Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1848-05-03
Henry Clay and the Presidency
To the Public.

The various and conflicting reports
which have been in circulation, in regard
to my intentions with respect to the
President, appear to me to furnish prop
err occasion for full, frank and explicit
exposition of my feelings, wishes and
views upon the subject. This it is now
my purpose to make.
With strong Discrimination to the use
of my name again in connection with that
Office, left my residence in December
last, under a determination to announce to
the public, in some suitable form, my de-
sire not to be- thought of rs c canaidete.----
During my absence, | frequently express
sed to different gentlemen my unwilling
ness to be again in that attitude; but no
one was authorized to publish my decis-
ion one way or the other, having prescrv-
ed the right to do so exclusively myself.
On reflection, | thought it was due to my
friends to consult with them before | took
a decisive step. Accordingly, in the
course Of the last three month, have had
many opportunities Of comforting fully and
freely with them. Many of them have
addressed TO me the strongest appeals, and
| the most earnest entreaties, both, verbally
and written, to dissuade me from cxecut-
ing my intended purpose. They have
represented to me that the withdrawal of
lmy name would be fatal to the success,
and perhaps lead to the dissolution of
The party with which have been associ-
ated, especially in the free States; that at
no former period did there ever exist, so
great a probability of my election, if I
would consent to the use Of my nance
that the great States of New York and
Ohio would, in all human probability, cast
their votes for me; that New York would
more certainly bcstow the suffrage upon
me than any other candidate, and that
Ohio would give her vote to no candidate
residing in the slave States, but me; that
there is a better prospect than has hereto
fore at any time existed that Pennsylva-
MIA would unite with them; that no can
didate can be elected without the concur
rance of two Of these three States, and
none could be defeated, upon whom all
three Of them should be united, that great
numbers of our citizens, both of
native and foreign birth, who were de-
ceived and therefore voted against me at
the last election, are now eager for an
opportunity Of bestowing their suffrage
for me and that there is a strong and de-
cided preference for me, entertained by
the great body Of the Wing party through.
out the United States, they (ehe friends
to whom | reier) at the same time are
convinced that am more available than
any candidate that could be pcsented to
the American people.
l do not pretend to vouch for the accu-
racy OF all these representations, although
| do not entertain doubt that they have
been honestly made, and are sincerely be-
lieved.
1t has been moreover urged to me that
the great obligations under which | have
been hitherto placed, by large portion of
the People of the United States, the force
Of which no one can be more sensible of
than ! am, demand that should not with
hold the use of my name, if it be requir-
ed. And | have been reminded of fire.
qnent declarations which | have made
that, whilst life and health remain, man
is bound to render his best services upon
the call of his country.
Since my return home l have anxious
ly deliberated upon my duty to myself, to
my country. The conflict between my
unaffected desire to continue in private
life, as most congenial with my feelings
and condition and my wish faithfully to
perform all my public duties, has been
painful and embarrassing. III refuse the
use Of my name, and those injurious con-
sequences should ensue, which have been
SO confidently predicted by friends, l
should justly incur their reproaches: and
the reproaches of my own heart. And,
|if, on the contrary, ! should assent TO The