Page:Life of Henry Clay (Schurz; v. 1).djvu/127

Rh remonstrance on the subject, and for breaking off the negotiation upon that point, if they did not give us satisfaction.” A passport arrived the same day, rendering the remonstrance unnecessary. When the negotiation had gone on for three months and it was perfectly well understood that the British would not listen at all to any proposition concerning impressment, Clay, who alone had pressed this subject, was again “so urgent to present an article” on impressment that Mr. Adams “acquiesced in his wishes;” the article was presented and rejected by the British at once. Less than two weeks before the final agreement, discussing the question of the fisheries and the navigation of the Mississippi in the commission, Clay broke out, saying, “he was for a war three years longer; he had no doubt three years more of war would make us a warlike people, and that then we should come out of the war with honor, — whereas at present, even upon the best terms we could possibly obtain, we shall have only a half-formed army, and half retrieve our military reputation.” His agony grew as an agreement was approached, and culminated two days before the treaty was signed, when the British note on the fisheries and the navigation of the Mississippi had been received, which seemed to make the conclusion of the peace certain. “Mr. Clay came to my chamber” (writes Mr. Adams), “and on reading the British note manifested some chagrin. He still talked of breaking off the negotiation, but he did not exactly dis-