Details
CLAY, Henry (1777-1852), Senator, Speaker of the House. Letter signed ("H. Clay"), to John D. Hayes, Ashland, Kentucky, 10 December 1848. 1¼ pages, 4to, small ink ownership stamp on blank, enclosed in a gilt-lettered cloth protective folder.
"I COULD HAVE BEEN ELECTED WITH EASE..." CLAY'S LAST CHANCE FOR THE WHITE HOUSE
After failing to win the White House in 1832 and 1844, Clay sat out the 1848 contest, with his Whig Party colleagues giving the nomination to Zachary Taylor. Here, Clay cannot conceal his envy over Taylor's triumph, and his feeling that it could--perhaps should have--been him heading for the White House: "The Presidential election having terminated in the election of Gen. Taylor," Clay writes, "we must all feel rejoiced in the overthrow of the Party which has so long afflicted our Country, and cherish anxious hopes that the new Administration may so conduct our public affairs as to assure the prosperity of the Country. In looking back upon the past, it must be a matter of satisfaction to yourself and other friends who urged my nomination at Philadelphia, to be now perfectly convinced, that I could have been elected with ease. I should have got the votes of all the States which Gen. Taylor has obtained, and in addition, Ohio certainly, and Indiana probably. He has received a larger popular vote in the South Western States that I might have received, but I should have got a much larger one than he has in the New States. But this matter is now past, and is only interesting as affording a justification to the course of my friends..."
Provenance: Philip D. Sang (sale, Sotheby Parke Bernet, 26 April 1978, lot 69).
"I COULD HAVE BEEN ELECTED WITH EASE..." CLAY'S LAST CHANCE FOR THE WHITE HOUSE
After failing to win the White House in 1832 and 1844, Clay sat out the 1848 contest, with his Whig Party colleagues giving the nomination to Zachary Taylor. Here, Clay cannot conceal his envy over Taylor's triumph, and his feeling that it could--perhaps should have--been him heading for the White House: "The Presidential election having terminated in the election of Gen. Taylor," Clay writes, "we must all feel rejoiced in the overthrow of the Party which has so long afflicted our Country, and cherish anxious hopes that the new Administration may so conduct our public affairs as to assure the prosperity of the Country. In looking back upon the past, it must be a matter of satisfaction to yourself and other friends who urged my nomination at Philadelphia, to be now perfectly convinced, that I could have been elected with ease. I should have got the votes of all the States which Gen. Taylor has obtained, and in addition, Ohio certainly, and Indiana probably. He has received a larger popular vote in the South Western States that I might have received, but I should have got a much larger one than he has in the New States. But this matter is now past, and is only interesting as affording a justification to the course of my friends..."
Provenance: Philip D. Sang (sale, Sotheby Parke Bernet, 26 April 1978, lot 69).