Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1848-04-21
THE PRESIDENCY,

Aette' JfOW HT. CtGy-HS OO"oo'
Candidate. The following from the hon.
Henry Clay settles the disputed point, as 10
his desire to be candidate for the Presidency:
ASHLAND. April 10. 184s:
To the Public. The various and connect
| inc renorts which have been in circulation, IN
regard TO nv intentions with respect to the
neyt Presidency, appear to me to furnish a
nroner occasion for a full, frank and explicit
exnosition of my feelings, wishes and views
mon the subject. This it is now proper to
make. With strong Discrimination 10 the
use of my name again in connection with that
Office, left my residence in December last,
under determination to announce to the pub
lie, in some suitable form, my desire not to be
thought of as candidate. During my alb
sence, frequently expressed 10 different gen
tlemen my unwillingness to be again in that
attitude, but though no one was authorised to
publish my decision one way or the other,
having reserved the right to do so exclusively
to myself, on reflection, thought it was due
to my friends TO consult with them before
took decisive and final step.
| Accordingly, within the course OF the last
three months, have had opportunity of con-
ferring fully and freely with them. Many OF
them have addressed to me the strongest ap-
peals and the most earnest entreat:es, both
verbally and written, TO dssuade me from ex
ecuting my intended purpose. They repre-
scented 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, particularly IN
the free States; that at no former period did
there ever exist so great probability OF my
election, if would consent TO the use OF my
Al. A. 0F orb
and Ohio would in all probability cast their
votes for me; that New York would more
certainly bestow her suffrage upon me than
upon any other candidate; that Ohio would
give her vote to no candidate residing in the
Slave States but to me; that there is better
prospect than has heretofore at any time eXis-
) ted, that Pennsylvania would unite with them;
that no candidate can be elected without the
! concurrence of two of these three States, and
none could be defeated upon whom all of them
should be united; that great numbers of our
fellow citizens, both of native and foreign
birth, who were deceived, and therefore voted
against me at the last election, are now ca
ger for an opportunity of bestowing their SUI
, frages upon me that whilst there is a strong
and decided preference for me entertained by
the great body of the whig party throughout
, the United States, they-the friends to whom
t | refer-are convinced that am more availa-
BILE than any candidate that could be presen-
: ted for the American people. do not pre-
tend the vouch for the accuracy of all these
, representations, although | do not entertain a
doubt that they have been honestly made and
: are sincerely believed. 1t has been moreover
urged to me that the great obligations under
which have been hitherto placed by a large
portion of the people of the United States, the
J full force of which no one can be more sensi-
t Bile of than | am, demand that [ should moi
Withhold the use of my name if it should be re-
quested and | have been reminded of fire.
quent declarations which I have made, that
, whilst life and health remain, a man is bound
to render his best services upon the call of his
2 country.
Since my return home, l have anxiously
deliberated upon my duty to myself, to my
: principles, to my friends, and above all, to my
t country. The conflict between my unaffected
desire to continue in private life, as most con-
: genial with my feelings and condition, and
: my wish faithfully to perform all my public
2 duties, has been painful and embarrassing. Il
refuse the use of my name, and those injuri.
Gus consequences should ensue which have
S been so confidentally predicted by my friends
e | should Justly incur their reproaches, and the
reproaches of my own heart; and if, on the
contrary, I should assent to the use of my
i, name, whatever the result may be, shall es
, cape both. | have therefore finally decided to
S leave 10 the National Convention, which is tt
t assemble in June, the consideration OF my
;, name in connection with such others as may
n be presented to it, to make selection of ;
: suitable candidate for President of the Unitee
: States; and whatever may be the issue of it
}, fair and full deliberations, it will meet witt
/. my prompt and cheerful acquiescence 1t will
: be seen from what have stated, that ther
Il was reason to anticipate that would declin
! giving my consent TO the use of my nam
/ again as a candidate for the Presidency of tn
If United States. Owing, perhaps, TO this, a
t. we'll as other causes, many of my friends ant
S fellow citizens have avowed a preference 70
i and directed their attention to the distinguish
n ed names of other citizens of the United States
d | take pleasure in truly declaring that hav
n no regrets to express-no compIaints-no re
e proaches to make on account of any such pre-
l. ferences which l am fully persuaded are gen
n orally founded on honest and patriotic convic
= tons. H. CLAY.