The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-12-08

without the angular and obstinate blunt
ness Of Adams. He was the superior of
Jay as man Of affairs and in rugged
strength of understanding. Robert r.
Livingston, the first in achievement of
the six distinguished members of this re-
markable family, was elected to the con-
tlnental congress in April, IT'S. Serv-
ing on many important committees, he
served from June II, 1775 to July 4, on the
committee Of five whose deliberations
ically set forth by Mr.. Jefferson, for
the Declaration of Independence. On
Aug. 10, 1871, he was elected by congress
secretary of foreign affairs, and in the
discharge of delicate diplomatic duties
exhibited talents and aptitude of the
highest order.
In Secretary Livingston's Instructions
to Franklin, dated Jan. Z, 1882, are en-
bod1ed In the most argumentative and
exact form the American claim for the
Mississippi as cur boundary line. ana
for other much desired concessions that
can anywhereNbe found. He says, be-
HeYe that our extension to the Mis-
slssippi is founded in justice and that
our claims are at least such as the events
of the war give us the right to insist up
on He followed with the keenest
watchfulneSS each step in the negotia-
lions for an advantageous peace. When
peace with honor and with untold bene-
hts to his country was unquesttonably
assured, this. patriot resigned his high
New York.
igation.
The high ground taken, fortified and
rendered impregnable by Livingston and
his three able commissioners in Paris.
had been occupied before by far-seeing
men. The old treaty Of 1853 had guaran-
teed to the subjects Of France and Great
al M OH 70 ba FREQ xricr lon,
of the Mississippi ''in it's whole breadth
and length from its source to the sea-"
The first American statesman, whose
clear vision seems to have discerned the
value to this country Of this region, was
Alexander Hamilton 2 In his works, pub
lished by the Putnams and edited by Sen
ator Lodge, we find on mage 2S Volume l,
clined to nope, builds too much on the
present disunion of Canada, Georgia, the
Floridas. the Mississippi and Nova SEQ
tia, from other colonies. A little time,
trust, viii awaken them to a proper sense
of their indiscretion. 1 please myself with
the hattering prospect that they will ere
long, unite in one indissoluble chain with
the rest of the colonies" This is from
"a Full Vindication" of the measures
Of congress, in answer to the calumnles
of Westminster farmer, published IN
December 1774.
On page IS of same volume is a peril
nent paragraph, too wisely prophetic at
so early date to be passed by: IF, by
| the necessity eff the thing, manufacture,
should once be established and take root
| among US, they will pave the way stin
more to the future grandeur and glory
| of America The practical business sa-
| gacity of the great Washington led him
| to increase his quota of money In what
he calls the Mississippi adventure He
| attends the meetings of a company In
1853, 1765, 1857. and in March, 1773, he sends
| his tenant, James Wood, as an agent to
l. 1nr1r f<rl.
as the navigation is good, having been
! informed that the lands are better and
| the climate more temperate in the north
| ern parts Of the government than below. y
| Wood was not successful
Until 1871 all business relating to foreign
| and financial affairs was transacted
| through committees of congress- On
Sept. Is. IT'S, g committee, consisting Of
| john Adams, were instructed tC
draw up and report to congress a set OF
/ instructions for the commissioners about
! to be sent abroad. This committee pre-.
drawn no doubt by the brilliant Morris
whose instructions to our minister ir
4 Spain and to Franklin in Paris were &C
/ cepted by congress with slight change
and became the basis of the treaty Q7s2
by which we finally won peace" In sup
] port of the nigh authority of Presidss,
| Roosevelt, whose words we have jus
quoted. we add that the secret journal.
1 Of congress prove that "the middle of tn,
river Mississippi boundary line was frs
publicly claimed by this statesman.
After much backing and filing on this
| question by congress, clear cut and well
| defined instructions were at length
| agreed upon, Oct. 4, 1850, and sent, Oct
II, to Mr.. John Jay, then at Madrid.
| These came from a new committee OF
| which James Madison was chairman.
| They were presumably from the clear
| brain and persuasive pen of Mr. Madi-
| son and are in his earlier and best style
! Not only the western line but the free
| navigation of the Mississippi are IN
| sisted upon and the reasons for the
| claims are amplifed and argued with re-
| sistless logic and overwhelming forco
| Congress receded slightly in May, 1851
from the high stand taken In this strong
i state paper, but Secretary Livingston
| ever after referred to It as the basis OF
j all subsequent instructions relating to a
i permanent peace. For their enlightened
acts and utterances, after 1853, other
American statesmen will receive merited
praise In due time.