Browse Items (865 total)

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  Letter from Henry Clay to Thomas B. Stevenson, Cincinnati, Ohio. Lexington, Kentucky. 21 July 1849

  Believes that the new regulations for Canada by Great Britain will lead to her independence. The United States would benefit from free trade with Canada. Elaborates on these views.
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  Letter from Henry Clay to Thomas Ewing, Washington, D.C. Lexington, Kentucky. 7 April 1849

  Recommends Nicholas Dean for Marshall of the Southern District of New York.
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  Letter from Henry Clay to Col. John Francis Hamtramck, Shepherdstown, Virginia. Ashland, Lexington, Kentucky. 19 September 1848

  Since the Philadelphia Convention passed over Clay for the Presidential nomination, he has written to many people that he "would not consent to any further use of my name in connection with that office, and that I would not consent to accept a nomination, if it were tendered to me."
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  Letter from Henry Clay to J. Morrison Harris, n.p. [Baltimore]. "Ashland," 14 September 1848

  Clay expresses his opposition to the nomination of a "mere Military man" for president; worries about the "impulse" of war to make heroes, then make them president; notes that Zachary Taylor was "devoid of all Civil experience;" discusses his feelings towards supporting Taylor and internal Whig politics; claims he has a November 1847 letter from the General stating he would step aside if Clay were nominated by the Whigs; and believes that Taylor was "incompetent to execute wisely the duties of the Presidential office."
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  Letter from Henry Clay to Capt. John Perin, Hanover County, Virginia. Ashland, Lexington, Kentucky. 12 September 1848

  Clay thanks his friends in Hanover for their thoughts, but he cannot accept the nomination of those meeting at the Slash Church for the presidency. "I deplore the condition of the Country, and not the less because it has been produced not only without any agency of mine, but against my solemn warnings and publicly expressed convictions."
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  Letter from Henry Clay to Philip R. Fendall, n.p. Ashland, 28 October 1848

  Discusses a debt due him from Columbia College and the approaching presidential election. Believes the outcome of the election is "as uncertain as the cast of the die." Thinks the popular vote will be close between Cass and Taylor, yet the electoral difference may be large. Indications are Cass will get Ohio; therefore Taylor must take Pennsylvania in order to win. Fears Taylor will be "cheated out of Penna., as I was in 1844, " and thus lose. Clay thinks "deplorable consequences" may result and laments the situation.
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  Letter from Henry Clay to Adam Beatty. Lexington, Kentucky. 28 May 1848

  Clay has recommended Beatty to the Governor for appointment to the Senate to replace Crittenden. The Governor seems to favor Mr. Kincaid of Lexington, but agreed to consider Beatty.
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  Letter from Henry Clay to J. Morrison Harris, Baltimore. "Ashland," 18 August 1848

  Clay discusses the outcome of the Whig Convention in Philadelphia; notes that he wished the results were different; that he will take no partisan part in "the nomination of the merest military person presented as a Candidate for the Presidency;" and states that he cannot vote for Lewis Cass or Martin Van Buren.
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  Letter from Henry Clay to John B. Bibb, n.p. Ashland [Lexington, Ky.], 20 Oct. 1847

  Clay relates the matter of a land transaction in Russellville, Ky. He deprecates the unnecessary War with Mexico that would have been avoided if "there had been a different result in the last Presidential election."
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  Letter from Henry Clay to Thomas W. H. Moseley and P. H. Olmsted, n.p. Ashland Lexington, Ky, 14 May 1847

  Clay thanks the gentlemen for their condolences upon the death of his son at Buena Vista. Believes only God can heal the wound and he seeks to submit to His will, but the loss is still irreparable.
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  Letter from Henry Clay to J. Morrison Harris, n.p. [Baltimore]. "Ashland," 9 July 1847

  Remarks on the copy of resolutions he received from the Maryland Gubernatorial Convention in regards to the death of his son Henry Clay, Jr. He writes, "The death of my beloved son has put in requisition all my fortitude and resolution."
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  Letter from Henry Clay to Oscar T. Keeler, Columbia, Miss., Ashland, Ky. 4 November 1846

  Clay writes to Dr. Keeler thanking him for sending medicine intended for Clay's grandson. He reports that it was not used as his grandson died in Philadelphia and no one else had been sick so he could not report on its value.
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  Letter from Henry Clay to Mrs. Octavia W. LeVert, Mobile, Alabama. Ashland, Lexington, Kentucky. 6 November 1846

  Clay writes of his family in some detail and then of the War with Mexico. "It was begun without any necessity, and in folly, and is conducted without wisdom." He criticizes the war severely. Clay discusses his travel plans for the winter.
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  Letter from Henry Clay to Farnham Plummer, Boston, Massachusetts. Ashland, 26 May 1846

  His son had intended to ship a considerable quantity of hemp but the low price on the Eastern market has discouraged him. He has sold most of his water rolled hemp in Louisville at $150 per ton.
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  Letter from Henry Clay to Dudley Selden. New York. Ashland, Lexington, Kentucky. 4 June 1846

  Thanks Selden for his research in Cuba on Clay's behalf. Has been spending his winters in the South to preserve his health and would like to spend a winter in Cuba. Fears the possibility of war with Great Britain over the joint occupation of Oregon and the outbreak of hostilities with Mexico.
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  Letter from Henry Clay to Octavia Walton LeVert, Mobile, Alabama. Ashland, Lexington, Kentucky. 25 June 1846

  Clay regrets he could not visit Mobile. He discusses the enthusiasm shown for the war with Mexico and writes that his son Henry has become a lieutenant colonel. Great Britain has offerred mediation and Clay hopes it will be accepted. Next week Clay will represent Lafayette Shelby who killed a man last winter.
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  Letter from Henry Clay to Henry Grinnell and Capt. Ezra Nye, New York. Ashland, Lexington, Kentucky. 27 September 1845

  Clay thanks Grinnell for a painting of the packet Henry Clay, owned by Grinnell, Minturn & Co. which has just arrived. He thanks them, too, for the offer of free passage to Europe aboard the ship, but doubts he will ever again make the trip.
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  Letter from Henry Clay to Charles J. Hadermann, Louisville, Kentucky. Ashland, Lexington, Kentucky. 1 November 1845

  Expresses regret at the results of the late presidential election. "I was surprised and sorry to see how many of your Countrymen, and others of foreign birth were deluded.... As they become more versed in our institutions and their operation, they will themselves regret that delusion." Comments on Calvin Colton's forthcoming biography of Clay and believes it will add to public knowledge.
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  Letter from Henry Clay to Lord Ashburton, London, England. Lexington, Kentucky. 14 May 1845

  Introduces Col. John Brand and his son William of Lexington, who are visiting Europe. Expresses his great regard for Ashburton for his work on the treaty and hopes his talents will help settle the Oregon question now creating problems for their countries.
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  Letter from Henry Clay to Garett Davis. Lexington, Ky., 13 January 1845

  Asks Davis to check on the genuineness of a letter Clay received. Believes there is ample choice in the variety of the propositions to annex Texas.