The writings of James Madison, comprising his public papers and his private correspondence, including numerous letters and documents now for the first time printed. |
 |
TO JOHN ADAMS. |
 | The writings of James Madison, |  |
TO JOHN ADAMS.
Dear Sir,—Your favor of the 28th Ulto. was duly
received, though with more delay, than usually
attends the mail. I return the interesting letter
from your son, with my thanks for the opportunity
of perusing it.
I have caused the archives of the Department of
State to be searched with an eye to what passed
during the negotiation for peace on the subject of
the fisheries. The search has not furnished a precise
answer to the enquiry of Mr. Adams. It appears
from one of your letters referring to the instructions
accompanying the commission to make a Treaty of
commerce with Great Britain, that the original views
of Congress did not carry their Ultimatum, beyond
the common right to fish in waters distant three
leagues from the British shores. The negotiations
therefore, and not the instructions, if no subsequent
change of them took place, have the merit of the
terms actually obtained. That other instructions,
subsequent periods cannot be doubted, though as
yet they do not appear. But how far they distinguished
between the common use of the sea, and the
use, then common also, of the shores, in carrying on
the fisheries, I have no recollection.
The view of the discussions at Ghent presented by
the private letters of all our Ministers there, as well
as by their official despatches, leaves no doubt of the
policy of the British Cabinet, so forcibly illustrated
by the letter of Mr. Adams to you.[101]
Our Enemy
knowing that he has peace in his own hands, speculates
on the fortune of events. Should these be unfavorable,
he can at any moment, as he supposes,
come to our terms. Should they correspond with
extended. The point to be decided by our Ministers
is, whether during the uncertainty of events, a categorical
alternative of immediate peace, or a rupture
of the negotiation, would not be preferable to a
longer acquiescence in the gambling procrastinations
of the other party. It may be presumed that they will
before this, have pushed the negotiations to this point.
It is very agreeable to find that the superior ability
which distinguishes the notes of our Envoys, extorts
commendation from the most obdurate of their political
Enemies. And we have the further satisfaction
to learn that the cause they are pleading, is
beginning to overcome the prejudice which misrepresentations
had spread over the continent of
Europe against it. The British Government is neither
inattentive to this approaching revolution in
the public opinion there, nor blind to its tendency.
If it does not find in it a motive to immediate peace,
it will infer the necessity of shortening the war by
bringing upon us, the ensuing Campaign, what it
will consider as a force not to be resisted by us.
It were to be wished that this consideration had
more effect in quickening the preparatory measures of
Congress. I am unwilling to say how much distress
in every branch of our affairs is the fruit of their
tardiness; nor would it be necessary to you, who will
discern the extent of the evil, in the symptoms from
which it is to be inferred.
I pray you Sir to accept assurances of my distinguished
esteem and best regards.
Extract of a letter from J. Q. Adams to his father, dated Ghent,
October 27th, 1814:
"The whole compass of the diplomatic skill employed by the British
Government in this negotiation has consisted in consuming time,
without coming to any conclusion. Mr. Clay and Mr. Russell arrived
at Gottenburg the 11th of April. The negotiations had been proposed
by Lord Castlereagh in November; had been acceded to by the President
in the beginning of January. The British Government were informed
in February of the appointment of American Plenipotentiaries.
Their first dilatory proceeding was to defer the appointment of their
Commissioners until official notification should be given them, by
the American Ministers themselves, that they were at the place of
meeting which had been agreed upon. One full month was gained
by this. The next device was, to propose the transfer of the negotiation
to Ghent, which absorbed six weeks more; and then they
left us from the 24th of June to the 6th of August waiting here for the
appearance of their Plenipotentiaries."
On June 27th, 1874, the American Commissioners at Ghent were
instructed to abandon the question of impressment as a sine qua non
in making a treaty of peace. The treaty was signed December 24th,
and sent to the Senate February 15th.
| The writings of James Madison, | |