The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-05-19
Gen, Taylor and MIR. Clay.

The Lexington Observer is evidently not satisfied
with Gen Taylors last letters; though it does not give
vent to all the feelings which they have inspired
contents itself with referring the whole question to the
wing conventions and with declaring its deep conviction
that, of all the public in the land there is not
upon whom the entire wing party of the north and south,
east and west unite with much unanimy upon
Mr. Clay has been the peculiar feature in the life
this statesman, that his has been SUCH all times
and upon all questions, to produce entire confidence
in him in every section of the Union"
The Richmond letter of Gen. Taylor (of April 2O) has
led to curious issue of fact between his friends and Mr.
Clays In this letter, the General makes the following
positive averment
90 do design withdraw my name Mr. Clay be the
nominee of the Wing National Convention and in this
connexon beg permission to remark that the
which have been so positively made in of the north
ern prints to the effect that should M clay be the
nee Of The Wh'g National Conrention, had stated that
vofd not suffer my TO be used correct and
have no foundation in any oral or written remark of
1t has not been my intention, at any moment change
my position or to Withdraw my name from the canvass,
whoever may be the nominee of the National Convention
either of the wing or democratic party"
In opposition to this declaration, report speaks of pre-
vious letter from General Taylor to Mr. Clay which the
ast-named gentleman brought to Washington, and show
ed to some Of his peculiar friends-amoag the rest
the Washington correspondent of the Philadelphia
''North American" who wrote, on the 9th February,
in the following terms:
No state Of affairs arise by which either of these
distinguished will be placed an attitude of hostility
to each other as candidates for the presidency If Mr. Clay
should consent to the use of his name, which has in no
manner or form been indicated authorized and should
receive the nomination of Wing National Convention
have the best for believing that Gen Tayo under
no circumstances Whatever will permit his enter
INTO the canvass. II, the other hand, in view Of the
condition oil the country the convention should select Gen
Taylor rs our standard bearer, Mr.. Clay will cordially and
jealousy cooperate in his support, that ofany other
nominee who may be chosen"
ms same correspondent writes on Monday last, that
his authoTty for much OF the statement as refers to
Gen Taylor derived from letter to distinguished
gentleman, (of course Mr. Clay,) in which this sentiment
was clearly and emphacally expressed" As oonas he
saw Cen Iaylors letter TO the "Rchmond Republican
he applied for extract of the letter which formed the
basis of his assertions
=" have this day (May I5,h) received (savs the North
American sponden reply my application which
declined on the ground ha the letter is private and was
exhibited under the implication Of confidence am thus
fank because do not choose that should in any
way be misunderstood or that any shade of suspicion
should fall upon this correspondence of having contained
assertions not fully warranted by facts
:" It'll this explanation have say, distinctly ana
broadly that shortly before the meeting of Congress, Gen
iayio did write letter containing the sentiment originally
published by and in susceptible of novnannr
msinierpefatton My language does afford just con
;epton OF the force and decne of his expression though
u embraces the main feature of supporting Mr. Clay
he event of his nomination by the wing convention"
We leave it to Gen. Taylor, or his friends to clea up
this contradiction between what he wrote to Mr.. Clay
and what he wrote about him But the correspondent OF
the North American is not the only person who thus De
scnbes the contents of the letter to Mr.. Clay. we
could name a member of Congress who gives the same
version OF the letter. And il this be correct leave
to the world to Judge of Gen Tayo consistency OF con-
duct We have been asked to publish the whole series
OF his letters, from the Signal correspondence down
the present time 1t will be done of course show Oh
'the Complete Letter-wrer,' if he be the presidential
candidate