Clay Henry

Single page ALS, 7.5" x 6.5" penned entirely in the hand of Henry Clay. Dated "14th June 1836", and signed by Clay as "H. Clay". Page lightly toned with expected folds, else near fine. Presented matted framed and glazed with his black and white portrait etching, 3.5" x 4.5". Matted with gilt toned fillets surrounded in a cream mat with a rubbed gilt wood frame. Completed frame size of 19.5" x 13.5".

A lovely ALS by this American lawyer, planter, statesman and skilled orator who represented Kentucky in both the Senate and House of Representatives. After serving three non-consecutive terms as Speaker of the House of Representatives, he served as Secretary of State under President John Quincy Adams. Clay ran for the presidency three times, in 1824, 1832, 1844, while also seeking his party's nomination in 1840, and 1848. Though he was unsuccessful in all of his attempts to reach his nation's highest office, Clay was an important national figure from 1811 to his death in 1852. He founded the Whig Party, one of the two major parties in the period. Neither the Whigs nor the Democrats were unified geographically or ideologically. However, Whigs tended to favor a stronger legislature, a stronger federal government, a higher tariff, spending on infrastructure, re-authorization of the Second Bank of the United States, moral reform, and publicly funded education. Conversely, Democrats tended to favor a stronger president, stronger state governments, lower tariffs, hard money, and expansionism. Neither party took a strong national stand on slavery. The Whigs tended to control many newspapers, while Democrats were particularly adept at organizing the masses.

The letter dated 1836 was in the year that Clay did not run for the Presidency due partly due to grief over the death of his daughter. The Whigs were too disorganized to nominate a single candidate. Four Whig candidates ran against Van Buren. Though Clay privately preferred Webster, he supported Harrison after Harrison emerged as the most popular and prominent Whig candidate. However Van Buren won the 1836 election. The letter penned by Clay is shown in full below, and notes introducing H.B. Croon, the son of Major General William Croom and his first wife, Mary Bryan. Croom delivered the Fourth of July address before a company of local militia at Kinston, Lenoir County, in 1825. No doubt he was preparing himself a place in local politics; in 1828 he was elected to represent Lenoir County in the state senate:

"S.Chamber 14th June 1836

Dear Sir,

I take great pleasure in introducing to you, and in commending to your friendly offices, the bearer H.B Croom Esq. A highly respectable and intelligent gentleman residing in North Carolina, who is on a visit to your fine and hospitable city.

With constant regard

I am yours truly,

H.Clay"

A handsome presentation of a lovely ALS by Henry Clay.

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