Page "John J. Crittenden" Paragraph 33

Crittenden again supported Clay's presidential bid in 1844.

Clay was widely considered the favorite not only for the Whig nomination, but to win the general election.

None of the traditional campaign issues — Tyler's " executive usurpation ", Clay's " corrupt bargain " with John Quincy Adams, or the protective tariff — seemed to excite the electorate.

However, the issue of the annexation of Texas changed the entire campaign.

Clay made a tour of the South just before the Whig nominating convention and concluded that the sentiment in favor of annexation in that part of the country was not as strong as had been assumed in Washington, D. C. Acting on this belief, and against Crittenden's advice, Clay sent a letter opposing annexation to Crittenden, asking him to have it published in the National Intelligencer.