ASHLAND, September 10, 1848.
MY DEAR SIR, I received your friendly letter, and beg you to be
perfectly assured of my undiminished regard and esteem. Although I believe that
the Philadelphia Convention has placed the Whig party in a humiliating
condition—one which, I fear, will impair its usefulness, if not destroy its
existence—I acquiesced in its decision in not nominating me, and have submitted
quietly to it. I have done nothing to oppose its nomination. I have given no
countenance to any movements having for their object any further use of my
name, in connection with the office of President. Beyond this I can not go.
Self-respect and consistency with deliberate opinions long since formed and
repeatedly avowed, against the elevation to that office of a mere military man,
must restrain me from taking any active part in the canvass. I wish to
leave every body freely to act for themselves, without influence from me, if I
could exert any. If I were to recommend the support of General Taylor, and if
he should be elected on it afterward, and in his Administration disappoint the
Whigs, I should feel myself liable to reproaches.
I regret, therefore, that I can not comply with your request to make a
public declaration of my intention to support General Taylor. Without
compromising any one, I shall go to the polls when the day arrives, and give
such a vote as I think may be most likely to be least injurious to the country.
With my warm regards to Mrs. White and your family, I am your friend.
SOURCE: Calvin Colton, Editor, The Private Correspondence of
Henry Clay, pp. 573-4
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