The Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1834-184?, 1844-10-17
ALETTER FROM Mr.. CLAY.
Tothe Editors of the National Inteiligencer.
ASHLAND. Sept. D. l844.-

ueni OF Tue Ohlied STATES, ] nave received
many letters %propounding 10 me questions on
public Affairs, and others may have been ad-
dressed to me which | never received. To
most of those which have reached me | have
replied; but TO some Lhave not, because Ell
Their the subjects of which they treated were
such as thai, in respect ofthem, my opinions,
| thought, been sufficiently Promulgated, 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 yon, that, considering the near APP
preach OF the Presidential election, | shall
h~enceforward respectfully decline 10 transmit
for publication any letters from me in answer
TO inquiries upon public matters.
After my nomination, | doubted the pro-
priety, as | still do, of answering any letters
upon new questions of public policy. One
who NAV be a candidate Ter the Chief Mag;s-
tracy of The Nation, i elected, ought 10 enter
upon ihe dischaige of The high duties con-
necied with that Office with his mind open
aud u~uconmitted upon all new questions
which may arise in the course of It's admins,
is~traiion, and ready 10 avail himself ofall the
lights which he may derive from his Cabinet
from Congress, and, above all, from the
public opinion.
II, in advance, he should commit himself
TO individuals who may think proper 10 adj
dress him, he may deprive the public and
himself of the benefit of those great guides.
Entertaining this view, il was my intention,
after my nomination, to decline answering
for publication all questions that might be
propounded 10 me-, But, ON further reflec-
ton, il appeared 10 me that if | imposed this
silence upon myself, | might, contrary TO the
uniform tenor of my life. seem 10 be unwil-
ling frankly and fearlessly 10 submit my opin-
ions 10 the public judgment. | therefore so
far deviated from my first purpose as 10 res
pond 10 letters addressed 10 me, making in
Iquiries in regard to subjects which had been
much agiia,ed. Ofthe answers which | so
transmitted, some were intended exclusively
for the satisfaction of my correspondents,
without any expectation on my part of their
beeing deemed worthy of publication. In
regard 10 those which have been presented
to the public, misconceptions and erroneous
constructions have been given TO some of
Them which think they did not authorize or
which, at all events, were contrary TO my in
t~entions.
In announcing my determination TO per-
nit no other letters TO be drawn from me on
public affairs, Ittink it right TO avail myself
! Of the occasion TO correct the erroneous in
terpreialion Of one or two of those which
bad previously written. In April last | adj
dressed to you, from Raleigh, a letter inre-
spect TO the proposed treaty annexing Texas
10 the United States, and | have since adj
dressed two letters 10 Alabama upon the
same subject. Most unwarranied allegations
hive been made that those letters are inct n
sisient with each other, and, To make il Out,
particular phrases of expressions have been
Torn from their context, and a meaning at
tributed TO me which | never entertained.
| wish now Distinctly TO say that there is
not a feeling, a sentiment, or an opinion ex-
pressed in my Raleigh letter to which 1 do
not adhere. am decidedly opposed to the
immediate annexation of Texas 10 the Uni.
ted States. | think il would be dishonora-
BILE, might involve them in war, would be
dangerous to the integrity and harmony of
the Union, and, if all these objections were
removed, could not be effected accordingly
any Inflammation | possess, uponjust and ad-
missable conditions.
1 was not my intention, in either OF the
two letters which | addressed TO Alabama, to
express any contrary opinion. Representa-.
tiohs had been made to me that | was con
sidered as infexibly opposed TO the anne xa
ton ofTexas under any circum stances; ano
that my opposition was SO extreme that
would not waive it, even ifthere were a gen
eral consent 10 The measure by all of The
States of the Uuion. | replied, in my frs
letter to Alabama, that personally, | had NJ
objection to annexation. I thought that my
meaning was sufficiently Obvious, that ! hat
no PERSONAL, private, or individual motives
for opposing, as | hi re none for ~espousing til.
measure, m Judgment being altogether IN
6uenced by general aud p~iiticAi cousidera
ltians, which hive ever beea the guide OF IN
puii c Conduct.
In INV second ~leiterio Aiabam,. assam n,
i littilie annexu on OF Tsxts might be atcsn.
Iplsl red without aitiehil dIsiiouof, wiihnu
war, with The general coaseat of the S ale
of the Uni"n, aud npn fair and reasouabl
terms. Lslaied thai / should be glid to Sc
il. ldid not sdpplse that ii was possible
conld be misunderstood. imagined ever
body would comprehend me as ntendin
thai, whatever might be my particular view
and opiuions, | should be happy 10 see wha
!: the whole nation might concur in desirin
under the conditions stated. Nothing wa
further from my purpose than to intimate an
: change ofopinion rs long asany c,nstderabl
q and respectable portion of HE Contederac
should continue to stand out in opposition
The annex iiion of Texls.
d In all lhree of my letters upon The suhje'
of Texas, | stated ihai annexation was II
admissible excep upon fair aud ~reasonab