The Sun.
London, England, 1825-12-30 00:00:00

THE CONGRESS OF PAN\MA.

A Pamphlet has just appeared in Paris, under
the title of " The Congress of Panama," by M.

DE PR. DT, former Archbishop of Matioes, of

which some account may at the presc-it juncture

G. interesting to our readers.
This indefatigable writer has once more re-
sumed the pen on his darling subject of America.
One page of this pamphlet contains a list of
twenty-seven of his previous productions on the
grand political questions of the last few years, of

which nine relate to America.' On this subject

he is a perfect enthusiast, and, like others,

deals inure in general declamation than in de-
monstrative data. The sagacity of his remarks,

and the liberal and generous tenor of his con-

ceptions, nevertheless entitle him to be heard

with respect. and with satisfaction.
Was it not Haydn who used to compose his
admirable music between two bottles of Cham-

pagne ? M. de Pradt begins the first words of

- -
his exordium with not less inspiration :
" The human race is marching onward, and nothing will
make it retrograde."
"'A Congress in America ! a Congress of People! Every
one then has his turn ! A Congress to put an end to a war of
Europe against America, and to fix dile rights of one portion of
the globe with reference to its other parts ! Heavens ! at what
a period do we live! and compared with Lo many novelties and
grandeurs, what becomes of the rest of history, even that qf
ancient times 1?
" Admirable America! yes, thou risest above die world, with
the eclat and beneficence which mark the daily return of the
Star to which thou hadst formerly raised altars," &c.
" !if hostile age did not enchain me to my natal soil, it
is not from the land of Europe that I would. speak of the great
Council which America prepares to hold, I would go to those
regions themselves, illustrated by the presence of this new
Senate, and more honoured than the envy of the rash Pyrrhus.
I should there contemplate and retrace to the world, men equal
in majesty to those Romans whose royal, aspect impressed re-
spect, and interests whose superiority equals that of America
over Latium and the Empire !"
Violent emotions are usually of brief duration,
and accordingly, after this burst of eloquence,
the writer, in the. very next page, stooping to

pounds, shillings, and pence, relates that— ,
" In the Sitting of the 10th May, 1825, M. de Villcle, re-
plying to General Foy, with respect to the Consular or Diplo-
matic Agent to be sent to America, said—' Since 1808 England
is in possession of the trade of the American States; she has, 1
will not say millions, but nzilliards (francs), employed in those
countries. Moreover France has traded with them for a very
few years. In 1824 her exportations amounted to 30 million.,
and her importations to• 16 millions (francs).' " Mark these
words," says M. de Pradt, " Since 1808, the date of the origin
of this trade, England has already Milliards employed in Ame-
rican commerce, and France, at the end of a few years, exports
to the amount of 30 millions of francs, and imports 16 millions—
this promises something."
With reference to the futile efforts of Spain to
retain her Trans-Atlantic possessions, some pas-
sages are worthy of selection
" Never did the world witness so remarkable a scene. The
war began and was prosecuted on the soil of America; now
behold the theatre of it removed, and brought from America to
Europe. It was a continental war ; behold it now become
a maritime war ; Spain sent to America with threats and tu-
mults, the.executors of her stern commands, the terrible minis-
ters of her vengeance ; her turn is come to tremble, her shores
no longer possess any but solitary and alarmed ports, the Medi-
terranean bears, with astonishment, flags unknown to her ; Co-
lombia, Buenos Ayres, come to repay to Spain the desolation
which she carried to the Plata and the Oronoko, and America
now blockades the ports whence the divining genius of Colum-
bus, issued to reveal anti give her to Spain—a present fatal to
both. Such are the circumstances under which assembles the
I Congress of Panama."

"America has fought and triumphed,—she has torn the very
last of the banners which Spain had hoisted on her soil—she
has scattered its fragments to the winds. Spain confides in her
distance, to shelter her from the resentment of America ; and
the latter does not abuse herself as to the nature of the blows
which she can strike at Spain : Porto Rico, Cuba, the Canaries,
the Philippines, may be reached. t Panama, America will deli-
berate as to what she ought to do with these domains of her ene-
my, should she remain obstinate and implacable. Such will be the
first object of the Congress. Delivered from exterior enemies,
America, by ,a natural transition, passes to'the social consoli-
dation of her future existence ; it is this-noble and legitimate
subject which draws to Panama her representatives, charged with
the most extended and the most elevated mission with which
men were ever by polity invested."
- The author nexts proceeds to draw a parallel
between Spain and America, with respect to the
war, on which it were now superfluous to dwell,
as 'he has previously assured us that America has
fought and conquered, and that the last banner
of Spain is torn in pieces. Some passages are
however happily descriptive of the position of
the two Powers:—
" The infinitely great and the infinitely little,:relatively, the
infinitely rich and the infinitely poor, the infinitely enlightened
and the infinitely tenebrous, the infinitely well advised and rea-
sonable, and the infinitely ill advised and devoid of prudence—
such are the respective attributes with which Spain and America
present themselves in the contest. The condition of Spain excites
pity, that of America envy ; all the world avoid Spain, and wish
to have nothing to do with her—all the world court America, and
desire to form connexions with this land of riches. . . .
The Spain of 1814 was an Hercules compared with the Spain
of 1825, and she has been unable to accomplish any thing
against America, which in 1814 was but as a child, and which
in 1825 is as an Hercules relatively to Spain. At no period of
her history was Spain fallen so low as she is at present, &c.
What then can she do against America ? Absolutely'
• • •
nothing; her war is but a complement of ruin to her . . .
all is finished. America is regularly organized ; there reigns in
her bosom more order than in Spain; and it would be more ra-
tional to reckon upon the disorganization of Spain than on that
of America. . • . The battle of Ayacucha has been for
Spain and America, what were for Camas and Octavius the
battles of Pharsalia and Actium against Pompey and An-
tony ; it is one of _those definitive combats which destroy
one power and consolidate another. . ...... •
Whatever it may cost Spain to accept the loss of so precious a
dominion as America, it is in the order of nature . . . Re-
signation has also its courage, and when its hour is arrived, it is
necessary to know how to accept what is ordered and submit.—
Beyond a question, England was more powerful against North
America than Spain is against South America : did she refuse
herself to the laws of necessity ? Did she not make her interests
yield to her repugnunces ? Did she vow an eternal war against
America ? Did she expose herself to see her Colonies 'at-
tacked, her coasts insulted, her Commerce ruined by an
enemy using in turn her superiority ? England had nothing
to fear from all this, and yet she did not obstinately combat
against America, and refuse her that which she in fact al-
ready possessed. The vain resentments of powerless pride
were not admitted into the Councils of England. Warned by
circumstances, she let go the bonds of America, and abandon-
ed to her the enjoyment of that which she had not been able to
prevent her from conquering."
The author next- proceeds to shew that the
recognition of South American independence by
Europe in general is a measure of imperative po-
licy for the general interests of Europe, and
more especially of France. The dangers re-
sulting
.from a prolongation of the contest be--
tween Spain and her former colonies are, he
says-Ist, the invasion of the southern seas of
Europe by the armed ships of America ; 2d, the
aggravation of the interior state of Spain, which
evidently exposes her to a still greater fall than
her first political malady ; 3d, the propagation
of the itadependence of Colonies, and their for-
mation into republics :
" The turn of America is at length come—she has now taken
the road to Europe, as Europe had taken that to America.—