1B4 
Indiana University Studies 
cussed topics of the day in the United States. The American 
Annual Register believed that a deeper interest was imparted 
to this subject, because of Great Britain’s termination of nego- 
tiations, than to any other connected with American foreign 
history during the year.®^ In the ensuing discussions regard- 
ing the justice or strength of the American position in the 
controversy, a quite distinct cleavage in opinion at once ap- 
peared between the Administration and Opposition papers. 
Administration papers either approved the Administra- 
tion’s course or attacked and condemned that of Great Britain. 
“The whole correspondence is a triumphant vindication of the 
course of our Government”, declared a Massachusetts paper.®^ 
To this a Rhode Island paper agreed, adding, “Firmness, and 
a nice sense of the honor of the country were rarely, if ever, 
more happily blended with urbanity and an ingenuous desire 
to conciliate, than in Mr. Clay’s long note to Mr. Vaughan, 
dated November 11, 1826.”®^ “In this, as in all other questions 
of a like nature, we appear to have the right side”, wrote Niles 
in his Register.^^ Anticipating that the Administration might 
be assailed, the Richmond Whig asserted, “The warm desire 
and active efforts of the government to complete the desired 
commercial arrangements with England have not been, and 
cannot be, called in question.”®*’ Both the prominent news- 
papers of Washington, the Daily National Intelligencer and 
the National Journal, supported the Administration’s policy, 
the latter declaring that “every American and impartial reader 
will be convinced that the Executive conduct of this branch of 
our affairs has been characterized by moderation, prudence 
and justice”.®” The New York National Advocate, which in- 
directly supported the American Administration by attacking 
Great Britain, said : 
The new principle of placing the West India trade in the light of 
a boon, effectually shuts off all consideration of reciprocity, and indi- 
cates that some other object is sought for by the English Government, 
from the very circumstances of resorting to such a miserable quibble as 
a pretext to break off all further negotiations.®^ 
Am. Annual Register, 1826-27, p. 41. 
Essex Register, Dec. 28, 1826. 
C4 Providence Journal quoted in National Journal, Dec. 30, 1 826. 
^-Niles’ Register, XXXI, 241. 
Richmond Whig quoted in National Journal, Dec. 23, 1826. 
^'National Journal, Dec. 16, 1826. 
Nexv York National Advocate, Dec. 18, 1826, in National Journal, Dec. 23, 1826. 
