Details
CLAY, HENRY, Secretary of State. Autograph letter signed ("H. Clay") to Abbott Lawrence, Ashland, [Kentucky], 23 September 1848. 3 1/2 pages, 4to, 235 x 180mm. (9 1/4 x 7 1/4 in.), several clean tears at fold intersections (not affecting text), otherwise fine. With original postmarked envelope.
CLAY ON TAYLOR: "I HAVE EVER BEEN OPPOSED TO THE ELECTION OF A MERE MILITARY CHARACTER TO THE PRESIDENCY"; HE "HAS NEVER HAD THE SLIGHTEST EXPERIENCE IN CIVIL AFFAIRS"
Clay's bitter ruminations on the failure of his last attempt to win the White House. Three months before, Clay had been defeated for the Whig party's nomination by General Zachary Taylor. Here, Clay deplores "the dangerous condition of the Country" and justifies his refusal to support Taylor: "You will have seen...that I have refused to give any encouragement or countenance to the further use of my name in connection with the Presidency. Any movements having that object in view have been without any sanction or approbation and against my wishes. So far as I was personally concerned, I have submitted quietly to the decision of the Philad[elphi]a Convention, whatever I may have thought of that decision...I feel bound to say that I think the...Convention humiliated itself, and placed the Whig party in a most embarassing condition by the nomination of Genl. Taylor. It was an act not dictated by the general sense or wishes of the party, and brought about by the activity of some of his supporters, chiefly members of Congress...It was a nomination made, not only without regard to the principles, but against the nature and fine character of the party. That party was founded upon virtue and intelligence, and made its appeals for support to the patriotism & intelligence of the people. The nomination was made upon the assumption of their ignorance and gullibility...Taylor refused to be the Candidate of the Whig party. Up to the time of...the Convention, his declaration that he would stand as an Independent Candidate remained unrevoked...If he be a Whig, I confess that he has so encompassed himself with qualifications and conditions that I am not able to discern his real politics...I have ever been opposed to the election of a mere Military character to the Presidency. And one is now presented, with his sword by his side, his epaulets upon his shoulders, at the head of one of the divisions of the Army of the U. States, and who has always lived in the Camp. A man, who...has never had the slightest experience in Civil affairs...he has shown such instability and vaccillation, that I can not reconcile it to my feelings to give him any open support...What reciprocity is there in my supporting one who was determined to oppose me? I am afraid that if elected, we shall have a personal party, the head of which has no fixed or known principles, and who is destined to inevitably fall into other hands. Who they will be, I know not, but according to the course of poor weak human nature, it is most likely that they will be those who fawn upon him and flatter him the most..." Clay, aged 70, had lost the presidency to J.Q. Adams in 1824, to Andrew Jackson in 1832 and to James Knox Polk in 1844. The 1848 election was very clearly his last opportunity to become President.
CLAY ON TAYLOR: "I HAVE EVER BEEN OPPOSED TO THE ELECTION OF A MERE MILITARY CHARACTER TO THE PRESIDENCY"; HE "HAS NEVER HAD THE SLIGHTEST EXPERIENCE IN CIVIL AFFAIRS"
Clay's bitter ruminations on the failure of his last attempt to win the White House. Three months before, Clay had been defeated for the Whig party's nomination by General Zachary Taylor. Here, Clay deplores "the dangerous condition of the Country" and justifies his refusal to support Taylor: "You will have seen...that I have refused to give any encouragement or countenance to the further use of my name in connection with the Presidency. Any movements having that object in view have been without any sanction or approbation and against my wishes. So far as I was personally concerned, I have submitted quietly to the decision of the Philad[elphi]a Convention, whatever I may have thought of that decision...I feel bound to say that I think the...Convention humiliated itself, and placed the Whig party in a most embarassing condition by the nomination of Genl. Taylor. It was an act not dictated by the general sense or wishes of the party, and brought about by the activity of some of his supporters, chiefly members of Congress...It was a nomination made, not only without regard to the principles, but against the nature and fine character of the party. That party was founded upon virtue and intelligence, and made its appeals for support to the patriotism & intelligence of the people. The nomination was made upon the assumption of their ignorance and gullibility...Taylor refused to be the Candidate of the Whig party. Up to the time of...the Convention, his declaration that he would stand as an Independent Candidate remained unrevoked...If he be a Whig, I confess that he has so encompassed himself with qualifications and conditions that I am not able to discern his real politics...I have ever been opposed to the election of a mere Military character to the Presidency. And one is now presented, with his sword by his side, his epaulets upon his shoulders, at the head of one of the divisions of the Army of the U. States, and who has always lived in the Camp. A man, who...has never had the slightest experience in Civil affairs...he has shown such instability and vaccillation, that I can not reconcile it to my feelings to give him any open support...What reciprocity is there in my supporting one who was determined to oppose me? I am afraid that if elected, we shall have a personal party, the head of which has no fixed or known principles, and who is destined to inevitably fall into other hands. Who they will be, I know not, but according to the course of poor weak human nature, it is most likely that they will be those who fawn upon him and flatter him the most..." Clay, aged 70, had lost the presidency to J.Q. Adams in 1824, to Andrew Jackson in 1832 and to James Knox Polk in 1844. The 1848 election was very clearly his last opportunity to become President.