ASHLAND, September 20, 1848.
GENTLEMEN, I have received your official letter as members of the
(Whig) Democratic General Committee of the city and county of New York, and I
take pleasure in answering it.
Never from the period of decision of the Philadelphia Convention
against my nomination as a candidate for the Presidency, have I been willing,
nor am I now, to have my name associated with that office. I would not accept a
nomination if it were tendered to me, and it is my unaffected desire that no
further use be made of my name in connection with that office. I have seen,
therefore, with regret, movements in various quarters having for their object
to present me as their candidate to the American people; these movements have
been made without any approbation from me. In the present complicated state of
the Presidential election they can not, in my opinion, be attended with any
public good, and may lead to the increase of embarrassments, and to the
exasperation of parties.
While I say this much without reserve, I must nevertheless add that I
feel profound gratitude to such of my warm-hearted and faithful friends as
continue to indulge the vain hope of placing me in the office of Chief
Magistrate of the United States. And that I neither think it just or politic to
stigmatize them as factionists or by any other opprobrious epithets. Among them
I recognize names which have been long distinguished for ability, for devotion
to the Whig cause, and for ardent patriotism.
You advert with entire truth to the zeal and fidelity with which the
delegation from New York sought in the Philadelphia Convention to promote my
nomination as a candidate for the Presidency. I am most thankful to them and
shall ever recollect their exertions with profound gratitude.
And here, gentlemen, I would stop but for your request that I would
communicate my views; this I shall do briefly and frankly, but with reluctance
and regret.
Concurring entirely with you, that the peace, prosperity and happiness of the United
States depend materially on the preservation of Whig principles, I should be
most happy if I saw more clearly than I do that they are likely to prevail.
But I can not help thinking that the Philadelphia Convention humiliated
itself, and as far as it could, placed the Whig party in a degraded condition.
General Taylor refused to be its candidate. He professed indeed to be a Whig,
but he so enveloped himself in the drapery of qualifications and conditions
that it is extremely difficult to discover his real politics. He was and yet is
willing to receive any and every nomination no matter from what quarter it
might proceed. In his letter to the "Richmond Republican" of the 20th
April last, he declared his purpose to remain a candidate, no matter what
nomination might be made by the Whig Convention. I know what was said and done
by the Louisiana delegation in the Convention, but there is a vail about that matter
which I have not penetrated. The letter from him which it was stated one of
that delegation possessed, has never been published, and a letter on the same
subject addressed to the independent party of Maryland, has at
his instance been withheld from the public. It was quite natural that after
receiving the nomination he should approve the means by which he obtained it.
What I should be glad to see is some revocation of the declaration in
the "Richmond Republican" letter before the nomination was made.
On the great leading national measures which have so long divided
parties, if he has any fixed opinions, they are not publicly known.
Exclusively a military man, without the least experience in civil affairs, bred
up and always living in the camp with his sword by his side, and his epaulets
on his shoulders, it is proposed to transfer him from his actual position of
second in command of the army, to the Chief Magistrate of this great model
Republic.
If I can not come out in active support of such a candidate, I hope
those who know any thing of my opinions, deliberately formed and repeatedly
avowed, will excuse me; to those opinions I shall adhere with increased instead
of diminished confidence. I shall think that my friends ought to be reconciled
to the silence I have imposed on myself from deference to them as well as from
strong objections which I entertain to the competitor of General Taylor. I wish
to lead or mislead no one, but to leave all to the unbiased dictates of their
own judgment.
I know and feel all that can be urged in the actual position of the
present contest.
I entertain with you the strongest apprehension from the election of
General Cass, but I do not see enough of hope and confidence in that of General
Taylor to stimulate my exertions and animate my zeal. I deeply fear that his
success may lead to the formation of a mere personal party. There is a chance
indeed that he may give the country a better administration of the Executive
Government than his competitor would, but it is not such a
chance as can arouse my enthusiasm or induce me to assume the responsibility of
recommending any course or offering any advice to others.
I have great pleasure in bearing my humble testimony in favor of Mr.
Fillmore. I believe him to be able, indefatigable, industrious and patriotic.
He served in the extra session of 1841 as Chairman of the committees of the two
houses of Congress, and I had many opportunities of witnessing his rare merits.
I do not desire the publication of this letter, but if you deem it
necessary, you may publish the four first and the last paragraphs.
SOURCE: Calvin Colton, Editor, The Private Correspondence of
Henry Clay, pp. 575-80
