Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1848-03-18

of the United States to the Netherlands
1t appears that Mr.. Jefferson, also, recon-
Imended him for this appointment. For
period, now, of seven years, from 1894 to
| 1901, he was in diplomatic missions to Hob
land, England, and Russia just before
| Washington retired from office, he appoint
ed him Minister Plenipotentiary to Portu-
gal. On his way to Lisbon, he received a
new commission, changing his destination TO
Berlin. He continued there from Novem-
Der, 1897, to April, 1901, and concluded an
important treaty of commerce with Prussia.
At the close of his fathers administration he
returned home, arriving in Philadelphia in
September, 1901.
! In 1902, he was elected from Boston a
member of the Massachusetts Senate, and
soon after by the Legislature of that State
i Senator in Congress from the 4th of March,
1S0S. While Senator in Congress he was
appointed Professor of Rhetoric and Ora
4 tory in Harvard University, and his lectures.
delivered in the recesses of Congress, (pGb-
lished in two octave yolumes,) attracted
great attention, and gathered crowded and
admiring audiences, in addition TO academi-
cal hearers.
While in Russia, he furnished the Port
Folio, edited in Philadelphia by Joseph
Dennie, and to which, from first to last, MIR.
Adams was frequent contributor, series
of letters entitled 60 Journal of a Tourist
through Silesia." They were republished
| in England, reviewed in the leading jour-
mails of the day, and afterwards translated
| into French and German.
/ While in Russia, his services were of
vast importance, and produced effects upon
g.. -. H. -,
this day. BY his fundamentally the Em-
peror of Russia was induced to mediate for
a peace between Great Britain and the Uni
ted States, and President Madison named
him at the head of the commissioners sent
to negotiate the treaty which brought the
war of 1918 to close. This celebrated
transaction took place at Client, in lSl4.-
Henry Clay and Albert Gallatin were in the
same commission; and both yet survive in
the full vigor of their faculties.
After the conclusion of that treaty, Mr.
A. proceeded, accompanied by his col
leagues, to London, and negotiated a con-
vention of commerce with Great Britain
4 He was then appointed Minister Plenipo-
ltentiary at the Court of St. James. There
is a coincidence here quite worthy of re-
mark. As the father, John Adams, took
the leading part in negotiating the treaty
with England at the close of the revolution
airy war, and was the first American Am
bassador in London after that event; so the
son was at the head of the negotiators who
brought the second war with Great Britain
to close, and presented his credentials, as
the first American Ambassador atthat Court,
after the restoration of peace. In 1917 he
was called home by President Monroe, to
what is really the second Office in the Gov
ernment, to be in the Cabinet as Secretary
of State.
This was the close of Mr. Adams career
as a Foreign Minister. 1t was, perhaps,
the most brilliant, as it certainly was the
most varied and interesting portion of his
life. No representative of our country
abroad has at all approached him; whether
in the length of time his services were con-
tinued, the number of courts at which he
attended, or the variety and importance of
the advantages he achieved for the Repub-
lie.
1t was fortunate that the early Presidents
entertained some adequate idea of what be-
llonged to the dignity of the Government,
and had discernment to see with whom so
great interests abroad might be safely in
trusted. Mr.. Adams first appointment as
Minister Plenipotentary was conferred on
him by George Washington, and in accor-
dance with the strong Recommendation of
Thomas Jefferson Madison, during his
whole administration, committed 10 him the
most important trusts; appointed him TO
represent the United States at the two most
powerful Courts in the world, ST. Peters
burgh and St. James, and assigned him as
chief of that distinguished embassy which
arranged the second treaty with Great Brit
ain. The encomium, in brief, which WASH
ington pronounced upon him, when, rs ear
Nv as 1897, he declared him "the most val
auble public character we have abroad, and
the ablest Of all our diplomatic corps" is
but the judgment that belongs to the whole
long period of his public service in Europe.
The act of Mr.. Monroe, in placing him
at the head of his Cabinet, met with the
fullest approval Of the country. General
Jackson gave expression TO that appreciation
in pronouncing him 'the fttest person for
the office-a man who would stand boy his
country in the hour of danger" The De-
partment of State was held by Mr.. Adams
during the whole of Mr.. Monroe's admins
tration, period of eight years, and the du-
ties of il were discharged with such ability
and success, as greatly to increase the pub
lie confidence in him as a statesman and a
patriot. OF the adjustment of the claims of
Spain, the acquisition of Florida, and the
recognition of the South American Repub-
lies, with many other important issues, eff
fected under his influence, and the vast
amount Of labor generally, which he expen-
ded in the service Of his country, it will be-
long to some competent biographer and his
torian to present an adequate view TO pos
terity.
In the Presidential election which took
place in the fall of 1894, Mr.. Adams was
one Of four candidates; and a. no one of
them received majority Of electoral votes,
lresenfatiyes. On the sth of February. 1895.