The Mississippi Creole. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1841-1851, 1848-04-21


consult with them before / took q final step.
Accordingly in tue course of the last three
months, I1iaye-had many opportunities Of CON.
fcrring fully and freely with them.
Many of them have addressed to me the
strongest appeals, andthe most earnest .entreal-
les, both verbally and written, to dissuade me
from executing my in ended purpose. They
have represented to me that the Withdrawal OF
my name would be fatal to the success, and
perhaps lead to the dissolution Of the party with
which | have been associated, especially in the
free States; that at no former period did there
ever exist 50 great a probability Of my election,
if would consonrto the use Of my name that
the great States Of New York and Ohio, would
in all human probability, cast their votes for
me; that New York would more certainly bes-
tow her suffrage upon me than upon any other
candidate, and that Ohio would give her vote to
no candidate residing in the slave States but to
me that there is a better prospcct'th a has
heretofore at any time existed; that Pennsylya-
HtH HDHAN III VIZ AAOhi1 tH1t ~
can be elected without the concurrence Of two
of those three States, andnone could be defeat
ed upon whom all three OF them should be uni
ted: that great numbers of our fellow citizens,
both Of native and foreign birth, who were de-
coived and therefore voted against me at the
last election, are now eager for an opportunity
Of bestowing their suifrages upon me; and that
whilst there is a strong and decided preference
for me, entertained by the great body of the
Whig party throughout the Uhited States, they
Che friends to whom | refer at the same time
are convinced that | am more available than
any candidate that could be presented to the
American people,
l do not pretend to vouch for the accuracy
Of all these representations, although do not
entertain a doubt that they have been honestly
made, and arc sincerely believed.
It has been moreover urged to me that the
great Obligations under which | have hitherto
placed by a large portion of The United States,
the full force of which no one can be more
sensible Of than l am, demand that | should not
withhold the use Of my name, lift be required
And | have been remindedof frequent decIara-
atoms which | have made, that while life and
health remain, a man is bound to render his
best services upon the call Of his country.
Since my return home, | have qnxiously de
liberated upon my duty to myself, to my prin-
ciples, to my friends, and above all, to my
country. The conflict between my unaffected
desires to continue in private life. as most con-
genial with my feelings and condition, and my
wish faithfullyto perform all my public duties,
has been painful and embarrassing. If | re-
fuse the use Of my name, and those ~injuriuos
consequences should ensue, which have been
so confidently predicted by friends, | should
Justly incur their reprOaches, and reproaches
of my own heart. And if, on the contrary,
J should assent to the use Of my name, what
ever the resultmay be, | shall escape both.
have therefore, finally decided to leave TO
the National Con, %ention, which is to assemble
next June, the consideration Of my name, in
connection with such Others as may be presen-
ted to it, TO make selection ola suitable cam
didate for President of the United States
And whatever may be the issue of Its fair and
full delibefation, it will meet with my prompt
and cheerful acquiescence.
1t will be seen, from what have stated, that
there was reason to anticipate that | would
decline giving my consent to the use Of my
name again as a candidate for the Presidency
of the United States. Owing perhaps, to this
as well as other causes many of my friends
and fell6w-citizens have avowed a preference
for, and directed their attention to-, the distin-
guished names of other citizens of the United
States. take pleasure in truly declaring, that
| have no regret to express, no complaints, no
reproaches to make on account of any such
preferences, which | I'm fully persuaded are
generally founded on honest and patriotic con-
%victions. II. CLAY.
Ashland 10Th, April, l848.