Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1844-10-10
From the National Iniclligenccr of Tuesday oct
Letter from MIR. Clay.
To the Editors

GENTLeMEN-Since my nomination al
Baltimore in May last, by the wing
Convention, as candidate for the office
of President Of the United States, have.
received many letters propound'ng to me
questions on public affairs, and others
may have been addressed TO me which
| never received. 10 most Of those
which have reached me | have replied );
but 30 some ] have not, because either
the subjects of which they treated were
such Is that, in respect of them, my
opinions, thought, had been sufficiently
promulgated, or that they did not possess,
IN nv Jud gment, sufficient importance to
require an answer from me. l desire
now to say to the public, through you,
that, considering the near approach OF the
Presidential election, shall henceior-
ward respectfully decline to transmit for
publication any letters from me in answer
to inquiries upon public matters.
Aner my nomination | doubted the
propriety, as still do, Of answering any
letters upon new questions OF public
policy. One who may be candidate
for the Chief Mag isracy OF the Nation,
If elected, ought to enter upon the dis
charge of the high duties connected with
that office with his mind open and un-
committed upon air new questions which
ton, and ready to avail himself Of all the
lights which he may derive from his
Cabinet, from Congress, aud, above all,
from the public opinion.
If, in advance, he should commit him
self to individuals who may think proper
to address him, he may deprive the pub
lie and himself of the benefit of those
great guides. Entertaining this view,
it was my intention, after my nomination, l.,
to decline answering for publication all
questions that might be propoundcd to
me. But, on further reflection, it ap-
peared To me lha, if ! imposed this silence
upon myself ] ight, contrary to the UNI
form tenor Of my life, seem to be unwil-
ling frankly and iearless!y to submit my
opinions 10 the public judgment. | there
fore so far deviatcd from my first pIr
pose as TO respond to letters addressed TO
which had been much agiated. OF the
answers which ! so transmitted, some
were Intended exclusively for the salts.
faction of my correspondent, without any
expectation Oh my part OF their beng
deemed worthy publication. In regard
to those which have been presented to
the public, misconceptions and erroneous
constructions have been given to same
of them which think they did not au-
thorisc, or which, at all events, were
contrary TO my intentions.
In announcing my determination to
permit no other letters to be drawn from
me on public affairs, | think it rig Int to
avail myself Of the occasion 10 correct.
the erroneous Interpretation OF one or two
of those which ! had previously written.
In April last addressed to you, from
Raleigh,a letter in respect to the proposed
Treaty aHncying Texas to the United
States, and ! have since addressed two
letters to Alabama on the same subject
Most unwarran,ed allegations have been
made that those letters are Inconsistent
with each other, and, to make i, out,
particular phrases or expressions have
been torn from their context, and a mean
ing attributed TO me which never enter.
tanned.
wish now distinctly TO say that there
is not IA feeling, n sentiment, OF an opinion
expressed in my Raleigh letter to which
! do moi adhere ! am decidedly op
posed 10 the immediate ANNEXATION oi
Teyns 10 the United States. | think 1t
would be dishonorable, might involve
them in war, would be dangerous 10 the
integrity and harmony Of the Union, and
If all these objections were removed,
could not be effected, according to any
information ] possess, upon jus, and ad-
missible conditions.
II was not NY intention, IN either ofthe
two letters which addressed To Alabama,
10 express any contrary opinion. Repre-
sentalions had been made to me that
was considered rs inhrxlbly opposed IoI
the annexation of Texas under any cir
cumstances and that my opposition was
so extreme that would not waive it,
even if there were n general consent to-
the measure by all the States of the
Union. replied, in my first letter to
Alabama, that personally had no 0bJec
ton to annexation | thought that my
meaning was sufficiently Obvious, that
had no personal, private, or individual
motives for opposing, as have none for
espouSing the measure, my judgment,
being altogether influenced by general
and political considerations, which have
ever been the guide OF my public con
Duct
ln my second letter 10 Alabama, as
'umng that the annexation Of Texas
night be accomplished without national
lIshonor, without war, with the general
consent Of the States Of the Union, and
ipon TAI. and reasonable terms, ] Il
stated that ! should be glad 10 see \
t. l did not suppose lha, j, was
possible | could be misunderstood. -
ImagIned every body would compro.
Iend me as intending that, whatever
night be my particular views and Opin-
ons, ] should he happy TO see what The
Whole nation might concur in desiring
'nder the conditions stated. Nothing
vas inr'her from my purpose than to IN
innate any change of opinion AZ long as
my considerable and respectable portion
# the Couledarocy should continue TO
land on, in opposition to the annexation
II Texas. I.
la all three of my letters upon the sub II
ect oi IeSas J stated that annexation !
vas 'nadm'sslble except upon ialr aud /
casonable terms, # every other ohlec.
ION were rrmovcd In speech which |