Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-05-20

Uatc, UfuJUTTtg UTTy o
the mission in favor of offering TO the British
plenpotentiaries, artclo confirming the British
right to the navigation of the Mississippi, and ours
To the liberty 10 tho fisheries il becomes me in
candor TO acknowledge, that was in the minor-
" or that question must reserve to myself the
power Of communicating TO you, hereafter, the
reasons which influenced me to differ from ma
jorty of my colleagues on that occasion; and il
they be insufficient to support my opinion, l per
suade myself that they will, at least, vindcate my
motives"
II was very singular, that Mr.. Russell, who
did not even desire that the alteration should he
made in the joint letter, specifying that majori-
" only concurred in the offer OF the Mississippi
navigation, shoud have so far changed his mind
on the same day, as to deem it necessary for him,
in vindicaton OF his motives, to give an eXplana-
ton to his government. Nobody had denounced
his motives, and the Secretary OF State would ne
yer have known that he was one Of the minority,
had he not announced it himself. IL is evident
therefore, that he must have had motive, in this
transaction, distinct from self vindication.
In accordance with his notice, MIR. Russell
wrote a long letter to Mr.. Monroe, then Secreta-
ry of State, dated at Paris, Feb. ii, 1915, mark
I'd "private." In this letter he enlarged upon the
Importance of the Mississippi navigation 10 the Bri-
fish, deprecated the value 10 us, Of the fishe-
RIGS in controversy, became the champion OF ives
tern interests, and charged the majority with in
sincerity, absurdity, and violation OF instructions
II was formal argument and studied commentary
Upon the joint letter OF Dec. 18th, 1914, which
hac been penned by Mr.. Adams. Being marked
'priUdfe,' it was intended only for the inspection
Of MIR. Monroe. Mr.. Russell first makes occa-
sion for this explanation by gratuitously informing
MIR. Monroe, that he was i'm the minority, and then
gravely proceeds to give it, Unassailed, except by
himself, he enters into formal vndicaon. This
is addressed, not to the people nor to the public
authorities Of his country, but to him who is desti
ned to he the next President. MIR. Monroe had al
ways distinguished himself the friend of the
west, and any thing which threatened to iniure
that favorite section OF the Union, was calculated
to sink deep into his mind Nor could ii be sup
posed, that the impression would be less effec-
tive because the disclosure came from northern
man, who seemed TO have no interest in exagge-
ration or Misrepresentation.
Mr.. Clay s. Mr.. Russell acted together, s voted
t6ðer. At Mr.. C's suggestion, Mr.. II. procured
the alteration in the joint letter They togeth
er at Paris tchen the explanation icas acritten.
Ii this document had impaired the confidence Of
Mr.. Monroe in Mr.. Adams rs one Of the majority,
who was to be benefited Not Mr. Russell; for he
could not expect the office of Secretary Of State
from Mr.. Monroe. No man likely to reap
the benefits MIR. Clay. Delivered from the ri
vniry of MIR. Adams, he would have had brighter
Prospect for the office oil Secretary OF State, that
sure path TO the summit of his ambitious hopes.
The interest of Mr.. Russell could have been only
contingent upon the downfall Of Mr.. Adams and
the elevation of Mr.. Clay. There can, therefore,
be bat little doubt that this whole affair an in
trigue set on foot by Mr.. Clay, to undermine Mr..
Adams in the estimation OF Mr.. Monroe, and open
TO himself an avenue to the second Office in the
government.
filed away unheeded, among Mr. Monroe's private
papers; he is made President, and appoints Mr.. a.
dams Secretary of State. From that moment Mr.
Clay was opposed to Mr. Monroe, and sought eve
ry occasion to thwart the measures of his admins
traton.
That this whole affair was piece OF manage
naent in Mr.. Clay, to destroy Mr.. Adams, and that
the latter thought so, is proved by subsequent a.
vents. In the first page of the introduction to his
In n9R Re t eSnf Mseis 81 MI Aaa n says
apprized by friend, that rumors very unfavoura-
BILE to my reputation, even for integrity, were in
dustriously circulated in the western country
That it said had made proposition at Client
TO grant to the British the right to navigate the
Mississippi, in return for the Newfoundland ishe-
high msdemcanor." " He said, the proposal was
10 be represented Gas ofience) that it was
charged exclusively upon me- and that 1 should
hear more about it ere long"
On she succeeding January, the documents rel
alive to the Client negotiation, were called for, and
IN February laid before the II. OF r. Mr. A
dams says. that while these documents were lying
on the table; &c the correspondence from W ashing
ton, and the newspapers indoctrinated by il, had
not been equally inactive. Thro' these channels
the public assured, that the proposal Of offer
ing the navigation OF the Mississippi for the fish
cries, had been made by me; that Mr. Clay had
uniformly declared that he would not sign the trea
~ with such an article in it; and that the proposal
had been finally set aside by Mr.. Bayard's having
changed sides, and over to the opinion of the
minority"
In April 1922. call was made for Mr.. Russelrs
private letter dated at Paris Feb. 1lh, 1916, which
was repeated in the following June. On the latter
occasion; Mr.. b. Hardin, of Kentucky, is reported
in the National intelgencer, to have said, .s he
was glad the letter called for, and he should
vote for the resolution il would show the west
people in what manner their interests dis
regarded or sacrificed; that the Commissioners oil.
fered to give up the navigation of the Mississippi
to secure the fisheries of the east"
There now came out the original letter to Mr..
Monroe, marked spriudte," together with ''du
plicate" left by Mr. Russell at the Department OF
State, before the original found, to be coInmu
nicated 10 the House. Mr.. Adams obtained leave
10 submit his remarks upon these documents, ann
laying hold of certain differences between The let
ter and the duplicate, TO assa MI Russell, did not
hesitate now and then, 10 aim thrust al MIR. Clay,
whom he evidently believed to be the original
Insver. OF Mr.. Clay and Mr.. Russell, he says,
p. IL:
{" That the objection, by the minority, against
the article and amendment, insisted, in principle,
upon the sacrifice OF eastern, for the benefit VI
a western interest.
g. That the eastern interest TO be sacrificed was
Of very great importance TO the Union, and of vital
importance to the State of Massachusetts,; while
the western interest, for which it to be immo-
lated, was altogether speculative and imaginary.
II was most truly denominated by the member Of
the mission, now 20 more, Dragging a million a.
gdiHst q cent"
These views are enforced throughout the pub
Iicaton Of Mr.. Adams, interminged with insnua-
lions against the conduct and motives Of Mr.. Clay;
with nsinuations that the whole affair, from the
alteration in the Joint letter at Client, to the call
for Mr. RusselPs private letter, in Congress, was
scheme Of intrigue to destroy his reputation aud
effect his ruin. In productions written by him.