Litchfield enquirer., 1848-04-20
Important Letter from Henry Clay.

ASkALH4 ~ TI't Az AoTS'
The various and conflicting reports
which have been in circulation as to
my intentions with respect to the
next Presidency, appear to me to
furnish proper occasion for full,
frank and explicit exposition Of my
feelings, wishes. and views upon that
subject. This it is now my purpose
to mike.
With strong Discrimination to the
use Of my name again in connexion
with that Office, ] left NY residence
in December last, under a determin-
a'ion to announce to the public, in
some suitable form, my desire not to
be thought of as candidate. In my
absence, frequently expressed to
different gentlemen my unwiIlingness
to be again in that attitude; though
no one was authorized to publish my
decision, one way or the other, hav>
i"greserved the right to do so exclu
sively to myself
On reflection, thought it due to
my friends 10 consult with them be-
fore took a decisive step. Accor-
dinghy, within the course Of the last
three months, have had an oppor|
tunity of consulting fully and freely
with them, many e them having
addressed to me the strongest ap-
peals and the most earnest enireatles
both verbally and written, todissuade
me from executing my intended pur-
pose. They represent to me that
the withdrawal Of my name would
be fatal to their success. and perhaps
lead to the dissolution Of the party
with which | have been associated,
particularly in the free states that
ar no former period did'there exist so
great probability Of my election, if
| would consent to the use of my
name that the great states of New
York and Ohio would, in all ploba-
bility, cast their vote for me ; that
New York would more certainly be-
stow her suffrage upon me than any
other candidate that Ohio would
give her vote to no candidate in the
slave states, blu, to me that there is
better prospect than has heretofore
at any time existed, that Pennsylva-
mia would unite with them that no
candidate can be elected without the
concurrence of two of these states {;
and none could be decided upon on
whom all OF them could be united !;
that great numbers Of our fellow
citizens, both Of native md foreign
birth, who were deceived and there.
fore voted against me at the last
election, are now eager for an OPP
portunity Of bestowing their sutfrages
upon me and while there is strong
and decided preference for me, en-.
tertained by the great body Of the
Wh;g party throughout the United
States, they, the friends to whom |
refer, at the same time are convin>
ctd that | am more available than
any candidate that could be present
ed for the American people. | do
not pretend to vouch for the accu.
racy of all these representations,
although do not entertain a doubt
ii { they have been honestly made,
md are sine erely believed.
II has been, moreover, urged to
me that The great obligation under
which I have been hitherto placed By q
large portion the people Of the United
States. the fun of which no one can be more
sensible Of than am, demands that
shonld not withhold the use ,,f my name, il
Il should be required, and have. been re-
LAinded Of frequent declarations which ]
have made, that while lie and health re-
| mam, man is bouRd 70 render his best
| services uron the can of his country.
Since my return home. have anxiously
delibeTated uPOL my duty 10 myself 70 my