Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-10-28


authors Of on address adopted al he Gd-
ni'niS.rGfion tOtrn meeting of The 7th Juiy.
LETTER XII.
GENrLEmES In our cicucatA letter, we
were inqui,ing into the services and measures Of
Mr.. Adams, ia order 10 ascertain the correctness
Ciyour representation that be an ilustro,is pat.
Tioi aud statesman and we had Intended TO pur-
sue the inquiry minutcly, in succeeding letters
the desire, however, 10 publish, in pamphlet iorm
what we have already written, interrupts our pro
gress, and we shall at present notice hose topics in
very brief manner
1t cannot escape public observation. that. tacrc
&, throughout the addresses IN favor OF hc admin
;Stration dcaTtL OF Information respecting Serui-
ces and measures So icrnaik aLe an uniformity
could not have been accidental: We are justified
III supPosing, therefore, that it really was the re-
suit OF inadequate maierias.-Up 10 1902
we have already accompanied Mr. Adams, in his
diplomatic career, without finding any result ho
norable 10 the fame useful 10 the interests Of his
country Let as see whether he was more Jis,in-
gushed subsequently.
From 1869 10 ioii, Mr. Adams was in Russia
We have no knowledge, We never have heard that
his services extended beyond a residence at ST:
Heteisburgh He was greedy in the accumulation
oil The large sums paid by his "pcnurious' coun-
try but we have yet TO learn that any return ina
tional benefit a made.
In 1911, we find MIR. Adams at Ghent in the
execution of this trust, if we are to believe Mr.
Cay, there was not displayed, by Mr.. Adams, Ell
ther patriot or craftsmanship On the contrary,
ehaSe sectional advantage for the East. Let the
friends OF those gentlemen, however, settle Ibis
matter, j! they Can a day, we hope will arise
when the veil which hides the " secret nieh;, .
transactions at Client, "4ii he rent, and sanitary
truths made known 10 an abused people.
Mr.. Adams subsequently proceeded to London,
fnd remained there until 1916. There were many
matters, dependou! upon the treaty Of Client,
whch.icmanded eidcient altention but we have
no knowledge that any OF them were at this period
adjusted
Here ends the career Of Mr. Adams rs foreign
minister: II is Incredible, that it, in the course of
twenty years, he really had effected any object OF
moment for his country. an utter silence respect
inS 1T would lie observed On the contrary, when
60 much IS SAID pompousiy aud gratuitously, we
may well conclude, that the subject viii not bear
examination. We have 10 doubt, that MIR. Adams
wasa constant and vcIuminogs correspondents buf
we have no knowledge Of results Of his dipomac ,
dcnotng patriotism and craftsmanship.
Let us then, hastily, pass with him through the
cibinet, from 1916 10 1925. Tie field, here OPEN
ed, was sufficiently extensive for the display of
every talent, natural or acquired and If the duties
comprehendcd merely train OF elaborate, and Of
ten elegant compositions, should not hesitate to
copter high praise But il sound advice and salu-
tary actions, are the tests Of minister, we must
refuse TO place Mr.. Adams in tho rank, which is
claimed for him
What. in the whole course Of his ministry, did
he effect with FycHce2 ~ tlle government; Of tire
united States had released france from response
piy, ioT spJIatiOHS pIlOi 20 the purchase oil Louis
iana, at least indemnity was due for the losses Of
american citizens, by the outrages Of Trance sub
sequent to that period. Those losses in all proha-
bilny exceeded twenty millions Of dollars, get il
Goes not appear that any efficient effort fas bcea
made 10 obtain remuneration.
On the purchase OF Florida from France. an H.
iustfions patriot or statesman never would have
pursued the course taken by Dir. Adams it was
wholly immaterial 10 France, how the purchase
money should be applied: that question rested wi
ihe United States alone, faithful Minister in fix.
ing The amount 70 be applied 10 the payment of
losses b. his coun!ryrneH would have taken such
limits as would embrace every fir chin Mr.
Adams, however, limited The indemnity for losses
olive millions, whereas the actual Claims amount
ca 10 twenty millions The injurious effects of dis
arrangement were severely fell upon the decision
Vi the commissioners. according 10 thc principles
ptjusticc and sound policy, there ought 10 have
been 10 limit, but The extent OF the fund, and
tlIus all honest claimants would have been indcm.
niiied
The United States had been d,e first to acknow-
i-dBe the indie pendcnre Of South Gmericn and
.HcFico they were sister republics in Tho same he.
'mspherc; wc had claims Of gratitude aud sympathy
20 prefer; yet we have seen the diplomacy n Eng
i3"I stripping W Of advantages, politically aud
commercially inpOfteni. The incepacity and lti-
s''fe Of MI Adams. 10 this respect were exposed
~ "ir. C,@y himself, ~ tho debates IN 1870, upon
-r Spanish treaty
In the negotiations with cogiu, Mr. Adams g.
ylnccd want Of capacity. or Zcal, which afforded
"i LAY "H "PPoitub 70 ftbhhc liin DfiJfc lHe
haiion IL i'a$hrNci been explained; why, " ne-
l,oiiaiiDg with Spaiu, tie territory III TeSas was
giveu Ia Spaia-I territory which arrnfdius. =.
Mr.. Clay Spain hprscW lad sefeed 20 cor .5erI
within Tie boundaiie- of Louisiana "a territory
comprebeDding six degrc. OF latitude, from DC
2Gi, 10 the 32d N and about nine degrees al ion
gitude, from the Rio Rel horde 90 the Sabine n
arrest such transfer. and g. robukc MI. Adams
Mir. Clay laid these oiUtous on The table oij
ihe House Of Representatives., Oh tle 2S.h March
1920.
. RsSo!Ued. That the constitution vests IN Ccnsl
gress, the power 10 dispose Of the territory
|Snsfng 70 TIE Cr''~d f-eis; ~ int ~ treaty