Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1848-04-15

Ing the loss Of twenty horses and seven hundred
thousand pounds Of bacon, besides other Dro.
perry.
Mr.. CLAY AND THE PRESIDENCY.
i win be seen BY the following address from
Mr.. Clay, that this distinguished statesman doeis
not refuse the use Of his name ii conner;on via
the once Of President, Il the Wing National
Convention Should deem il propsT ana ekpedisnt
70 place him again in nomination for the 6rst 81.
fce in the gin of The people.
We copy from the Baltimore American fs,s
which paper the Address was telegraphed from
Cincinnati
CINCINNATI, April 70, l84s.
transmit you the following important com.
munication from Henry Clay, which ia, io,,
come 70 hand. 4 is published by his authority:
TO THE PUBLIC.
The various and conflicting reports which have
been in circulation, in regard to my intentions
with respect % the next Presidency, appear 10 md
to furnish the proper occasion for the full frank
and explicit exposition Of my feelings wishes and
views upon thar subject, which it is now NV pur-
pose 70 make. Wnh strong Discrimination q
the use Of my name again in connection win
that Office. Jeff sny residence in December last
under determination to announce Is the public.
in some suitable form. my desire not to Be thof
of asa candidate. In my absence, | frequently
expressed 70 different gentlemen my unwilling
ness % be again in that attitude, but though ne
one Was authorised 70 publish my decision one
way Or the other, having reserved the right 10 do
SO exclusively to myself, on reflection. thought
i due 70 my friends 70 consult with them before
took a final and decisive step.
Accordingly, within the course Of the last three
months, have had an opportunity Of converting
fully and freely with them Many Of them have
addressed to nae the strongest, appeals and the
most earnest entreaiies, both verbally ana writ
ten, to dissuade me,frorn executing MY intended
purpose. They represented to me that the witha
drawafof 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 State thai at no former period did
there exist SO great probability of my election.
il would consent to the use Of my name that
The great States of New York and Ohio would III Il
all probability cast their votes for me thai New
York would more certainly bestow her suffrage
upon me than any other candidate; that Ohio
would give her vote to no candidate residing in
the slave States hut to mef that there is better
prospect tEan had heretofore existed that Penn. 1
sylvania would unite with them; that nocandi.
date can be elected without the concurrence Of
two Of these three s ates, and none could Be do
feated upon whom all Of them should Be united;
that great numbers Of our fellow citizens, both Of
natiys and foreign BIRTH who were deceived, and
therefore voted against me at the last election.
are now eager for an opportunity of bes,owing
their sufrages upon me that whilst there is a
strong and decided preference for me entertained
BY The great body Of the Wing party throughout
the United States, they friends 70 whom Ire.
fer--are convinced thai ANYMORE available than
any candidate that could Be- presented for the A.
nlerican people. lido not pretend to vouch for
the acctiracy Of all these representations, al
though do not entertain doubt that they have
been honestly made and are sincerely believed.
L has been moreover urged to me that the great
obligations under which have been hitherto
placed by large portion Of the people Of the u
nited States, the full force Of which no one can
Be more sensible III than am, demand that
should not withhold the use Of my name II IL
should be requested; and have been reminded
of frequent declarations which have made that
whilst life and health remain, i man is bound ID
render his best services upon The cali Of his
country.
Since my return home. ! have anxioasiy de-
liberated upon my duty to myself, to my princi1
pies, 70 my friends, and above all, to- MY coun-
ny. Theconfiici between my unaffected desire
"a e,.fs1s,@, - ,s,,s... q, =. 1880 ~