Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-10-03

no. M. intention. after my nomination,
Live answering for publication all questions
,niobi he nroroundcd to me. but, on l",,iici
,ndec,ien il appeared 10 nc that il impose" 'l'iS
SILENCE upon myself, might contrary u 'ne u,,
fnrm tenor Of nv life. seem 10 pc INV !. '. e
frankly and tcarlessly 10 submit my opii'';
,hc rublc iudslnen,. ], theret re- 20 IT deVia'eu
-. M, ,;rs nrpose as 10 respond 10 letters All
J,n.sed 10 me. making inquiries in regard 10 SUP
;ac,s which had been much agitaicd. vi Inc an,
,u.ers which so transmitted, some were ln'ehoea
eyc,nsiyeIv for the satisfaction Of my c"rreSl'on-
denis without any expectation on my pan Oh 'he'i
heinz deemed worthy ot publication In Ie2aiu
n those which have been presented 10 llie Php'lc
misconceptions and erroneous CONSTRUCTORS nave
been oiven 10 some OF them, when ''i'hh 'nel
did moi authorize, or which, al all eVehiS' "c'c
contrary Ia my intentions. go
In announcing nv determination TO permit no
others letters TO be drawn from me on PupH' az
fairs think il right To avail myself o. me occasion
ia correct the erroneous Interpretation OF one OF
Two of those which had previously Wril'Sh. y"
ApriI last | addressed 10 YOU from Ralci@f, lcl-
Ter in respect To The proposed treaty, d.iioN'''T
TEXAS 10 the United States, and have since ad-
dressed two letters 10 Alabama upon The same
suhiect Most unwarranted allegations nave
been made that those letters are INCONSISTENT WIN
each other, and 10 make il on, particular phrases
or expressions have been torn from their coh'eA''
and a meaning attributed 10 Inc which never en-
leilaincd.
wish now distinctly To say, that there is not a
feeling sentiment. or an opinion expressed III
nv Raleigh letter To which ] do not adhere
am decidedly opposed 10 the immediate a,ntxa-
lion of Texas 10 the United States. think IL
would be !ishonurablc, might involve them III
war. would be- dangerous 10 the integrity ana mar
mony of The Union, and, if all these objections
were removed, could not be effected, according Ia
any information possess, upon just and adinis-
sible conditions.
II was not nv intention, in either oil The two
letters which addressed 10 Alabama, 10 express
any contrary opinion. Representations had been
made 10 me that | was considered as inilexiby
opposed 10 the annexation Of Texas under any
circumstances; and that my opposition was 50
extreme that would lot waive il, even IL there
were 4 general consent 10 the measure By all lie
States Of the Union. ] replied, in my first letter
To Alabama thai personally had no objection
to annexation. | thought that my meaning was
sufficiently Obvious, tina, had no personal, pri-
vaic or individual motives for opposing, as !
have none Tor cspou>ing the measure my Judg-
ment being altogether influenced by general ana
political considerations, which have ever been lie
guide Of Iny public conduct.
In nv second letter la Alabama, assuming
pli>hcd without national dishonor. without war
with the general consent Of the States OF the
Union. and upon fair and reasonable terms.
stated that | should BE glad 10 see il. did hot
suppose that ii was possible could lie misrndcr-
stood | imagined every body would compre-
bend me as intending that, whatever light he
nv particular views and opinions, | should he
happy To see what the whole nation might con-
cur in desiring under the conditions stalled
Nothing was further from my purpose than Ia
intimate any change ol opinion as long a. any
considerable and respectable portion OF the Con-
iederacv should continue 10 stand out in opposi-
ton Ia the annexation Of Texas.
In all three Of my letters upon the subject oi
Texas stated. that annexation was inadmiSsi-
bic, except upon fair and reasonable terms, if eve
~ other objection were removed. In speech
which addressed To the Senate of the IT, STATES
more than three years age, | avowed my opposl-
ton for the reasons there stated. 10 the as>limI'-
lion by the General Government If The debts oi
the several States. 1t was hardly, therefore la he
presumed that could be- in favor Of assuming the
unasccraincd debt 81 4 foreign state. with which
we have no traternal ties, and whose bad faith or
violation of lis engagements can bring no lc-
proachcs upon rs
Having thus. gentlemen, made the apology
which intended. Tor my omission 10 answer any
letters of inquiry upon public affairs which
may have rcceivcd: announced my purpose 10
decline henccforwaid transmitting answers for
publication To any such letters thai may hereat-
Ter receive and vindicalcd some OF those which
| have forwarded, against the erroneous conS.ruc-
tons 10 which they have been exposed, have az
compliShcd the purpose of this note, and remain,
respectfully Your obcdicnt servant,
H. CLAY
Messrs. GALES & SEaToH.