Henry Clay
Ashland, KY, September 7, 1840
Henry Clay ALS x2 on Whig Support of W. H. Harrison and the National Bank
ALS

An autograph letter signed twice by Henry Clay concerning the upcoming presidential election and the National Bank, Ashland, Kentucky, dated September 7, 1840. Signed at the conclusion "H. Clay" and free franked on the address page as "Free H. Clay." Addressed to Stephen White Esq. 1p of a bifolium, measuring 8" x 10". With a black wax seal on verso, which has caused minor loss to the address page. Flattened mail folds and faint edge soiling. Further minor soiling on the address page. Boldly signed, very fine overall.

In part:
"Your favor reached here during my absence from home in attendance upon the great S. Western Convention at Nashville. I thank you for the information which it contains. That which I collected at Nashville is most cheering. I believe that Tennessee will not be much behind Kentucky in the majority for Harrison. The finest and most enthusiastic prevails there, and animated the whole Convention. If the October elections turn out favorably, I believe that the Whigs will sweep the whole South and S. West from the Potomac to the Balzie [a former French fort and settlement near the mouth of the Mississippi River], including Louisiana, and excepting only South Carolina. My opinions have been so often expected that I need not repeat them, as to the necessity of a Nat. Bank. We must see and know the results of approaching Elections before we venture to speculate as to the time of its establishment?"

Henry Clay was well-versed on the topic of a national bank, having already clashed with Andrew Jackson and the Democrats over their policies during the election of 1832. Clay was a strong supporter of the national bank, while Jackson disliked it due to a hatred of both banks and paper currency. During the Van Buren administration, the country's economy was hit by a massive recession, the Panic of 1837, which the Whigs blamed on Jackson's prior policies and the use of pet banks. As the election of 1840 approached, the Whigs saw their chance to capitalize on the Democratic Party's failure, with Clay leading the charge. However, rather than Clay, it was William Henry Harrison who rose as the principle Whig candidate for president, due to Clay's prior two presidential defeats. While disappointed at not winning the nomination, Clay ultimately lent support to Harrison by campaigning and delivering numerous speeches on his behalf.

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"