The Weekly register., 1843-09-23
ASHLAND, 2Sth July, I843.

Ourg clay CluO:-
ASHLAND, 26ih July, l843.
Gentiemen:-I have the honor to ac-
knowledge the receipt Of the communi-
cation, which in behalf ofthe Clay Club
Of Chambersburg, you addressed TO me,
informing me Of the organization Of that
association, and of its determination TO
cooperate with similar institutions, and
cur Wing fellow-citizens generally, in
disseminating and establishing sound
principles of Government in the United
States. You are also pleased gentle
men, at the instance Of the Club, to re-
quest my acquiescence in the various
nominations which have been made Of
me for the Office Of Chief Magistrate Of
the United States:
hope the success Of the exertions OF
tie Club, in the propagation and estab-
lishmentof correct principles may be
commensurate with its Iaudable and pa
triotic aims. And tender It my cordial
thanks and grateful acknowledgements
for the friendly sentiments and wishes
it entertains towards myself. am in
fnitely obliged to my fellow-citizens
for the numerous testimonies Of their
confidence and attachment in manifest
ing their desire that should Gil the
highest office in theirgilt and whatever
may be the final result, my heart will
ever be animated by feelings of the live
Hest gratitude. The time has not yet
arrived, think, whenI ought 10 decide
whether shall give my consent or not
to the use of my name, as a candidate
ftIr ttrz-uffice OF Pr1sstIrut of the United
States. When 1t does, shall give to all
the considerations which should iniu-
erce my judgment, full weight, among
them the friendly wishes of the Clay
Club Of Chambersburg.
/ concur with you, gentlemen, gene
rally, IN the retrospect which you have
presented of the administration of pub
lie affairs, during late years, and in the
measures Of policy which ought to guide
it. five are not utterly deceived in the
theory of free Government, the United
States ought all along to have teen and
should now be, the happiest and most
prosperous people upon the earth; bat
our condition has been, and continues to
be, far otherwise. 1t is impossible to
contemplate the Administration of the
government, during nearly the last IF
teen years, without feelings ofthc deep
est regret and bitterest modification
That long period has been marked by
relentless prescription, similar in spirit,
if not attended with the same effusion of
Elood, as that which is recorded in Ro-
man history TO have been perpetrated by
Marius and Sylla; By reckless expert
ments; and the overthrow of valuable
Institutions; by the destruction of the
best currency in the world, and conse-
quent arrangement in all the business OF
society; by extensive and scandaous
speculation on the part Of public func-
tionaries; by extravagant and prohigate
expenditure off the public money; by at
tempts to subvert the long cherished po-
Icy of the country, under which il had
eminently flourished ndprospered, by
relaxation in the respect and authority
due to the law and constitution; by wide
spread and alarming generalization; by
fearful growth and corrupt use of the
power of the Executive branch of the
Government and finally, by degree Of
rer6dy in the head Of that branch, Of
which no equal example can be found
in this or any other country, in this or
any other age. At the commencement,
of the administrator of the present act
ing Chief Magistrate, the leaders Of our
political opponents, with few honora.
BILE exceptions, assidiously courted and
caressed him; aattering and praising him
for violation of the just expectations oil
confding people. They marched up,
in solemn column, arm in arm, along
Pennsylvania Avenue to the Presidential
Mansion TO thank and congratulate him,
for exercising a Royal preroga,ive, to
defeat the wishes and hopes of the peo-
pie. Men, under the. absurd name OF