my CONVICTION OF the Npedeh
CIV Of our entire and acquesccnce IN the recon-
inenda,ion Of the Convention.
In III. mean time appeals directly and indirectly, have
been made TO me by highly respectable Convention
holden in Pennsylvania, and By private individuals, to
decline giving nv consent to the Of my nanlc upon
the ground that disngu she'd citizen OF the State OF
Ohio the first choice Of the Opposition IN fcnnsyva-
MIA, and in the opinion of that Convention would De
more likely TO concate general support than should
have been also addressed by respectable and
intelligent citizens of New York, directly and indirect
", recommending to decline the contest IN behalf
Of another eminent cit zcn who has been distinguished
IN both the military ana ci'it scf'lce Vi ''e 'i''s
States.
Whilst have been thus urgently but respectfully ap
preached numerous private citizens and public meet
iurs, and conventions IN various parts oil the unted
States, Zone of these conventions IN PENNSYLVANIA IT.
self) have done the honor 10 express Their conn
6ence in me- and to intimate their WISHES that might
be the candidate Of the Opposition for the Office OF Chief
Magistrate.
II is perfectly manifest that cannot comply with
oil these conflicting opinions and wishes--nor appre
hend, with any one of them, without dsresardng the
others
Under these embarrassing circumstances, | have
thought il most advisable to leave to the Convention at
Harrisburg the free selection of candidates being
the assembly to which, BY common consent, that I'M
porant duty has been re1rrcd representing, as pro-
baby WILL all parts of the United Statesbrnglng TO-
rcher the feelings and views Of a!l-and comparing
and weighing the local information which II will derive
from every portion. will be most competent to make
a nomination acceptable to the great majority OF IT'S
constituents That it will be faithful to the high trust
confGed tn its Judgment and PATRIOTISM, cannot be
doubtcd-and having full of the whole ground,
i. will be more likely to make selection agreeable TO
the great body Of the Opposition, than any separate
Convention could do, however enlightened and patri-
otto II NAV be. If the Pennsylvania Convention TO
which first alluded, be right in suppos that the dis
tingushcd citizen whom it prefers would be more ike
" to be successful than any other he ought to
be nominated; and undoubtedly for that very reason
will be nominated by the farT sburg Convention,
should it entertain the same opinion.
With Just and proper sense of the high honor OF
being voluntarily called to the Office OF President OF
the United States b. great, free and enlightened peo
pie and profoundly graciulto those of my feowciti-
who desirousto see me placed III that exalted
and RESPONSE bic station, must nevertheless say IN en-
tire truth and sincerity, that the dcberaon of the
convention shallead them to the choice of another
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
neghbors, will excuse the liberty take in express ne
to you my anxious desire, that, scarding all attach
ments or partuy me, and guided solely by the mo-
tive Of rescung country from the dangers which
now encompass it, you will heartily unite in the selec
ton ofhat zen, although it should not BE- who
may appear to be the likely, by his election, TO
bring about salu,ary change in the Administration Of
che General Governmental change without which we
shall be Knocked by the forms. and srpt of the sub
stantal benefits of free institutions
From the tenor OF this note. scarcely need observe,
that you perfect liberty to make such of IL as
In your discretion may seem proper
am, with high respect your friend and OBJ servant,
{Sgncd) HENRY CLAY.
To General Thomas Metcalfe, General Leslie Coombs,
and the other Delegates from Kentucky TO the llar-
rsburg Convention.