FEDERAL RELATIONS OF OREGON 119 lumbia. This resolution called before the House the corre- spondence which had taken place between Adams and de Poletica when the former had received the official Russian announcement of policy in the Pacific. 20 One further episode in the House during this Congress casts a ray of light upon the presidential campaign already under way in anticipation of the elections of 1824. In addi- tion to the Secretary of State, who was an avowed candidate to succeed Monroe in accordance with the practice of several years, there were several other aspirants being groomed for the contest. In January, 1822, Floyd brought about the passage of a resolution calling upon the President for copies of all correspondence which had led to the Treaty of Ghent with the alleged purpose of getting more light on the subject of his Columbia River project. When the papers were com- municated it appeared that the particular paper sought by Floyd was not forthcoming, and there resulted more resolu- tions and! finally a correspondence in the newspapers. Niles, commenting editorially in the Register upon the whole episode, concluded that the whole thing instead of having to do with the ostensible subject of the Columbia River country, was really an electioneering device, and rebuked the legislature for being too much occupied with president-making. 21 The Secretary of State, if not actually the object of attack in the whole affair, certainly believed himself to be, and opened his soul to his Diary upon the question: 22 ". . . Floyd is a man having in the main, honest inten- tions, but with an intellect somewhat obfuscated, violent pas- sions, suspecting dishonesty and corruption in all but himself, rashly charging it upon others; eager for distinction, and forming gigantic projects upon crude and half-digested in- formation. He has a plan for establishing a Territorial Gov- ernment at the mouth of the Columbia River, and, being leagued with Clay and Benton of Missouri, made his bill for 20 Annals, II, Appen., 2129-60. 21 25 May, 1822. 22 Memoirs, VI, 57. See also letter in Niles Register, Sept. 7, 1822.
