Monroe, James, 1758-1831 to John Quincy Adams

Letter written by Monroe as President to an unnamed recipient. The recipient is likely John Quincy Adams, however; this is inferred based on the content and on information in John Quincy Adams diary, discussing his meeting with Monroe on this topic on this day. Monroe says he is afraid that the treaty with Great Britain in which slave trading would be equated to piracy would be rejected. He says "the rejection of this convention, would in my opinion, produce very serious mischief." Claims that he heard "some of our estimable friends to the South" are against the treaty, but that he doesn't know why. He says the British want to extend the right to search, which is only a belligerent right at the moment, into a right during peace. Monroe says he is against it because Britain, as the dominant naval power, might abuse it. He says if treaty is passed it will make Europe think American and Great Britain can cooperate on other important issues and provide a boost to American prestige. He says that the party of William Wilberforce is pushing for the abolition of slavery and that George Canning, the Foreign Secretary, would like this treaty to go through to show that party he is on the right side of the issue. Monroe says he would like to strengthen Canning's ministerial party and not Wilberforce's abolition party and claims ratification of the treaty would assist the slave power in the United States that way. He says every way he can look at the issue that rejection would be a bad idea.