The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1844-10-10
iFnatas N.aaasl - sssarstl
AETTER FROM M. CLAY.


haze bess = u Is ne uhieh nrEsi
ErsariEe.. L. 49, 81 lhuse which have
rsariiss u. ! have Frpiied; baVio some
sFss ~, beranss sslAer l.e suhjecsa q
Zach Iasy treated weEe such = that. il
ErsPesl Il tasms NJ aPinians. ! ihoughl,
lid Extraordinarily PFoalulgsied. Or tina
sktydia not possess. 10 nv iadgment. sui
aclrnl Importance % require an ans~el
ilom NE. ldrsire noN 70 say 70 The pub
lse. through YOU. thai, considering Ihs
rear approach ol The Psesiden II election
shall heneslaFEsEl desline 70 transmit
toE Paalisallon sny letters froD NE /.
s1sN'T 10 inquiries upon public matters.
Alter my noAlna,ion. 4 dnubied IA,
PEoPTieiy. - | sill do. of answering sny
ir.1sE upon new questions Of public poll
cy. One who msy be rantid.le iar Ire
Calel Magisiraey Of the Na,ioa. ifelesIed,
Haghl 10 enter upon the discharge Of the
high d1iies e0Ease ed with that Office with
his mind open and Eneommilled upon al
new qaes.ions which may arise in the
course # is siinin,.l'zlioi. and ready 10
asaii himself Of all the lights which he
may derive from his Cabinet, from Con-
gfess. al shove all, from the public OPT.
MON.
ii, in advance, he should commit him.
selfto individuals who may think proper
20 address him, he nav deprive the pub-
lie and himself of the benefit flhese great
guides. Entertaining this view; il was
my intention, after my nomination. 70 de-
cline answering for publication all ques-
tons that might be prorounded 10 me.
But, on further reflection, IL appeared 10
me that i'll imposed this silence upon my
sell, might, contrary TO the uniform te-
nor Of nv life, see n 10 be unwilling frank
Is and faadessly 10 submit my opinion TO
the PUBLIC judgment I therefore 80 far
desialedafoms msskrt purpose a. 70 re-
spond 70 letters addressed 70 me, making
Inquiries in regard 10 subjects which had
been much agila;ed. OF the answers
whish | so transmitted, some were intend.
ed exclusively for the satisfaction of my
correspondents. without any expectation
on my part Of taeiT being daensd wor-
thy Of publication. Ia regard 10 those
which have besn presented TO The public,
misconceptions and erroneous eonsiruc-
donskaye been gwen 10 some Of them
which think they did not authorize, or
which, al events, were contrary TO my in-
Gentions.
In announcing nv determination 10 per-
nit no olher letters ~ be drawn from mo
on public affairs, think 10 nigh. 10 avail
myself Of the occasion to correct the erro-
neous Interpretation ofons or Two OF those
which had previously written. In Api
ril last addressed to you from Raleigh, a
liter in respect TO the proposed treaty an
nexing Texas TO the United States, and
have since addressed two letters TO Als5a-
ina, upon the same subject Most IN
warranted allegations have been made that
hose letters are inconsistent with each OH
er, and, to make il oai, particular phrases
OF expressions have been torn from their
context, and meaning attributed to me
which never entertained.
wish distinctly to say that there is not
a feeling. sentiment, or an opinion e.
pressed in nv Raleigh l-,te, to which |
do not adhere. am decidedly opposed to
the immediate annexation Of Texs. to he
u. STATES. Think il would be dshono-
rabie, NIGH. involve them in war, would
be dangerous to the integrity snd harmony
Of the Union. and, il al these objections
were removed, could not he effected, ac-
coriing to any information | possess, up
On just and admissible conditions.
VAS not my intention, in either Of the
tw letters which Eaddressedt to Alabama,
TO express any contrary opinion. Re-
presentations had been made to RE t,,at I
was considered as inaexihly opposed to
the annexation of Texas under any clrccm-
stances; and that my opposition was SC
extreme that | would rot waive it. e'en
If there was general consent to he mea-
sure By all the States of the Unior. Ire
piled in nv first letter 70 Alabama, that
personally Ihad no o., ee!ion to shnexsIion.
| thought that my meaning was suf,ic emily
obvious, that Ihsd no personal, OF Privats,
or individual motives for eseousing the
measure, my judgmentbeing altogetllcrin-
fueneed by general and political conside-
rations. which have ever been the guide OF
my political conduct.
In nv second letter to Alabama, assum.
lng that the annexation ofTexas might be
accomplished without national di.honor,
without war, with the general consent of
tire States of the Union, and upon fair and
reasonable terms, | stated that should
be glad to See it. did no, sappose thai
il was possible / could be misunderstood.
imagined every body would comprehend
me as intending that whatever might be
myparticular views and opinions, / should
be happy to see what the whole nation
might concur in desiring under the con-
ditions stated. Nothing was further from
my PURPOSE than to intimate any change
of opinion as long as any considerable and
respectable portion of the Confederacy
saouid continue TO stand out iu opposition