Wilmington daily commercial., 1875-04-28

rest ONCE In the United States. 81 $500 per year
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Jshn Qusncy Adams Memoir.-The |
First Three Years of Monroe. |
Summoned home, by President Monroe. from |
tie high position of Minister to Great Britain, |
Mr.. Adams entered upon still more important
and honorable service at the head OF the State
Department, ip September, 1917. The Presi-
dent shaping his course to conciliate all parties
for there were now no good reasons for heated
party difrerencos-had selected Mr.. Adams for
the first and most prominent place in his Cabi-
net thus giving the sign that the Virginia and
Massachusetts interests, which SO long
had been competitors and almost antagonists,
were now to be united in the administration
of the Government. Mr.. Adams, it is true, was
not pet OF the New England Federalists he
had been too Independent too shrewd to
bind himself to their suicidal policy; but in fact
Federalism, as a party organization was now de-
funct, and the son of John Adams represented
all there was of political force in New England,
outsde OF the elements of Democracy with
which Monroe himself was sympathetic. Such
aselection did much, no doubt. to smooth the
way of the Administration. The Adam ses had
family representative placed at the head of
the Cabinet in the line OF succession to the
Presidency, (for Madison had been Jedersons
Secretary OF State, and Monroe Madison'-) It
vas soothing and gratifying to those who had
long looked TO Eastern Massachusetts, for poiti-
Od light.
The third volume of the Memoirs under re-
view refers to the first two and half years OF
81,
closing in February, 1920. This was period in
which the care of our foreign relations continued
to be she most important and embarrassing duty
OF the Government Out of them proceeded the
chief questions on which Congress debated and
divided. One OF the first duties Of the new Sec
Rotary was to prepare instructions for the Com
missioners who had been appointed to visit the
uewly-formed South American republics.
t, got such facts concerning them as
might determine the propriety of rec
ognzins their independence of Spain. One of
these commissioners was the Honorable Cirssr
4. Rodney OF Delaware. nephew OF the signer of
the Declaration, and Attorney-General Of the
United States from 1907 TO 1911. The journal
Of Mr.. Adams records that he came (November
18th, 1870 to the President, to receive his in
structions. The question of recognition, howev-
OF, was involved with other matters OF more i'm.
mediate and practical concern in our relations
With Spain. Out OF the Seminole War, and 9th
er turbulent movements in and near the Florida
Peninsula, wss growing the diplomacy which
eyentuated III that treaty ly which Spain gave
up to US her ''two Floridss, East
and West, completing line of possessions
On the Gulf OF Mexico, cast OF tue Mississippi
sni giving lis, west OF tho Louisiana purchase
= title clesr TO that great ocean which We ca
the Pseidc, but which, 20 recently the yea
1877 John Quincy Adams uniformly spoke OF a
the - South sea. Pending this great ces-ior
the negotiations Of wich occupied much OF Mr.
Adams attention for year or more precediu,
lis conclusion, in February, lsl9, il was the hee
esssry policy Of our Government 10 syold em
prolment with Spain in reference 70 her re
VOTED colonies. The operations of the Ameli
Island hlbu-ters. who had undertaken to -eiz
fiorids as sort Of territorial speculation
and General Jacksou- aulacious capture Q
Pensacola, were circumstances ual,.en:ly dis
tracing 20 the nesotisuen without adding !
them the question Of South Amercau .ndepeni
ence. Mr. Rodney earnestly urged the claim
VI Buenos Ayres 20 recognition. and Clay f.ot
his high place in the House Of Representative ee
made them and the general South America,
question, the theme OF some Of his most elk
qdent speeches, bu; /; was the plain policy Of I'll
Administration to first secure the advantages D
the Florida treaty. 1t was q long step in the L
rsction Of national greatness few besides NJ
Aiams saw then the full value OF its provision
especially OF that which extended our boundal
TO the Pacific and gave Ii another ocean cos-
It's extreme Importance, however Was plain
nimt and the treaty being at last signed, /
says
The acknowledgment OF lehnite line
boundary TO the South Sea forms grea. epoch
in our history. The first proposal Of it IL til
negotiation WAS my own, and trust it is no
secured beyond the reach of revocation.
WAS not even among our claims by the Trea
OF Independence with Great Britain. IL v
not among our pretenslons under the purchase
louisiana for that gave Us only the range
the Mississippi and it's waters. | first ntr
duced It in the written proposal OF 3lst of Octo
last 1t is the only peculiar and appropra
right acquired by this treaty in the event of
ratification
Our relations with Spain, Mexico, and t
South American nations occupy large part
this volume OF the Memoirs. Other topics
less Importance receive attention, however 7
intrigues for the next Presidency, the fricti
between Crawford, Clay, and Calhoun, all
whom were looking forward to the successic
t!ls Jealousy with WHICH AT NsaluS rlFp
position before the people was regarded by
the other aspirants-these form one ca-r
subjects to which the Diary makes frequent
lnsiop. An interesting circumstance is the
fectiye and vigorous service performed by i!
sms in defence OF General Jacksens Flor
proceedings. Remembering how, but {
years later it was the pleasure OF Jscl
party TO destroy John Quincy Adams, we re
with curious remark the courage and wsru
with which the Secretary of State justified
Congress and the country such Jschsonisn 81
az the seizure Of ST. Marks and Pensacola, a
the execution of Ambrister and Arbuthnot.
As this volume closes, however, the vi
questions OF the hour began to be those of hol
rather than foreign policy. The slavery iss
loomed up in Congress. The proposed adm
sion OF Missouri, and the question of the Go
promise assumed Importance. The later pas
Of ,his volume are full Of allu-ions to the gro