Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1844-10-07
LETTER FROM Mr.. CLAY.

Te The Editors Of he National hteagtnesr
ASHLAND. sEPrLnrra 3. 1914.
GENTLEMEN: Since my nomination al Baltimore IN
May last by the " hg Convention rs caudId1ta flr
tie olcr Of President Vi lhe tueed States have Il
.eiscd many letters propouodng ~ ae qaesons on pub
ic Affairs, and utAcTs may have been addfcssc - INT
WHICH never received. " a,os, Of hose which fasr
reached zoe have replied bal TO sumo | have MI, he
either te cis 81 which they treated such
that. 10 respect 0l them, NY opinl1ns. tlon2 had
been sufficiently pfoniulgsied that they Did nu POS.
scss. nay Judgment. sutie cut importance fcqute
ED lf1,n desire say 10 lie public.
through You, that considering the spproach OF the
PRESIDENTIAL election, shall henceiarwafd respectfully
aeelIlc 10 uausIt ur publication any leliefs hom me
aas~el ~ any eislanes upon pablis matters
AN.r ny nsalnalun doubted Tia rruPfiry as !
std d. Of answering any lrtlers upln questions 81
,.dblic piicy. One aho may be q randidale iut ha
,hoi Magsrac, III the Natoa II elfr,td. ought 10 Gu
ies nlon ite discaTse a. she hgh dutcs connected ia
TIA, eiiss niih ms ihind open and uo1ammped uplu
all new questions hieh may arse va .hs coursr al his
administrator. and uady ~ avail himself 81 all The
Hgb ~ ich lac may drive lv'n is ah,Hei, run Gun
guess, aud, a.AIse al, from the publc opinion.
Is, "a advance lie should commit hims II 10 ind sldnals
" h1 nsy ,hnh proper sddfcss han, he may deprive
ile pubic aao hiJseli 81 The benefit If hase gtasl guides
EateTlaiaiog his view, was ny intention, after ny
Nomination. 10 declsne answering 1T Publication all qdte
itns gsi might le pFoluuudtd tt ne But, IN iufhef
HactHis. "a apptsred 10 ti4t II latp,sed his ri
ivnce upsn myself. ai-Ai cuuTay TO the UHlorn ten
ousy lie, 10 D. unwilling t-nkiy and iraIessy
- sasaiit ny opinions to tie ps1e Judgment ,hrte
iHe 81 iF desl4led ifou niy hfs pur@r "a respond
80 ls4efs addressed 10 me, making inquiries IN regard q
euig heA had been much asltaied Of tie an-
ssefs winch 81 Transmitted, ne were iuirnGedrN
svssty iiT ihe satisfaction al 10Y cuuesl 0Hteuts, wth
,ai any eAPte'-u0n oa nay ran OF their beng deemed
wofhs al pasl eitan ~ regard - iiDse which have
hen presented u he public. missncep,ln. AMI
IA
ihrs dad nj ulhoze, which. at all events con
irsry To ny Intentions
u ann 4uncins my determination 10 permit no Other
eisers ~ &c drawn lfnu public Affairs tbmk II
1g 10 avail mys ui iho occasion 10 correct The etons
iusefpfe II If those had pfoy i1ds
y wr,en. la Ap1l lisi addressed "a you. Ilum RI
igh. letter 10 respect 10 the proposed ifraly ano,Xn
leAss 10 The United STATS. aad have addressed Is,
ieSi,fs AZ Alabsms upon the SUBJECT Most unWar
,anicd I'D esauas hast bteu .sde that those letters
nc-nslslen With each other and a. make ont panic
nlaf phrases expressions aaye been ofn iIMa hrr
context, and meaning attributed 10 which neye
.aieTtaInrd.
| wish now distinctly 10 say that there is no, feel
ihg. sentiment OF an opinion Xprtssrd nmy kale9l
letter II which do not adhere. an, decidedly opposed
The Immediate annexation OF Texas 10 the United States
lhinh II would be dishonursbe, might involve them II
war. would be dangerous 10 the integrity and harmon!
al The mon, and, II all these objections were removed
could ns be I'll cled, according any Information pos
htss, uIun lasi aud admissible conditions
II ass aUl my intention, Ia either Of tho Two letter
winch Addressed To Aahlul 10 express any contrary
epiaipn. Representations have been made to that
considered as mtl eXIby opposed 10 the annexation
uf Texas under any Circumstances aud thai my oppO
si;ioa VAS 81 eXrtue that would not waive II, otei
iiihere genera consent 10 Tie measure b, all th
states of the thi1n. ,eoed IN my fret letter IL Al
ahana that personally nd Oh jecimn 10 annexation
lhon.hl that any ueanng wss sufficiently obvious
that had personal. private, " 'adyIdaal m5lfe'
iaf uppusing iaye Tor espousia1 the measure
nay judgment bela. altogether influenced by gearal 1n
Political c0aSdrraons, winch have been the guld
OH publlc cOaduci.
IN NY sec1Hd letter Ia Alabama. assunin. that tn,
annexation ui Tex might b. accomplished without na
,ioUsl dishen i, without waf, Will the general con
sent oil the States 0i the Union, AMI upon ial
aud reasonable sefns. sailed tat wulli be- glad /,
zee IT, DID noi SUPPOSE THAI II possible could b
missudersh ud. imagined every body would coiupre
heij me IS shieadug tat, whatever might be my par
icuar sews aad opinions. should be- happy 10 ste Ia
the whole nation might eoreur IN desiring uUdtr III,
conditions stated. Nothing VAS further rum my put
pse ihsn IL la,..,ae any change Of opinion Ion.
Ry CONSIDERABLE aud ,s1ee'abie pJiIon Of The tonede
iaey SHOULD continue sahJ epi IA opp1s0n 10 the an
HsAaon VI Texas.
In all ihIee OF 10y letters opan The subject NJ Texas
Stated 3al annexation Mas igadmisble accept un TAI
and reasonable icfs, II every otter objection were ~
snosed Ia spec ch which addressed 4, III, Senate u
The Dnited States niure titan three years aau ayowe
any opposvn. ior The reaso.s there stated to the as
Sumption. By lte General Government, IT the debts I
lie sestra States. IL MAS hardly, therefore, 10 be pfe
snmed thai could be "a favor ol ASSUMING the una,
ce!isined de VI iofeige State. with which we have
fd.efnsi lies, and whose bad faith violation o, lis en-
gagene gis ,'a0 bring no reproaehes upon US.
Having thus. g,nilemen made the apology which
iaended lsr omsspn u answer any letters ui iaquif,
upon pubic ATLAS Which have received announce,
my parpjsc decnae henceloraard Transmitting al
s@efs lf publication To any such letters that may her,
after receive AID vindics ~ ut thase which
have forwarded AGAINST the err nous cansTuc items
winch they have been exposed. ha We accomplished tn
purpose o iis oe, and remain, ruspcc, uy your ohe
dient sersan', H. CLAY.
alessfs Gales & S.aton
George Washington on Protection - Extrac, !, 81
anskAeI Il lhe lllLrss ni Ihn l.l.....-