ISRAEL D. ANDREWS' CLAIMS UNDER THE RECIPROCITY TREATY OF 1854.

The following letters relating to the claims of Israel D. Andrews in connection with the negotiation of the Reciprocity Treaty of 1854 between the United States and Great Britain are printed from the original manuscript in the New York Public Library.

Andrews, a native of Maine, for five years American consul at St. John, New Brunswick, and then for two years consul-general for Canada, was selected by Webster to help in negotiating the treaty of 1854 with Great Britain. This was noteworthy as the first American reciprocity agreement; it remained in force until March 17, 1866, when it was terminated on notice given by the United States.

Four years after it had been signed controversy arose in Congress about the payment of Andrews' claims. Papers relating thereto were presented to the Senate on July 1, 1858 (Senate Journal, p. 565, 35. Congress, 1. Session), but were not printed; Mason and Seward spoke in favor of the claim (Congressional Globe, 29. Congress, 1. Session, pp. 2572-3), and the sundry civil bill for 1859, approved June 12, 1858, carried with it an allowance for payment (11 Statutes at Large, 327). Two years later Andrews himself on June 6, 11, 12, 1860, presented memorials to Congress on this treaty of 1854 (36. Congress, I. Session, Senate Journal p. 609, House Journal p. 1069), but only one, that of June 6, was ever printed in full (House Miscellaneous Documents, 92, 36. Congress, I. Session).

DEAR SIR,

WASHINGTON, DEC. 1st, 1858

I have seen the act of Congress authorizing the settlement for your services in connection with the reciprocity treaty.

I recollect that you were engaged in making investigations as to the effects of the treaty upon the trade of the two countries and removing objections to the treaty in the States & Provinces. I recollect that Gov. Marcy did not consider he had authority to settle all your claims and that your services were very valuable in satisfying the citizens on both sides of the line of the beneficial character of such a treaty and having its favorable consideration by Congress.

I trust you will have no difficulty in obtaining an adjustment of your claims under the present act and will be able to have ample justice done for your services and expenditures.

Respectfully

JAMES GUTHRIE.

446 ISRAEL D. andrews and THE RECIPROCITY TREATY OF 1854

Hon. LEWIS CASS,

Secretary of State,

MY DEAR SIR,

BOSTON, DECEMBER 8th, 1858

Several gentlemen, whose interests are connected with the Provincial trade between this country and the British provinces, have recently called on me in regard to Mr. J. D. Andrews' claims upon the United States' govern

ment.

They have requested me to state to you anything that I may know in relation to Mr. Andrews' connection with the negociation of the so-called "Reciprocity Treaty," and in compliance with their request, I have now the honor to address you.

I have no official knowledge of the business, but being much in Washington and with my father when he filled the place which you now honor, I was aware that Mr. Andrews came to Washington from the Provinces, and there remained, at my father's request, a long time, and was in constant consultation and conference with him in regard to this treaty. Mr. Andrews came several times from the colonies to Boston and New York to meet my father, at his request, and twice came to see him at Marshfield where he remained some days.

His intercourse with Mr. Webster was of an official and confidential nature and I did not know the particulars of it, but was told by Mr. Webster that Mr. Andrews was, under his instructions, preparing the way for the negociation of the Treaty, afterwards concluded, and he spoke in high terms of commendation of the ability, sagacity and discretion which Mr. Andrews exhibited.

Mr. Webster relied much upon Mr. Andrews' extensive and minute knowledge of the trade between the two countries, and his acquaintance with the character and interests of the people of the various British Provinces.

It may not become me to speak as of my own knowledge, of his indefatigable exertions to accomplish the negociation of this treaty, but I can do no less, in compliance with the request which has been made to me, than to state what I know of his official intercourse with the then Secretary of State, and of the many occasions on which he was called to confer with him, coming great distances and spending much time in various places where the Secretary of State desired him to repair.

I have the honor to be,

With great respect,

your friend and servt.,

FLETCHER WEBSTER.

BOSTON, DEC. 14, 1858

Hon. ROBERT TOOMBS,

DEAR SIR,

I do not know that I can with propriety express to you what I am sure is a very strong and general feeling of our merchants and men of busi

ISRAEL D. ANDREWS AND THE RECIPROCITY TREATY OF 1854 447

ness here as to the claims of Mr. J. D. Andrews late Agent of the United States; but I hope at least that I shall not prejudice those claims by bringing to your notice the fact that they are deemed most equitable and just by all who have paid any attention to the subject. The belief here is very strong that we owe our Reciprocity treaty to his energy, zeal and discretion; and that for this great service, expensive in itself, and of permanent and wide utility, he is substantially to this day uncompensated. He is not merely uncompensated, but is very largely unpaid an actual debt of money, time and labor.

It has been a cause of great satisfaction that an Act of Congress has recognized this claim; and that it has been referred for adjustment to the Department of State; but I may be forgiven for saying that our business community still feel that to the influence, friendship and ability of such a member of Congress as yourself, much of the practical value of this Legislation must be ultimately ascribed.

I have written so much by way of expressing the general wish and opinion of our community, but I cannot hinder myself from adding on my own personal account that I have the greatest love and esteem for Mr. Andrews and that I should rejoice to know that in this case justice had been done to an excellent man and a personal friend.

I am faithfully and respectfully

Your obt. servt.

RUFUS CHOATE.

JAMES MADISON TO JAMES MONROE ON ALLEGED SPANISH INTRIGUING IN 1816.

Printed from the original manuscript in the New York Public Library.

DEAR SIR,

As you appear to have read hastily the letter from Jessup I send it back. That Onis is intriguing at N[ew]. O[rleans]. is probable; and that the Spanish Govt may meditate an attack there is possible: I should say impossible if there were less of folly in its Councils or it might not possibly be backed by another Govt: altho it is not easy to conceive that this can be the case. The Mercantile Advertiser of N. Y. enclosed has a paragraph relating to the views at Madrid, which but for Jessups letter would scarcely have attracted notice. If the offensive defiance alluded to by this officer should be carried into execution it would be perhaps the boldest project ever assumed by no higher authority I am glad he has made known to Gen. Jackson the aspect of things in that quarter: tho the extract of his letter does not contain the most essential particulars stated to you. Should Spain really make war upon us, the employment of our naval force in the Mediterranean will be very mal apropos. The scantiness of our land force in that quarter will also be much felt. We must pay attention without delay to such precautionary measures as prudence and the means we have may warrant. Surely if there be such mischief brewing at Madrid, Ewing must discover & communicate it. From Cadiz also we may expect notice of the hostile preparations which would shew themselves at that point

I return you Hughes' letter which I suppose you can answer without any further sanction than I have already expressed. The other letters relating to Beasley & Strobell I shall forward to Mr Graham. You will see by letter now sent you that Sharpe has a formidable competition for the Secretariship of Illinois Territory

The enquiry of the King of the Netherlands on the subject of navigation is more striking than the logic by which he contends for the authority & obligation of the Ex. to apply the Act of Congs to his case. We can not object to his reciprocating our discriminations if we do not make the application: and that will suffice for the present, whilst it leaves the way open to future conventional arrangements, if such can be agreed on

Yrs

J. M[ADISON]

Mr MONROE

Sept 22. 1816

PRINCIPAL ACCESSIONS IN SEPTEMBER.