Wilmington daily commercial., 1875-03-02
The Peace Treaty OF ISIS Messrs.
Adams md BayaTd at Ghent.

The third volume Of the Diary Of John Quincy |
Adams in dudes his record of the negotiations at
Ghent, in 1914, his experiences in Paris during
the " Hundred Days" and his residence in Eng
land as Minister Of the United States TO that
country. AS relation OF the tedious delays,
the hair-splittng differences, the fnessing ef-
forts, Of negotiating treaty, with five Commits
sioners on the one side and three on the other.
his narrative of the four months proceedings at
Ghent is not devoid of entert anment but OIL
the whole it is rather wearisome reading. The
experiences in Paris much more spirited and
his life in London, at the Court OF the Prince
Regent" George with Castlereagh prime
minister. presents many scenes and incidents
that interesting.
The Ghent treaty, which terminated our sec
ond-aud no doubt last-war with Great Brita n
il remarkable for not settling the questions of
the war to which it put all end. Probably the
discussions helped to forward their ultimate set.
element, but for the time little was gained for
the United States beyond the restoration of
PEACE. This, however, was what our govern
ment most desired. The War of 1912 was a poor
piece of work on our part. Our natural sdysn-
tages Of isolated position, and wide wild country
alone saved us from ruin. Had we been com
pact population territory contiguous to
Great Britain, we should have been couque red
completely, and Obliged to take infinitely worse
terms than the merely negative adjustment
which we obtained. The war, III fact, had been
full Of disasters eliminating, while the negota-
tions were in progress, With the capture Of Wash.
ington, the destruction OF the public buildings,
and the ignominious flight of the officers of the
.. lala c1,styr,
President Madison was no warrior In the Fed
erdist he was strong, but in the field his
strength lay in the application Of his spurs His
war, from the first, had been crowded with oc-
currences of misfortune and disgrace. Hulrs
surrender, the Queenatown DISASTER the loss Of
the Chesapeake, the capture of Washington,
were successive events that mortified our pride
and hurt our national spirit. True, Scott had
fought well on the Niagara, and Harrison in the
Indian country, and our record of naval sue
cesses included Perrys Victory on Lake Eric
and MscDonoughs Champlan, as well az
many notable captures on the ocean. These
served to redeem name from total bemisll,
and at the very last when Jackson'- skill at New
Orleans ended the with decisive military
nuccesa, we felt and were perhaps entitled to
feel, that on the Whole, our fight had not done
us diaSedit.
The negotiations, however, were under the
pressure Of adverse fortunes. The news of the
capture and burning of Washington came to
Ghent while they were in progress preceded and
followed by other tdnga scarcely less distress
ing, and under such circumstances while Mr.
Galatin, who more exactly than any other of hi,
colleagues represented the mind OF President
Madisona administration, was urgent for peace
and bent all the powers Of his diplomatic MIND
to that result, Mr.. Bayard, too, ardently desired
It, We find him saying according to the jour
nsi--at one point in the negotiations, that
"The only chance We could possibly have Of .
successful continuation of the war was that oul
whole people should embark heart and soul il
It. They never would do 80 for on til,
only ground NOW left us. Our divisions woulc
become infinitely more dangerous and forInida
bic. Our finances were in ruins. Enonmou
taxes, ,such as our people have never known, arr
the only m ,aus by which the war can possb
be carried Oh. A war ID nothing to the BRITISH
Government. They have now no other enemy
upon their hands"
Mr. Russell joined with Mr.. Gaatn in hi
anxiety to stop the war. Mr.. Adams was NOR
pugnacioua, but still desrous of that result
Clay was more ready to fight further. He wa
afraid the treaty would ruin his popularity, am
Mr. Galatn consoed him by Iemarking tina
this would only be sharing the common fate, 70
almost all treaties were unpopular. Mr.. Bayarl
however, believed that they were making GOO
bargain, and one highly creditable to them. I
take of twenty-one millions Of taxes and restor
commerce, with substantially nothing give
up was result which would please the peopl
at home.
The discussions were often warm enough
AIr Clay once or twice refused to 20 farther, an
Mr. Adams declared his purpose not to sign til
treaty, if his colleagues gave up the fishery priv
ileges which we're of such concern to New Eng
land. At one point, Clay declared his DISCUS
with the British demands "He was for wa
three years longer That would develop ou
lighting ability. And the Diary adds
"IIe was for playing Jrdg with tho British pen
ipotentiarieH. ..... lie asked me if | knew ho,
to play brdg. l had forgotten how. He sale
the art OF it was TO beat your adversary by hold
ing your hand with solemn and coniden
phiz, and outbragging him. He appealed t.
Mr. Bayard if it was not
Cay, said Bayari, but you may lose th
t,t,h Al