The Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1846-1852, 1848-04-21
Henry CLAW.

We received from the Office of the
Lexington Observer and reporter, the
following Address of Mr.. Clay to the
Public, by which he authorizes his name
to be presented to the Wing National
Convention. This is in accordance with
his previous assurances, that on his re.
turn to Ashland he would advise the pub
lie of his determination. Gin. Gazette.
TO THE PUBLIC.
The various and conflicting reports
which have been in circulation, in re-
gard to my intentions with respect to the
next Presidency, appear To me to furnish
a proper occasion for full, frank and ex-
plicit exposition of my feelings, wishes
and views upon that subject This it is
now my purpose to make.
With strong disinclination to the
use of my name again in connection with
that office, | left my residence in Decem-
Der last under determination to an
nounce to the public, in some suitable
form, my desire not to be thought of as
candidate. During my absence, fire.
quently expressed to different genllemen
my unwillingness to be again IN that atii-
tude; but no one was authorized to pub
lsh my decision one way or the other
having reserved the right to do so exclu-
sively to myself. On reflection thought
it was due to my friends to consul. with
them before took final and decisive
step. Accordingly, in the course of the
last three months have had many OPP
portuniies of comforting fully and freely
with them. Many of them have address
ed tome the strongest appeals, and the
most earnest entreaties, both verbally and
written. to dissuade me from executing
my intended purpose, They have rep
resented to me that the withdra wal of my
name would be fatal to the success, and
perhaps lead to the dissolution of the
party with which have been associated,
especially in the free States; that at no
former period did there exist so great
probability of my election, If would
consent to the use OF my name; 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 bestow her suffrage upon me
than upon any other candidate, and 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 existed that Penn
sylvania would unite with them; that no
7 candidate can be elected without the con
r currence of two of these three States,
] and none could be defeated, upon whom
4 all three of them should he united; that
! grea, numbers ofour fellow citizens, both
t of native and foreign birth, who were
o deceived and therefore voted against me
!. at the last election, are now eager Tor an
: opportunity of bestowing their sutirages
!, upon me; and that, whilst there is strong
i and decided preference for me, enter
6 tanned by the great hody of the Wing
o party throughout the United States, they
\; the friends to whom | refer) at the same
IS time are convinced that am more avail
l. able than any candidate that could be pre-
l. sented to the American people.
s. do not pretend to vouch for the accu
}. racy of all these representations, although
D. | do not entertain doubt that they have
s. been honestly made, and are slncerel!
D believed.
10 has been morever urged to me tha
l. the great obligations under which ! hav
b. been hitherto placed, by large portion
p of the People of the United States, tn
m full force of which no one can be NOR
10 sensible than am, demand that | shoul'
not withhold the use of my name, ifit b
7, required And have been reminded
!. frequent declarations which have made
that whilst life and health remain. ma
is bound to render his best services upo
in the call of his country.
to Since my return home, | have anxi
ar ously deliberated upon my duty to my
It's SELF to my principles, to my friends an
@. above all, TO my country: The cohfait
ng between my unaffected desire to contr
IN. ue in private life. as most congenial wit
he my feelings and condition, and my wis
be faithfully to perform all my public dulie
in. has been painful and embarrassing. II
,ill refuse tho use of my name. and those u
H. furious consequences should en'ue whit