The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1822-09-03

I successfully urged. ihe best reasons for The be-
lie) that The object in railing fes Mr. RUSSELL
letters ftosl Paris after the signing Of the trea.
l. Of Cheat, was TO prove thai be had, with n
majority of the commissioners, consented
condiiionally 10 continue 10 the British the
right Of navigating The Mississipfi--and fur
ther 10 prove that Mr.. Russell himself, with
Mr. Clay, had opposed that measure, and thus
10 demoDsfste 10 the western country TINT the
Secretary Of State was unworthy their conf
1ence and To recommend the others by new
considerations 10 theirgniilnde and esteem.
IL was diilieult for Mr. adams, by the utmost
ekcrfion OF iiberaiits, to divine any other mo-
five in the exhibition Of these papers, than
sach u. originated from the wish of detlacing
from his reputation in the eyes OF The nation.
IL was still more dihcult 10 discriminate be-
tween the act and tie actors aud he had
onuse sgificiem 10 support him IN the conjec-
tnr, Tint the whole ofinir Ind been plotted 10
injnre hiia, lie had n great cnuse 10 consider
all the agents Ms compoiters 10 effect the pro-
nnctnrc which required the production Of
these plfers-There WINS no subject before
Congress, OF obscure article of the treaty 81
Client, which needed their calculation. Mr..
Russoils Integrity or pdfriO'ism had not then
been impeached, tbti he should have wanted
the aid of the correspondence TO rs-esisbIish
either The secret motive of Gen. Floyd If
he kept II n seereD in desiring tho publication
OF these letters, could mol have been known 10
the Secretary of Sta,c--nnd VIC venture 10
say, that II was such one as could not have
been surmised by any person unacquanttd
with his particular nnd private views--Whtn
he therefore made the call on the Executive
for the production of this correspondence
Suspicious as Mr. Adams must already have
become as TO The personal hostility of Mr.. Rus.
SELL aud nj 10. 10 conjecture the use tlrs
member from Virginia designed making of hi.
letters, be must naturally have concluded that
he was n co-operator with Mr.. Rhsscll in his
hive been destitute OF penetration, and inca.
phblt Of reasoning upon appearances, il ht
bad cohiee'1rtd differently. We do not wish
10 impnlr or TO discrcdit Dir Floyds explnna-
ton of his motives. On the contrary, know.
ing rs we do the extraordinary sdlieitudc that
he has manifested for several years on the sub
lect Of The Columbia river, and the possibility
OF making il a door to admit the rich com.
mcrec Of China and the East Indies, we feel
more particularly disposed TO yield unlimited
credit to his statement All we contend for is
that tltse thiags were unknown To Mr.. Ad.
nDs--lhai all circumstances united To induce
him to associate DR. Floyd with Mr. Russell
in the resolution of the hitter TO iniure his re-
pntation by exposing the secret incidents of
the negotiation ofGhent-Aand that being thus
persuaded oil his being parlioCpa criminis in the
offence, he was commcndablc in bcstowine
ON him portion OF the punishment
We intended to have noticed Gen Floyd's
very extraordinary reflections upon clerks
but rs the yirtnoes Indignation of one Of our
correspondents has been reused to defend this
deserving and injured class of citizens, we
leave this part of the srtiect, with much plea
snrc, To his apprehension.