The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1844-10-14
From the National Intclligencer.
letter from Mr. Clay.
To The Editors :
ASHLAND, September 90. 1874.

candidate for tho office of President Of the Uuued
States, have received many letters propounding to
me questions on public affairs, and others may have
been addressed to which never received. To
most of those which hnve reached mo have replied;
but to some have not, because either the sub ects
of which they treated such that in respect to
them, my opinions, thought, had been sufficiently
promulgated or that they did not possess, in my judy
ment sufcient importance TO require an answer from
me. Idesire now TO say to the public through you,
That considering the near approach of tho Presidential
Election, shn hencelorward respectfully decline to
transmit for publication any letters from mo in answer
to inquiries upon public matters
After my nomination, doubted tho propriety, as
still do, Of answering any letters upon new questions
Of public policy. One who may be candidate for
the Chief MAgstracY of the Nation r elected, ought
10 enter upon the discharge of the high duties
nccted with that Office with his mind open and
committed upon NIL questions which may arise in
the course of his administrations and be ready to avail
himself OF all The lights which he may desire from his
Cabinet, from Congress land above ALL from the pub
lie opinion.
Tin advance he should commit himself to indvid-
uals who may think proper to address him, he may
deprive the public and himself of the benefit of those
tenon after my nomination, to decline answering for
publication all questions that might be propounded to
me- But on farther reflection, appeared TO me that
i'll imposed this silence upon mysefT might contrary
to the uniform tenor OF my life, seem to be unwilling
frankly and rearlessly TO submit my opinions to the
public judgment. therefore so far devated from
my rt purpose TO respond TO letters addressed to
me- making inquiries in regard to subjects which had
i nF l..ls
transmitted some were intended exclusively for the
satisfaction Of my correspondents without any eIpec
taon on my part of their being deemed worthy of
publication. In regard 10 those which have been
presented to the public, misconceptions and erroneous
constructions have been given to Of them which
think they did not authorize, which, mt all events
contrary to my intentions.
In announcing my determination to permit other
letters 10 be drawn from public affairs, I think
right to avail myself Of the occasion to correct the
Interpretation OF one or two OF those which
/ had previously written. In April last | addressed
TO you from Raleigh, letter in respect to the pro-
posed Treaty unncxng Texas to tho United States,
and have since addressed Two letters to Alabama up
on the same subject Most unwarranted allegations
have been made that those letters inconsistent
with each other, and TO make it out, particular phra
ses or expressions have been from their context,
and a meaning attributed to which |
tertaincd
Twish distinctly 10 say that there is not feel
ing. sentiment, opinion expressed in my
Raleigh letter to which do not adhere. I am de-
cdedly opposed to the immediate annexation Of
Texas to the United States. I think it would be
dishonorable, might involve them in war, would be
dangerous to the integrity and harmony of the Union,
and if all these objections removed could not be
effected, according to any Information possess, upon
just and admissible conditions
was not my intention, in either Of tho two letters
which addressed to Alabama, to express any
trary opinion. Representations had been made to
me that was considered rs in1cxbly opposed to the
annexation ofTeXas under any circumstances; and
that my opposition extreme that would not
waive it, even if there general the
measure by all the States Of the Union. I replied,
in my first letter to Alabama That personally had
objection to annexation. thought that my meaning
sufficiently obvious, that had personal private,
individual motives for opposing, have for
espousng the measure,my judgment being altogeth-
err Influenced by general and political considerations,
which have been the guide Of my public
duct.
In my second letter to Alabama, assuming that the
Annexation OIL lexua might ne accomplished wltnout
national dishonor without war, with the general
sent Of the States Of the Union, and upon fair and
reasonable terms, stated that should be glad 10
see it. did not suppose that it was possible could
be misunderstood I imagined every body would
comprehend intending that, whatever might be
my particular views and opinions, should be happy
to SEQ what the whole nation might in desir-
ing under the conditions stated Nothing further
from my purpose than to intimate any change Of o.
pnion ms long any considerable and respectable
portion of the Confederacy should continue to stand
ont in opposition to the Annexation of Texas
In all three Of my letters upon the subject Texas
stated that Annexation inadmissible except up
on fair and reasonable terms, il every other objection
were removed. In a speech which addressed to
the Senate oftho United States than three years
ago, avowed my opposition, for tho reasons there
stated, to the assumption, by the General Govern
ment, OF the debts of the several States It was
hardly, therefore, to be presumed that could be in
favor Of assuming the unascertnncd deb, Of foreign