233 



presented in a manner more impartial, in the Louisville Public Ad 

 vertiser, where, among other things, it has been inquired how, if the 

 proposal was so very exceptionable it could, under any circum 

 stances have received the sanction or signature of Mr. Clay ? 



The following editorial article in the Frankfort Argus, of 18th 

 July, seems intended to answer that question, and although con 

 taining some severe strictures upon &quot; the Secretary,&quot; mingles with 

 them some candid admissions, in a spirit upon which I would with 

 equal candour animadvert. 



From the Argus of Western America, Frankfort, Kentucky, 18th July, 1822. 



THE GHENT MISSION. 



&quot; Mr. Penn does not understand the circumstances attending the 

 Ghent negotiation, or he wilfully conceals the truth. 



The first instructions given to our commissioners were, that 

 they should noi agree to any stipulation by which the pre-existing 

 right of British subjects to trade with the Indians living within our 

 territories, should be revived. The object of this instruction was 

 to cut off the means of British influence among the Indians, which 

 we had felt so fatally in that war. 



&quot; While acting under these instructions, it was proposed by Mr. 

 Gallatin to offer the British the free navigation of the Mississippi, 

 with access to it through our territories, on condition that the liber 

 ty to take and cure fish on the coast within the exclusive jurisdiction 

 of the British colonies, should be continued to the citizens of the 

 United States. This proposition was strenuously opposed by Mr. 

 Clay, on the ground that it would give the British those very means 

 of influence over the Indians of which it was the object of the go 

 vernment to deprive them, as evinced by their instructions. At 

 first Gallatin, Adams, and Bayard, were favourable to the proposi 

 tion, and Clay and Russell against it. In the end, however, Bayard 

 changed sides, and it was rejected. Of course, no such proposition 

 was made at that time. 



&quot; Subsequently, however, the overthrow of Napoleon having 

 left us to contend single-handed with the undivided power of Great 

 Britain, our government thought proper to change the^ terms ofler- 

 ed to the British government, and accordingly sent additional in 

 structions to Ghent, directing our commissioners to make a peace 

 if practicable, upon the simple condition, that each party should 

 be placed in the same situation in which the war found them. 



&quot; At the commencement of the war, the British had a right by- 

 treaty, not only to navigate the Mississippi, but to trade with all 

 our western Indians. Of course our commissioners were instructed 

 to consent to the continuance of this right, if no better terms could 

 be procured. Under these instructions a proposition relative to 

 the Mississippi and the fisheries, similar to that which had been 

 rejected, was again presented, adopted, and sent to the British 

 commissioners, But it did not restore the right to navigate the 



