The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1844-10-05
A LETTER FROM MR.. CLAY.
ASHLAND, SEPTEMBER %, lS44

10 We Ed!t0S u he .Nah9HM iaiGUigCncef
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES my nomination
at Baltimore in May last, by the Wing
Convention as a candidate fer the Office
of President Of the United States, | have
received many letters propounding to NE
questions on public allaIrs, and Others
may have been addressed to me which :
never received. 10 most of those which
have reached me have replied; but to
some | have not, because either the sub
jects OF which they treated were such a.
that, IN respect Of them, my opinions, |
thought, had been sufficiently promuga,-
ed, or that they did not possess. in my
Judgment, sufficient importance to require
an answer from me. desire Now to say
to the public, through YOU, that, consid-
erlng the near approach Of de Pres den,aI
election, shall hencelorwaGd respectful
y decline to transmit for publication any
letters from me in answer 10 inquiries up
on public matters.
Alter my nomination, doubted the pro-
preiy, as still do, of answering any let
lers upon new questions ni public policy.
One who may be a candidate for the Chief
MagIstgacy of the Nation. if elected. ouuh,
to enter upon the discharge of the hlgh
duties connected with that office with his
mud open and nncommlrled npon all new
questions which may arise in the course
OF Is administration. and ready to avail
Elmstl! OF all The lights which he may de-
rive from his CabineI, from Congress, and
above all, from The public opinion.
If, in advance. he should commit him
self TO individuals who may think proper
10 address him. he may deprive the public
aud himself of the benefit of those srsat
guides. Entertaining this view, it was my
intention, alter my nomination, to decline
answering for publication all questions
that NIGH be proponnded to me. Bat, on
tuT'he' reflection, il appeared to me thar
| if imposed this silence upon myself, |
might, contrary to the uniform tenor of
my life, seem to be unwilling frankly and
iearlesSly to submit my opinions 10 the
public judgment. Therefore so far devil
a'cd from my first purpose as to respond
10 letters addressed to me, making mqui-
rlcs in regard to subjects which had been
much agia!ed. Or the answers which |
so transmitted, some were intended ex-
clus'ycIy Tor the satisfaction of nv cor
respondents, without any expectation on
my part OF their being deemed worthy Of
| publication. In regard to those which
| have been presented to the public, mlscon
cepI0ns and erroneous constructions have
been given to some of them which think
| ihey dId not authorize, or which, at all
events, were contrary TO my intentions.
In announcing my determination to per-
NIT no other letters to be drawn from me
on public affairs, think it right to avail
myself of the occasion TO correct the er.
roneous Interpretation Of one or two Of
'hose which had previously written. In
April last | addressed to you, from Ra-
leigh, letter in respect to the proposed
treaty annexing Texas to the United States
and have since addressed two letters to
Alabama upon the same subject. Most
unwarranied allegations have been made
that these letters are inconsistent with
each other, and. 10 make 1t out, particular
phrases or expressions have been :orn
| from their context, and meaning attribul-
ed to me which ! never entertained.
wish now distinctly to say that there
is not a feeling, sentiment, or an opin"
ion expressed in my Raleigh letter to
which do not adhere. | am decidedly
opposed 10 the immediate annexation of