Henry Clay
Lexington, KY, November 19, 1841
Henry Clay Letter on Return to the Senate: "I see no prospect of doing any good whatever there"
AL

An autograph letter written by Henry Clay discussing his health and his reluctant return to the Senate. 1p, measuring 8" x 10", Ashland [Lexington, Kentucky], dated November 19, 1841. The letter is all in Clay's hand, although his signature has been clipped from the bottom right corner and replaced with a small slip reading "Henry Clay (original signature removed)" in an unknown hand. Writing to his childhood friend and longtime confidant, Francis T. Brooke, Clay discloses his "hesitation, and almost unconquerable repugnance" to return to the Senate and expresses his frustration at the President's opposition to a national Bank. With flattened mail folds and minor pinholes at the cross folds. Light toning throughout. Moderate dampstaining along the left edge. Tape remnants at the four corners and mounting residue on the verso.

In part:
"?With much hesitation, and almost unconquerable repugnance, I have determined to go once more, and I hope for the last time, to the Senate. I see no prospect of doing any good whatever there. The President I suppose is immovable in his opposition to a Bank, and above all the other measures, a Bank is what is most wanted. Indeed nothing but that will satisfy at least the Western States. The utmost of my expectations is that we may possibly maintain the measures passed at the Extra Session, and prevent mischief. I could not bear, by remaining at home, the imputation of deration after our great revenue this fall. I want however to be at Washington less an active participator in public affairs & more a mere looker on?"

Henry Clay was a personal friend of John Tyler, but upon the latter's succession to the Office of the President after William Henry Harrison's unexpected death, the two men clashed on several issues. Tyler was a staunch constructionist and found some of the programs introduced in Congress by the Whigs to be unconstitutional. He quickly made it known that he had reservations about re-establishing a national bank, which had been a key legislative priority of Clay's. The Whigs attempted to craft a national bank bill to reach a compromise, but Tyler vetoed two separate bills to re-establish the national bank, showing that he had no desire to reach a solution for the party's issues. In response to these vetoes, most of Tyler's cabinet resigned, and Whig congressmen expelled Tyler from the party. A resolution calling for his impeachment was introduced in the House, though it was later defeated. Clay ultimately resigned from the Senate in early 1842, after arranging for John J. Crittenden to succeed him.

Francis Taliaferro Brooke (1811-1851) was one of Clay's longest and most intimate correspondents and one of three political confidants to whom Clay wrote regularly. During the American Revolution Brooke was active in the militia and served on General Greene's staff with the rank of lieutenant. After the war, he became a member of the Society of the Cincinnati for the State of Virginia. In 1823 he became the fourth Chief Justice of Virginia, a position which he held until his death.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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8" x 10"