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< am decidedly opposed to the immediate annexation
= of Texas to the. United Stltes..ET thiuk i


would be dshoDorable, might involve Them in war


would be dangerous to the integrity and harmony


of the Union, and, ~ If all these objections 1oer


remoreG, could not be Effected according TO an,


Information IpossesS, upon just and Gdmissibl


condnions.o-E


But here is the letter itslef, takcn from the Ma


tionaI Intelligencer: s..


ASHLAND, Sept. 253 -fs44.


GENTLEMEN: Since my nomination at Baltimore


in May last, by The whig convention; as candi


date for the office of President Of The U. States,


have received many letters propounding TO me ques


tions on public affairs, and others may have beer


addressed 10 me which never received. To mos


of those which have reached me have replied


but to some have not because either the subjects


of which they treated were such as that in respect
of them, my opinions, / thought, had been sufi-


cently promulgated, or that they did not possess
IN my judgment, sufficient importance 10 require


an answer from me; ldeslre now to say to The


public, through you, hat considering the near ap-


proach of the presidential election, shall hence


forward respectfully decline to transmit for publ
cation any letters from nae in answer 10 inquiries
upon public matters.


Alter my nomination, doubted the propr;etv. as


still do Of answering any letters upon new Gues-
tions of public policy. One Who may be candi-


date Tor The chief gstraeV Of the nation if elect
ed, ought TO enter upon the discharge of the high
duties connected with that Office with his mind
topen and uncommdted upon eli new questions
which may arise in the course Of its administra-
1uon, and ready to avail himself of all the lights


which he may derive from his extinct from Con


gress, and above ali, from the public opinion


If, 10 advance, he sheLld commit himself to in.
dfviduals who may think proper 10 address him. he


may deprive the public and himself If the benefit


Of those great guides. Entertaining this view, il


was my Intention, after my nomination, to decline


answering Tor publication all questions that might
| be proponnded to me. But on further reflection,


il appeared 10 me that if imposed this silence


upon myself, might contrary to the uniform


tenor OF my life, seem 10 be unwilling frankly and
tearlessy to submit my opinions 10 the public judg
ment. Therefore so far deviated from nv first
purpose as 10 respond 10 letters addressed 10 me,
making inquiries in regard to subjects which had
been much aglated. OF the answers which so
transmited, some were intended exclusively for
the satisfaction of my correspondents without any
expectation on my part of their being deemed wor-
thy OF publication. In regard 10 thuse which have
been presented to the public, miseonce ptous and
erroneous constructions have been given to some
OF them which Think they did not authorize. or
Wnicn, al all events, were contrary to my inten-
| tions.


| In announcing my determination to permit no
other letters 10 be drawn from me on public affairs
think II right TO avail myself of the occasion to
correct Ihe erroneous Interpretation of one or two
ef those which bad previously written In April
last addressed to you, from Raleigh, letter in
respect 10 the proposed treaty anuexing Texas to
!he United States, and have since addressed two
iet'ers 10 Alabama upon the ssmesubiect. Most
unwarranted allegations have been made that those
letters are inconsistent with each other and TO


make II out, particular phrases or expressions have
been torn from their context, and a meaning at
tTIbuted to me which ! never entertained.


i wish now distinctly TO say that there is NOT a
feeling, sentiment, or an opinion expressed in
my Raleigh letter, 10 which do not adhere ! am
decidedly opposed TO the immediate annexation of
Texas TO the United States. Ithnk il would be
dlshonorable. might involve them in war would be
20 int nd koe., Il.
Union, and. if all these objections were removed
could not be affected, according any information
possess, upon just and admissible conditions.


1t was Eot my intention, in either of the two
letters which addressed to Alabama, to express |
any contrary opinion. Representations had been |
made TO me that was considered as inhexibIy op-
posed TO the annexation of Texas under apy cir !
and that my opposition was so ex-
IRENE that would NOT waiVe IT, even if there were
a general consent TO the measure by all the Staes
OF The Union. replied, in my first letter 10 Ala
bama, that personally had objection 10 nexa-
tion- thought that my meaning was sufficiently |
ooVlous tnat pad no personal private, individ-
ual motives for opposing, IhaVe none for espous-
ing the measure, my judgment being altogether in
huenced by general and political considerations,
which have ever been the guide of my public con
due. - |


In my second letter to Alabama, assuming that
the annexation of Texas might be ACCOMPLISHED t
without national dishonor, without war with the T
general consent Of the States of the Union, and !
upon Ialr and reasonable terms, stated thai Il
should be glad TO see it. did not suppose that it l.
was possible could be misundersto TODD. II ina gin
ed every body would comprehend me as intending
mat, whatever might be my parlcular9views and
opinions, l should be happy TO see what the whole
nation might concur in desiring under theeondi-
'ions stated Nothing was further from n1yspur-
pose than to Intimate any change of opinion as
long as any considerable and respectable portion Of
the contederacy should continue 10 stand out in o-
position to the annexation of Texas. - l.
- In all three Of my letters upon the subiectsofI5
Texas, stated that annexation was inadmissible
excert upon fair and reasonable terms, ifSeverV
1theI ooJectlon were removed. In speech which T
addressed TO hea2Senate of the United States
u uiofe ehan three years ago, l avowed my opposi-i
t.on LOT the reasons there stated, 10 the assump-
tion, Dy the general government of the debts of
the several States. It was hardly therefore. to be
presumed that could be in favor of assnmino the
debt of foreign State. with which
we have DO fraterna ties, and whose lad faitb or l.
violation OF ITS engagement IS bring no
es upon US. -
/. Having thus, gentlemen, made the apoloov T,
winch intended, forsmy omission to answer any
letters OF inquiry upon public affairs whici, I NAV
have received announced my purpose to decline +
nenceforward transmitting answers for publication +
10 any such letters that may hereafter receive ::
and Vlndicaed some of those which have for +
Warded against the erroneous constructions 10 II
which they have been exposed, have accompIisl-
I'd the purpose OF this note, and remain respect-
uily, your obedient servant, H. CLAY


Messrs. GALES & SEAroN.zs. II


Here, then, the issue is fulIv and clearly n,,d