Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1830-12-04


kind of persecution from the party which chose
to STYLE him disloyal. The injustice which ne
experienced for prefering what he thought the
cause of his country to the interest OF any party
forms Just claim at present upon the gratitude
of Democrats and the generosity OF federaiis's'
Neither can reproach him now. in reference 70
that period. without mourning the Suspicion Vi
illiberality or yindctivt ness. President Madison
sensible of his various merits, offered MN, IN
1909, the embassy to Russia, which he accepted.
On his voyage to St Petersburgh the vessel
in which he sailed. entered the harbor OF thris,
tiansand. in Norway. to ride out the elu'noc'lai
oaIe There he found a number OF merican
merchant vessels. which had been captured by
the Danish p-ivateers, and were detained tor trl-
al. At the request of their captains and super
caryoes, he went to Copenhagen and made an APP
p,ication to the Danish government IN their be-
half, which saved most of them from condemna-
ton. Some time ago we published IN this Ga-
Zette the testimony Of one oil the captains. res
pectable resident of this city to the kind deport-
ment. and earnest, successful interference 0i MI
Adams. He remained at st. Petersburgh as
minister, between four and five years When ne
arrived there October, 1907, dussIa was In
close alliance with France. aud at war with Treat
Britain During the two last wears of his resi-
ucDCe. neT SltudtUu "dS cNuthN WV 'N'~''Nf 49,
the United States was at war with Great Britain.
with whom she was then leagued. His negoci-
ations varied with the policy of Russia and the
affairs of Europe In 1909 and 10, his duties
were to maintain our rights, and secure to us
the advantages of neutrality against the Influence
and prepotency of France. When Russia be-
came the ally of Great Britain, his task was to
preserve the good will Of Russia for tie United
States, though the, were at war with Great Brit
ain. He succeeded in these truly arduous OBJ
iects Bv his energy. address. ana personal
consideration, he saved from conilscation many
American vessels and cargoes, in spite OF the
predominant power and peremptory demand OF
Napoleon. 1t so happened. too. that the friendly
dispositions of the Emperor Alexander were not
lost. TWAS in the midst of the French INVASION
of Russia. and at the very period of the confia-
grafton of Moscow, that the first proposal OF the
Emperor's mediation between the United States,
and Great Britain, was, by his order, made TO
Mr.. Adams. who transmitted it To this country.
While in Russia. Mr.. A. wrote his well-knOwn
| work. entitled. Journal Of a Tour through Site-
STA, which acquired for him even i'll England con-
siderable reputation as an author. In composing
it, he had in view chiefly the benefit of .4merican
Lndustru. in certain branches Of manufacture, in
which the Slesians excelled.
In 1915, Mr.. GaIlatin and Mr.. Bayard ar
rived at st. Petersburg, empowered to negotiate,
| Jointly with Mr.. Adams, treaty Of Peace with
| Great Britain under the mediation OF Russia
| The British government declined the meditation.
but proposed direct negotiation which finally
took place at Client IN 1914. with MIR. Adams
at its head on the American side. He displayed
here all the qualities which his country could de-
sire in a representative on so momentous an oc-
III tha I,,ahla x,nt,,
which he published at Washington in 1922. un-
der the title of the Fisheries and the Mississippi,
for evidence extorted by agg ession.o the impOr-
lance of his immediate agency and the depth Of
his views.
At the conclusion of this successful mission.
he repaired to London, and there concluded,
Jointly with Mr.. Clay and Mr. Gallatin, COM
mercial convention. Our government having APP
pointed him, Immediately after the ratification OF
the peace of Client. envoy extraordinary and mi
MISTER penipotentiary to the British Court. he re-
NAMED in London in that capacity, until the
summer of 1917, when he was called home by
President Monroe TO fill the Office of Secretary
of State.
During the two years of his residence in Eng
land, he was constantly engaged in grave public
business. No treaty was actually concluded, but
there was much preparatory, intricate negotIa-
ton, relating mainly to the execution of the
Treaty of Client, to additional commercial ar
rangements. to indemnify for slaves carried away
by the British after the peace, to our intercourse
with the British colonies in Ameri a, and to the
great question concerning the Northern fisheries
which had been left unsettled, and but for him,
might have been sacrificed, at Client.
These nchoate negotiations were all pursued
by him after he became Secretary of State. I'm
der instructions from him, Mr.. Gallatin and Mr..
Rush negotiated the commercial convention with
Great Britain, of 1918, which settled most hap
PLY the question of the Fisheries, and that of
our boundary from the Lake of the Woods to the
Rocky Mountains, left open ever since the peace
of 1885.
In 1919, he signed the Florida Treaty with
Don Luis de Onis, which then received the u
unanimous sanction Of the Senate. This was ap-
parently the end Of negotiation of twenty years
continuance; but it proved only the commence
ment of another, which was protracted for two
years more, before the final ratification of the
treaty. The history of this affair, as it regards
MIR. Adams, is one of almost unexampled toll.
watchfuIness and vigor. At the second sanction
of the Treaty, in the Senate, there were, indeed
four votes out of forfy-eigM against it. 1t gave