[DUPLICATE.] 



87 



proposed by us, was rejected by Great Britain, whatever were her 

 reasons for rejecting it ; whether, as above suggested, (170) she might 

 have suspected some tacit reservation, or want of faith, on our part ; 

 or supposed, from the price we at once bid for the fishing privi 

 lege, th.it we overrated its value, and might concede for it even 

 more than (171) the free navigation of the Mississippi, with all its ac 

 cessary advantages. 



(172) Let me not, in any thing which I have said, be misunderstood. In 

 judging on the interests of the great whole, I am not disposed to undervalue the 

 interests on any of the constituent parts. No one can more highly appreciate 

 than I do, a branch of industry which not only adds to national wealth, but 

 &amp;lt;eems to create it. .Nor can any one more warmly admire the usefulness and 

 patriotism of those citizens who are engaged in it, and who have never ceased 

 to deserve well of the republic. In times of peace they bring home, amidst con 

 flicting elements, the treasures of the deep to enrich their country ; and in times 

 of war they contribute, by their skill and intrepidity, to- her defence and glory. 

 Hut, in our country, where all are equal, the essential security and prosperity of 

 the many must be preferred to the convenience and minor interests of the few. 

 In giving this preference, I will fiankly confess I had to silence early prepos- 

 sions and local predilections, and to listen to the councils of a more enlarged 

 patriotism; and io this patriotism I dare appeal for my vindication, not only 

 with those to whom I am officially responsible, but with those with whom I am 

 more immediately connected in society, and whose interests may be considered 

 to have been unfavourably affected by the views which I have deemed it to be 

 my duty to adopt. I have always been willing to make any sacrifice for the 

 fishing privilege, which its nature, or comparative importance could justify, but 

 I conscientiously believe that the free navigation of the Mississippi, and th 

 access to it which we expressly offered, were pregnant with too much mischief 

 to be offered, indirectly, under our construction of the treaty ; or, directly, as 

 they were in fact offered, as a new equivalent for the liberty of taking and dry 

 ing fish within the British jurisdiction. 



frankl a 



Great Britain, calculating on the 

 h aTsent &amp;lt; 

 the&quot;mist ressot EToi 



To aHaTrdrm he 



aters ; and that_she did not r in this event 



ofiquesT under the terms&quot;ofthe treaty of Ghent. 

 sters ha&quot;d, Ulinosl fium tne&quot; commencement of the negotiation, not 



iute 



Her 



only affected to consider our acquisition of Louisiana as evidence of a spirit of 

 agrandizement, but insinuated a defect in our title to it. Expecting, therefore, 

 to obtain the free navigation of the Mississippi for nothing, she would not con 

 sent to part even with the fishing liberty as an equivalent. If she be disap- 

 poi nted in her views nn Louisiana, &quot; I tr-ist in God and the valour &quot;ok trie&quot; 

 wesfthat she will be, I shall not be surprised if, here?^ tp r t *^ p S ra nt us the. 

 fi hifig privilege, wlncn Costs her absolutely nothing w thfuit Tmj-T&quot;rclrnvT J Mii &amp;gt; ~ 



AnuijTrateT^ve are still at liberty to negotiate for that privilege in a treaty 

 of commerce, and to offer foi it an equivalent, fair in its comparative value, 

 and just in its relative effects ; and to negotiate for it in this w;iy is evidently 

 more wise than to demand it as a condition of peace, or to offer for it a price 

 beyond its worth, and which, however excessive, runs the hazard of being re 

 fused, merely by the operation of those unaccommodating passions which are 

 inevitably engendered by a state of war. 



I have the honour to be, with the most profound respect, sir, your faithful 

 and obedient servant, JOJVA. RUSSELL. 



To the Hou ble JAMES MONROE, 



Sec yoJ State of the United States, &c. kc, &c. 



A true copy of a paper left by Jonathan Russell, esq. at the De 

 partment of State, 22d April, 1822, to be communicated to the 

 House of Representatives of the United States. 



J. Q. ADAMS, Secretary of State . 



