Baton-Rouge gazette. [volume] (Baton-Rouge, La.) 1819-1856, 1848-04-22
Y poaitLon Of Henry Clay.

K Position Of Henry Clay.
We copy from the Lexington Obserter,
Of the 18th instant, the address Of Mr..
Clay to the public, from which it will be
sren that he will not dc seine a nomination
for the Presidency
TO THE PUBLIC.
The various aud conflicting reports which
have been In circulation, In regard to my
intentions with respect to the next Presj
dency appear 10 me TO furnish Il proper
ocepEion for a full. frank, and explicit
exposition of my feelings, wishes aud
views upon that subject. This il is now
my purpose 10 make.
with a strong di5inclination TO the use OF
my name again in connection with
that office, ! left my residence IN Dtcem.
Der last, under the determination TO an
noutce to the public, in some suitable form,
my desire not 10 be thought Of as q eau
didAte. During my absence, | frequently
expressed 10 different gentlemen my IN.
Willingness to he again IN that attitude;
but no one was authorized TO publish my
decision one way or the other, having re.
served the right exclusively TO myself On
reflection. | thought It WA due TO 'tny
II ends to consult before | took a inRl and
decisive step.
Accordingly, IN the course oftho last
three months, | have had many opportt
mites of comforting fully aud freely with
them, Many Of them have addressed 10
me the strongest appeals, aud the most
earnest cntreaties, both verbally and writ.
ten, to dtsHuade me from executing my in.
tended purpose. They have represented
to me that the Withdraw wal Of my name
would BE- fatal 10 the success, and perhaps
lead 10 the dissolution of the party with
which | have been associated, especially
uru there rVnr exist SO great D probaBIatY
ofmy election, III wotfl consent to the
use of my name; that the great States of
New York aud Ohio would. IN all human
probability, cast their votes for me; that
New York would more certainly b. STOW
her suffrage upon me than upon any other
candidate, and that Ohio would give her
voIe To no candidate residing In the Slave
States bit IN me; that there is n better
prospect than has heretofore at any time
existed that Pennsylvania would unite with
them; that no candidate can be elected
without the concurrence Of two of those
three States, and none. could be defeated,
upon whom all three of them should be IL
hited; that great numbers of our fellow.
citizens, both of native and foreign birth,
VINO were deceived and therefore voted n.
gainst me AZ the last election, are now ca.
yer for an opportunity Of bestowing their
suffrages upon me; and that, whilst there
Is n strong and decided preference for me,
entertained by the great body of the Wing
throughout the United States, they
The friends to whom | refer) at the same
convinced that | nm more available
any candidate that could be present
to the American. people.
lido not pretend to vouch for the accura-
OF all these representations, although |
do not entertain IA doubt that they have
been honestly made, and are sincerely
believed
II has been moreover urged to me that
he great obligations nnder which | have
been hitherto placed, by a large portion Of
he& nited States, the full force OF which
10 one can be more sensible of than
am, demand that | should not withhold
use of my name, if ii be required
And have been reminded o~ffrequent dc.
which | have made, that whilst
ito and health remain, u man is bound
o render his best services to bis country,
Since my return home, | have anx,oEsly F.
upon my duty to myself, to my l.,
'rlnciples, to my friends, and, above all, to !
ny Countrywide conflict between nv {
Unaffected desire to continue in private t
as most congenial to my feelings and
ondItton, and my wish faithfully to per- (,
orn all my public and private duties. hav. :
cen painful and embarrassing. III re-
the use of my name, aud those iniuri. "
'us consequences should ensue, which p
ave been 50 confidently predicted by il
lends, should justly incur their r~eproac6. .
s. and the r~eproaches Of my " heart. :.
nd, i, on the contrary | should assent to Il
10 use OF my name, whatever the result $
- - SNAIL escape both. II
| have therefore, finally decided to leave n
the National Convention. which i n +
ssemble next June, the consideration of :
y name, in connection with such others I
may be presented to il, to make a sn,ta- h
e candidate for President Of the United IN
.ates. And whatever may be the issue b
It's iair and full deliberations, ii will meet :,
IN my prompt and full acquiescence. =
1t will be seen, from wha. | have stated !.
there was reason TO anticipate that u
ould decline giving my consent 10 the use 70
my name again as a candidate for tbe cd
residency ofthe United States, Ow;nn
to this, as well as other eapses
any of our friends and fellow -cifiyens nv
avowed q preference for, and direct !.
their attention to the DISTINGUISHES ~
mes of other citizens Of the UnitsJ II
ates. take pleasure in truly decIaring -
have no regrets TO express. no COM
ints, noreproaches to make on accom-, A.
any such preferences, which | am full -
suaded are generally founded on homes III
patriotic convictions. I'll. CLAY. p@
PA to40. Ieye