Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1825-05-10

" in the course OF the several publications, Of
which it had been the occasion, and, particular
ly, IN the appendix to a pamphlet which had
been recently published by the Hon. ]. @.
Adams, think there are some errors Ono doubt
iulintentiondO both as to matters Of fact and
matters OF opinion, in regard to the transactions
at Client, relating to the navigation of the Mis-
sippi, and certain liberties claimed by the Unit
ed States in the Fisheries, and to the part which
bore in thoSe transactions. These important
interests are now well seured" 'An account,
therefore, Of what occurred in the negotiation
at Client, on those two bjects, is not, perhaps
necessary to the present or future security OF
any OF the rights OF the nation, and is only inte-
resting as appertainii s to its past history With
these impressions, and being extremely un-
willing to present myself, at any time, before
the public, had almost resolved to remain 81
lent, and thus expose myself to the inference
OF an acquiescence in the cor eCtness OF all the
statements made by both my colleagues; but
have on more reflection thought it may be eX-
pected of me, and be consdt red duty on my
part, to contribute all in my power towards q
full and faithful understanding of the transae-
tons referred to. Under this conviction, | will,
at some future period, more Dropitious than
the present to calm and dispassionate conside.
ration, and when there can be no misinterpre-
taton Of motives, lay before the public a nara
tive of those TRANSACTIONS as l understood
them"
From even careless perusal of that letter,
it is apparent that the only tzvo subjects of the
negotiation at Client to which it refers, were
the navigation Of the Mississippi and certain
fishing liberties; that the errors, which had
supposed were committed. applied to both Mr..
Russell and MIR. Adams, though more particu
lary to the appendix of the latter; that they
were unjntentional; that they affected myself
principally; that deemed them of no public
importance, as connected with the then, or fu-
ture security of the rights of the nation, but
only interesting to its past history; that l
doubted the necessity CT my Offering to the
public any account of those transactions; and
that the narrative which promised was to be
presented at season more calm, and when
there could be no mlsinterpretation OF motives
Although MIR. Adams believes otherwise, yet
think there are some unintentlonal errors, III
the controversial papers between him and Mr..
Russell. But have reserved to myself an ex-
elusive right OF Judging when shall execute
the promise which have made, and shall be
neither quickened nor retarded in its per-
Torrance. by the friendly anxieties Of any Of
M Opponents.
publishing the narrative, the public will not
suffer by it. Ii is already know by the publ
cation of the British and American rojects,
the protocols, and the correspondence between
the respective plenipotentlaries, that the Brl-
fish government made at Client q demand OF
the navigation OF the Mississippi, BY AL article
in their project nearly in the same words as
those which were employed in the treaty OF
l7o5 that a majority OF the American coin
mlssleners was in favor OF acceding 10 that de-
mand upon The condition that the British 60
vernment wo Id concede to us the same fish
ing liberties, within their jurisdiction, as were
secured to us by the same treaty OF 1885, and
that both delnslds were finally abandoned. The
fact OF these mutual propositions was commu-
nicated by me to the American public in a
speech which | delivered in The House of Re-
representatives., on the 29th OF January, 1916.
Mir. Aopkinson had arraigned the terms Of the
treaty ofpeaee, and charged upon the War and
the Administration, the loss OF the fishing ber-
ties, within the British jurisdiction, which We
enjoyed prior to the war. In vindicatlng in
my reply to him, the course OF the government
and the conditions Of the peace, stated
w zen the British Commissioners demand
ed, in their project, renewal to Great Britain
OF the right to the navigation of The Mississip
pi, secured by the treaty Of 1888, q bare majo-
rity ct The American Commiss oners offered to
renew it, upon the condition that the liberties
in question were renewed to US. he WAS not
one OF that majority. He would not trouble
the committee with his reasons for beng OPP
posed to the offer. majority OF his COL
leagues, actuateJ he 6eleued By the best motires
made, however, the offer, and it was refusedby
the British Commissioners
See DAILY Vat Intel. ofthe 21st March, 1916.
And what though OF my colleagues OF the
majority, appears from the same extract. The
spring after The termination OF The negotiations
at Ghent, went to London, and there entered
upon new and highly important negotiation
with two OF them, (Messrs. Adams and Gala
tn) which resulted, on the Sd July, 1915, In the
Commercial Convention, which has been since
made the basis OF most of our commercial ar
engagements with foreign powers. Now, II
had discovered at Client, as has been asserind,
that either of them was false and falthless to his
country, would have voluntarily commenced
with them another negotiations Further;
there never has been period during our
whole acquaintance, that Mr.. Adams and have
not exchanged when we have met, friendly sa-
iutations, and the courtesies and Inequalities OF
social intercourse.
The address proceeds to characterize the
support which gave to Mr.. Adams as unnatu-
raj. The authors OF the address have not stated
why it is unnatural, and we are therefore left
to conjecture their meaning. sit because Mr..
Adams is from New-Lngland, and am citl-
zen of the West Ii it be unnatural in the Wes-
tern States 10 support citizen Of New-Eng-
land, it must be equally unnatural in the New.
England States to supporta citizen OF the W est.
And, on the same principle, the New-England
States to be restrained from concurring IN the
election OF citizen in the So them States, or
the Southern States from cooperating in the
election of citizen Of New England. And,