The Washington herald., 1914-06-14

memorAte distinct steps in the conciu-
sion Of peace between the United States
and Great Britain. q brief survey Of the
negotiations leading up to the Treaty OF
Ghent will give the festivities more sig
nifcance. The peace commissioners rep
resenting the United States were John
Quincy Adams. Henry Clay. Albert Gal
latin. James A. Bayard, and Jonathan
Russell-the most distinguished and ca
pable body of diplomats that ever repre-
sented this country. Adams was con-
ceded by all to be the most capable and
experienced diplomat in America. Clay
was the leader OF the war party In Con-
gress, and at the beginning Of the con-
fiict he had talked passionately and Wig
orously of debating peace at Quebec or
Halifax. Gallatin was the Secretary Of
the Treasury, and had opposed the dec
laration of war. Bayard was distin-
guished Federalist member OF the Sem
ate. Russell previously had served as
charge d'afIaires at Paris, and at the
outbreak of the war was acting charge
d'affaires at London. When appointed
peace commissioner, he was Minister to
Sweden.
DihicuIty of Agreement
The negotiations were carried on at
Ghent, Belgium, during the last four
months of 1874 The British commission
ere were naughty and overbearing, and
dissention was rampant in the ranks OF
the American representatives. Formal
dinners were held. and cheerless courte-
sizes were reciprocated. but the chances
of peace remained as remote as ever.
Adams and Clay were the foremost hg-
ures among the peace commissioners.
They were alike in that they both pos
sessed irascible dispositions. Adams was
severe and uncompromising in his opln-
IONS and Clay was hasty in judgment
and free of speech. The councils Of the
Americans were continually disturbed
by disagreements and wranglings. Gala
tin played the part OF peacemaker. pour
ing oil on the troubled waters.
Adams in his diary said that Gallatin
struck out everything offensive to Eng
lishmen. that Clay drew his pen through
every figurative expression. that Rus
sell further amended every sentence. and
that Bayard finally insisted on rewriting
the whole document in his own language.
In his diary for October 81, he wrote:
Mr.. Clay is losing his temper and grow
ing peevish and fractious." A little later
he recorded: "Mr. Clay lost his temper
today as he generally does whenever the
right of the British to navigate the Mis-
sissippi is discussed"
In another place is found the record
-They adams colleagues) sit after din
ner and drink bad wine and smoke cigars,
which neither suits my habits nor my
health, and absorb time which I can Ill
spare" One morning Adams rose at
o'clock to light his own fire and begin
the days work by candle-light. As he
got out of bed he heard his colleagues
Just leaving Clay's room, where they had
spent the entire night playing poker.
The accompanying cut Of Clay gives an
Idea OF the vigor and determination
which the great compromiser possessed
at the time of the negotiations, although
the painting was done considerably prior
to that time. The painting is by Jean
Baptiste Alolphe Gilbert. and temporarily
has been placed by the owner in the Ma
tionsl Gallery Of Arts at the Smithsonian
Institute. Washington. d. c. 1t repre-
sents Clay at an earlier period of life
than do most of his likenesses. The paint
ing is life-sized. head and shoulders, and
the coloring is remarkably life-like. The
late Justice Harlan OF the United States
Supreme Court. who. In his youth. knew
Clay personally. said the painting was
the best he had ever seen. Gilbert was
a member OF the French colony in Rome
and won the Grand Prix in the Italian
capital in 1879
No consideration was given by the
commissioners to the fundamental ques-
tions which brought about the war-im-
pressment of seamen and the right of
search. The British commissioners de-