Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1844-08-16
MIX. CLAY AND ANNEX

Monitor, and tho following is the cause Of its be-
ing called forth: The above named Editor, in his
paper of tho 10Th June, in speaking of Mr.. Clay
and tho Toxas question, amongst other things,
said:-
sit has boon falsely charged by his opponents,
that Mr.. Clay addressed himself, for support, TO
the Abolitonists Of tho North, III the following
passage of his letter
IL do not think that Tcxns ought to be received
into tho Union, integral part Of it, in deer
dcd opposition to tho wishes of a considerable and
respectable portion Of the Confodcracy.'
Aftcr abiding to another part of his lctor,
which, taken i'll connection with the above. show
ed that he referred to the States, and tho
people Of tho onfcdcracy, stated that Mr..
Clays meaning was, .'that if any considerable
and respectable number Of States to assume
attitude throatnng the integrity of, likely
dissolve the Uuion rather than admit Tcxas-
then with such prospect. annexa ton ought II be
abandoned 10 preserve the | nIon.'
Wo forwarded to Mr.. &. copy Of the Monitor
containing tho article and also a note respectfully
calling his attention 10 il. His reply puts end,
ut once, to all speculation the subject
ASHLAND July 1911.
Ny Dear Stir-I received and thank you for
your friendly letter, and tho copy Of tho Monitor.
You have justly conceived my meaning, when
referred IN my Texas letter. to a considerable and
respectable portion Of the Confodcracy. And
YOU might have strengthened your construction of
the paragraph, by reference to tho fact that at
tho dato Of my cttor. tho States Of Ohio. Ncrmont
and Massachusetts had, almost unanimously. de
clarcd against annncXation the Legislature of
Georgia has declined to recommend IT, and other
States wo believe TO be adverse to tho measure.
As to tho idea of my counting the Abolitionists.
it IS perfectly absurd. No in tho United
States has been half so much abused by them as |
havo been.
consider tho Union great political partner
ship; and that now members ought not TO DO ad
mlttcd into the concern at tho imminent hazard
of its dissolution Personally, | could have no
objection to tho annexation of Texas; but certain
Iy would be unwilling to SEQ the existing Union
dissolved or seriously leoparded for tho sake of
acquiring Texas. If any one desires to know the
loading and paramount object of my public life,
tho preservation of this Union will furnish him
tho key.
From tho developments now bong mado in
South Carolina, it is perfectly manifest that
party exists in that State seeking dissolution Of
the Union, and for that purpose employing the
protcxt of Mr.. Tylor's abomnablc Treaty. South
Carolina, bcing surrounded by Slave States,
would. in tho event of q dissolution of the Uuion,
suffer only compa rative evils; but it IS otherwise
with kentucky. Sho has tho boundary of the
Ohio extending five hundred miles three free
States. w hat would her condition be in the c.
vent of the greatest calamity that could bofal this
nation!
In koituckv, tho Texas question will DO tho
Wing cause no prejudice. am glad to perceive.
in tho proceedings of tho Clay Club of Tuscaloosa
similar belief expressed to Tyler iii the most
cNccptionablo manner, for sinister purposes, and
its bursting has injured nobody but Mr.. Van Blu
rem.
Retaining agreeable recollection of tho
pleasure which | derived from forming your &C
Gu231Tf nco last Spring, remain your friend and
OBeuV(At servant,
H.CLAY.
STEPHEN L. MILLER, Esq, Tuscaloosa. Ala.
Though willing to receive Abolition votes. and
wo doubt not but that no will receive largo
number of them, yot Mr.. Clay finding that his po-
l,cal opponents had misroprcsentod the motives
that dictated his former letter. and wishing
ono to be deceived as his true position, boldly
comes out and clearly defines his meaning. No
can now mistake the ground occupied by Mr..
Clay on the Texas question. In tho present pos
turo of affairs, disconnected from surrounding cir
cumstanccs, and under favorable state Of affairs,
Mr.. Clay is free to admit that personally he could
have no objection to the annexation of Texas,
yet, knowing the hostility that exists against that
measure by. VIC bolicvo majority of tho people
of tho Unitod States, and which will continue to
exist. he fecls that. under such n state of facts.
tho annexation of 'ToXas would be at tho ''inlmi-
ncnt hazard of the dissolution of the Union, and.
therefore, opposes it.
With Mr.. Clay all personal considerations
freely sacrificed for the good of his country. The
great effort of his life has been to preserve the l.
nion-and twice no has manfully stepped to its
when on tho brink Of destruction. \
third time he comes forth to meet and baltic with
tho spirit of Modification and Disunon.-Thcso
and although they have again arisen under new
names, to affect their old purpose. Yet again they
will bo doomed 10 fail. That the annexation of
Texas would seriously joopardize, If not entirely
dissolve, tho Union. most soemniy believe.