The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1822-06-05

I'VE copy from the Boston Patriot .the foi.
owing brief state ment Of facts, which will OK.
,lsio lbe mode in which Mr.. Ru,seii's cor
espondencs has found its wsy before the
public
A short time after the conclusion Of the
Ghent Treaty, while the American Csmmis.
sioners were at Paris, aud in habits OF daily
Intercourse, Mr.. Russell, without consulting
his cole agues and without their Knowledge,
wrote to The then Secretary OF State, Mr..
Monroe, letter marked "fTivafe." stating
disagreement between himself and colleagues
in relation 10 the navigation OF the hlsslssip-
pi, and giving his reason for dissenting IN o.
pinon from The msjoriiy Of the mission. TLis
communication being marked "privste" was
considered by NJ. Monroe un.Dieiai, and was
in consequence filed away among his private
papers, where alone il could with any propti-
ety have been placed, aud where It remained
undi uurbed .rom 1915 TO 1922, seven years.
During the last session of Congress- it was
whispered in the several eoteries at Wsshing-
ton, that there WAS in existence letter from
the Honorable Mr.. Russell, which would
prove that majority of the Ghent Commis-
siooers were disposed to have made improper
concessions ia relation TO the navigation ot
the Mississippi, and which would show that
Mr.. Adams, as one OF this majority, had for
feited all claims 10 the support OF the West
IS q candidate for the Presidency. The con.
sequence was, a call by Mr.. Floyd, OF Virgin
10, for the correspondence which led to the
Treaty OF Gbest. Tho correspondence was
published, but this wonder working letter was
not embraced in il, and for the best resson,.
because u never h-i been placed among the
public documents IN the Secretary of States
office. A specific call was then made by MIR.
Floyd for Mr. RussclPs letter, in answer to
which Tho PCesident stated, that no such let
ter had been deposited among the documents
81 tho Department of State, but that he had
found among his private papers this letter,
ma ked "privNe" by Mr.. Russell, and that
MIR. Il. had also, on being appfized that hi.
lette, had not been deposited in that Depart
ment, delivered there paper, .purpor,ing TO
be Duplicate OF this letter. The President
also stated, that shis letter communicated a
difference Of opinion between Mr.. K. ard a
majority OF his colleagues al Ghent that one
Of that majo,ity. M. Bsyard, had since died.
end that il would not be, 10 the Presidents o.
pinon, consistent with equal justice to com.
munlcate the Arguments and statements Of
Mr.. Russell, without az the same time COM
municaing tho reply of the two sorviving
members OF the mission, who differed from
Mr.. Russell in opinion. This answer Of the
President was made to Congress on the 4'h
OF May, and on the following seventh of the
same month, a call was made on motion of
Mr.. Fuller, OF this State, requesting the Pre-
sident 10 communicate Mr.. Russsi's private
letter, "togethcr with such communications
ss he may have received relative thereto
from any Of the other Ministers Of the Dni-
ted States, who regotisted the Treaty OF
Ghent." This call was jmme dialely com.
piled with, an5 the " private" letter, together
with the psPer purpor,ing :" be dupIicare
Of this "p,ivs,e" letter a. he remarks OF
Mr.. Adams thereupon, were transmitted to
Congress. .... ... Sc ..,..