Nathan Sargent from Henry Clay, Apr. 26, 1839

              [Page 1]

Ashland 26th April 1839

Dear Sir

I received your favor of the 18th instant altho’ the state of things which it communicates is far from being satisfactory or encouraging.  You were perfectly right in making me fully acquainted with it.  I have experienced too many necessitudes in public life not to be able to receive, with composure, any intelligence, however unfavorable.  I have moreover long despaired of the Whig cause deriving any support from Pennsylvania.  The most that I have hoped for has been that it should not be prejudiced by any movements there.  These, I believe, are sentiments common to the great body of our political friends every where out of Pennsylvania.

The attempt which the Whigs in that state were making to organize themselves separately, or a party distinct from the Antimasons, appeared to me to be judicious and wise.  Of course, I supposed that in executing that purpose, no just cause of offence would be given to Antimasons.  It seems, from your letter, that the Whigs will be thwarted, or are in danger of being thwarted, by others assuming the garb of Whigs and mingling in the primary meetings and elections of the Whigs.  That certainly will be a very extraordinary course, to say the least of it.  Is there no mode by which those proceedings shall be limited to the Whigs to the exclusion of members of any other party?

I observe the proceedings in the various Wards of liberties of Philadelphia, and am grateful for the friendly notice which has been taken of me.  I presume that the delegates to the nat. convention whom they may approach will be admitted to their seats, whatever may be the course of the June convention.

I have seen too an account of a Revolution of the Tippecanoe Club to abide by the nomination of the nat. convention & to recognize no other.  That must have good effect, whatever may have been the motives which prompted it.