The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1821-1823, 1822-08-14
POLITICAL MISCELLANY.
[Ftom the National h.teuigenesr.l

the 9th Of June preceding, 1t was stated that
the snbiect would be resumed in another pa
pcr. That paper with others Calculating all
the topicks of general interests discussed IN
Mr.. Russelrs letter, has been prepared, but
win be presented to the publick in another
form Mr. Russell's letter from Paris, OF TN
Feb. 1915, was ostensbly vindication OF HIM
self and his motives against an accusation IN
stituted by himself-selfde defence against SELF
Impeachment This substance was, secret
impeachment Of the majority of'his colleagues
before their common superiour Authority
That accusation he saw fit, during the late
session OF Congress, TO bring before the Legls-
lative Assembly Of which he was member,
and shortly afterwards to produce before the
publick, in newspapers, at Phiiadeiphia and
at Boston. II, in meeting this accusation
wherever it has appeared visible and tangi-
BILE. have been compelled to present myself
more than once to the publick attention, It has
been under circumstances deeply notifying
10 me. and assuredly not of my own choosing.
have been called to repel succession oil
charges, supported by the name OF man high
in the confidence of the country-an associate
4l>~ .-..-. s.i,ieh no substantially accuses me
OF having betrayed, and duplicating the CHAR
acter, conduct and memory Of other citizens
employed on the same 81 rvice. lthas, indeed,
recently been suggested that this is mere
personal controversy between MIR. Russell and
re, with which the publick have no concern.
And why was it brought before the publick
So long as the purport of Mr.. Russell's letter
was merely propagated in whispers-just hint
ed in anonymous paragraphs of newspapers,
and hoped not 10 be true in charitable letters
from Washington, however Infamous the lmpu-
tations with which It was occasionally bound
up and circulated, man conscious OF his inno-
cence, and secure in the uprightness Of his IN
tentioRs, might overlook snd despise it. But,
when made the object of two successive legis-
1ative calls for absolute and forgotten docu-
ments, trumpcted beforehand Throughout the
Union, as frauglt with disclosures which were
TO blast reputation worthless in the estima-
ton of It's possessor, if not unsullied; when
pertinaciously obtruded upon Congress and
upon the nation, by colleague in the trans
action denounced, by participation in the act
reprobated by himself, principles and duties
of higher order than those of mere personal
tlelicacy commanded me 90 solicit the atten-
lion, first, of the House of Representatives.
and, secondly, of the nation, to my defence and
that of my colleagues arraigned before them.
That defence has been, and will be, strictly
confined to the same limits as the attack to
which it is opposed; and if, in the course Of it.,
the attack itself has nccs ssarily been made to
recoil uRon the accuser, it was because Moth
ing could more forciblv tend TO shew the fulfil
ity of the charges than an exposition CT the
conduct Of him who produced them. Let me
then be permitted to say, that this is not a
mere personal controversy between Mr.. Rus
sell and me, with which the publick have no
concern. 1t did not so begin, nor can it so
end. The negotiation at Client was an event
OF great Importance in the history Of this I'M
iap..e.t vas conducted by Eve commissioners,
One Of The great objections to theertrusting of
critical negotiations to commissions is, their
inherent tendency to internal discussions, in
furious to tie common cause. Of these dis
sessions believe there were as few at Client
as in any negotiation, by commissioners of
equal number, upon historical record. Until
the last winter had fattered myself that none
of those differences of opinion had been of a
character which it would have been ever ne
cessary TO disclose to the world. In making
the draft OF the joint letter Of 25th December,
1914, to the Secretary of State, had, in speak
ing Of the proposition made TO the British pie
nipotcntiaries Of the first of that month said,
IS TO place both points beyond controversy, ,ce
offered to admit an article confirming both
rights" Ito the Mississippi navigation and the
fshcries.) The draft having been passed
round TO all the members Of the mission for re-
Eisal, was brought back to me by Mr.. Russell,
with an alteration which he said was desired,
not by him, but by Mr.. Clay, to say, instead
OF s. re oGered,n $ a majority Of Us determined
70 offer" Now, although the expressions first
used had been strictly correct, and the offer
had been actually made by the whole mission,
readily assentcd to the alteration, not mag
lining that Mr.. RuSsell's purpose was to lay It
as cornerstone for future fabricks, either of
self-accusation and defence, or Of social dis
cord and reproach. He now alleges it as a
selfcontradiction Of mine, that say the prop
osition was made by the whole mission, al
though, in the joint letter Of 25th December,
il was said majority determined to offer it,
But the contradiction was of his own magma
ton. The determination was taken by the
majority. The offer was nude by the whole.
blr. Russell proposed another amendment, for
which he neither mentioned, nor did | then
suspect his motive. The letter SAYS We
contended that the whole treaty of 1893 mast
be considered as one entire and permanent
compact, not liable, like ordinary treaties, to
DC dDIOS@ltu W subsequent war between
the parties to it." Mr.. Rus'e.l's proposal was
to change the word must for might-to read
8 we contendtd that the whole treaty nsigkl
be considered," &c. But 10 this alteration
objected that it would not state the facts as
they were-that we had actually contended
that it must, and not that il nratt, so he con-
and Mr.. Russell Immediately yield
ed to this objection, which he could not dis
pute. lie assented to this passage Of the let
ter, as it was first written, and il now stands.
The use which he even then proposed to make
OF the alteration, if it had been admitted, /
non. x,arca;va h,tf l.o1 49,. 49,. ....n.n :. -.