Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1848-09-29


,enn1 If were not nominated, to sustain and |
~ mort the nominee, whoever he might be
and that hoped they would do so heart and
soul. That / was candidate for the Presi-
dencv. only so far as my friends had chosen
to make me one but that having been placed
in nv present attitude towards that subject,
without any agency or act OF my own, direct
ly or indirectly, did not feel myself a: l1ber-
ty, by any such act, to withdraw myself that
nv friends. in whose hands had ever been,
could do so whenever they should see mt, and
finally, that if they could succeed in electng
TO that office any one better quallted Tor lis
duties than I was, and who was at the same
time honest, truthful and patriotic, 1t was their
duty to go for him; and that, so far from be-
ing disappointed or mortified, l should hail
the result with Joy.
Such, think, has been the language which
| have uniformly held on this subject since
nv name was first mentioned in connection
with it. I regret that have not copy Of
nv communications to Judges Saunders and
Winchester: but the above | believe to be
their substance. Under the general authority
then thus given these gentlemen, | shall deem
whatever statements they may have made to
be right and proper and, confident IN their IN
tegrity and in the sincerity of their friendship
for me, shall sustain them without quaitlca-
ton. I, therefore, now take upon my own
shoulders the responsibility of the acts of the
Louisiana delegation, in that convention, and
am prepared to stand by the consequences, In
their length and breadth.
| regret exceedingly that my friends in Bal
tmore. whom you represent should have
thus misunderstood the course pursued by the
Louisiana delegation in the Convention, and
should have imagined that | had abandoned
the position which have uniformly held in
my published letters on this subject.
feel bound, however, to respect the opin-
ions of those who honestly differ with me
change of feeling or Inconsistency on my part
cannot expect or desire that any of my
friends, who you represent, should do violence
to their own sense of right and wrong, by
supporting my election, while they believe
have changed my political views. I ask no
man, be he Wing, Democrat, or Native, for
his vote take every American citizens in
terest in the welfare of hiscountry, TO he as
pure and as deep as my own; and have,
therefore, no right, and certainly no desire, to
influence his action in the exercise OF the i'm
portant duty of voting for the officers of this
Government.
Though have no objection to your circu-
latlng this communication among such of your
friends as may be interested in it, yet request
that it may not be published My aversion to
the appearance of my name in the public
prints, in connection with such subjects, is
my apology for the request.
With great respect. gentlemen. | am your
Messrs. Chas. H. Pitts. John w. Walker,
TIL s. Alexander, and others, Baltimore, Md.
LETTER FROM Mr.. CLAY TO THE VIR-
GINIANS.
The Richmond papers of the 26th inst,
publish the following letter from Mr.. Clay TO
The President of what is known as the ''Slaah
Convention"
ASHLAND, Sept. 10, 1913.
My Dear Sir Il duly received your very
kind official letter, transmitting the proceedings
of public meeting, held at the Slash Church,
in Hanover county, at which they did me the
honor to propose my name as candidate for
the Presidency, in terms highly fiaterng and
complimentary.
| recognise, among the persons assembled
on that occasion, many names with which, in
my youthful days, was very familiar and ex-
tremely ntimate-associates at school, play
mates, neighbors, friends The Slash Church,
too, where the assemblage took place, recalls
many early and agreeable recolections, as be-
ing that at which | received large part of
my imperfect education.
Regarding those proceedings as the affection
ale expression of the esteem, attachment and
confidence of my old companions, or their de-
scendants, have never received any similar
document with more qualification. or with SEN
tIments of more profound gratitude and pre-
sumo that it was in that sense that the procee-
dings occurred, and were transmitted by you
to me.
Considered as serious and formal presen-
tatlon of my name 10 the people of the United
States, as candidate for the Presidential Of
fee, am sure that you will not be surprised
at my saying that it is impossible for me TO
accept the nomination.
My name. with my consent, was submitted
to the consideration of the Philadelphia Con-
vention, which assembled in June last. That
body thought proper to nominate distinguish
ed citizen of the United States, and not me-
In view of the relation in which stood 10 the
Convention, | do not think that ought &c
pass any judgment upon its proceedings 1t
is sufficient for me to know that it did not
deem it expedient to nominate me. In this
decision have entirely acquiesced. l have
quietly submitted to it, and have given no en-.
couragement or countenance to any further
use or connection with my name for the Pre-
sldency. To this effect, I have uniformly
written to all associations and individuals who
have addressed me on the subject | hope that
my good friends of Hanover will approve OF
my adherence TO this resolution, dictated by
my honor, by regard to my character, and
by my desire of retirement Tell them under
what great obligations they have placed me,
and that shall cherish the proofs of their
friendship and confidence, which you have
sent me, among the most precious treasures of
memory.
Nor can | conclude without rendering to
you personally, my grateful acknowledge
ments for the kind and flattering terms in
which you have addressed me, and especially
for your touching allusion 10 the yenerated
memories of my lamented parents
am, with high r-epvce, ,ou. friend aud
obedient servant, II. CLAY.
Thomas G. Clarke, Esq.
GENERAL CASS.
Gen. Shields, in a recent speech, paid the