Nathan Sargent from Henry Clay, Aug. 19, 1843

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Ashland 19th August 1843

My Dear Sir

I duly reward your favor of the 20th July. Since them several elections have been held in adjoining states. Tennessee has realized all our hopes; but Indiana, and I am ashamed to own, Kentucky have both done badly. Our too great strength has been the cause of our loss of several members of Congress.  In each of two Districts two Whigs were run against one Lou[?] and were lost.  In two others, we were beaten by unfortunate selections of our own General Assembly! And I have no doubt that the state will give a large majority in 44 as she did in 40

I transmit for your confidential perusal the enclosed letters which you may destroy. You will be attracted to one of the causes assigned for our defeat in Indiana. Altho’ reluctant to believe it, I am afraid it is true.

We shall not have a fair canvass and a fair field until the two candidates of the respective parties are designated and announced. Then, the contest and the comparison will be between those two; and we shall profit by all dissentions and divisions now operating, and those which the next session will disclose, among our opponents.

I confess that I have some fear as to the wisdom of the policy which our N. York friends have intimated, of avoiding a battle this fall. The danger is that our defeats will be so general & so habitual that our friends cannot be aroused the exertion in the final struggle. If you can properly succeed this fall in Pennsa. the result would produce the most animating and encouraging effect.