Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1826-04-15

FIenlpotentlarles would take part.
The House will perceive that even at
the date OF these instructions, the first
treaties between some OF the Southern
Republics had been concluded, by which
they had stipulated among themselves
this diplomatic assembly at Panama.
And it will be seen with what caution,
so far as 1t might concern the policy of
the United States, and, at the same TINE,
with what frankness and good will to-
wards those nations, he gave countenance
to their design OF inviting the United
States to this high assembly, for consul
tation upon american interests. 1t was
not considered conclusive reason for
declining this invitation, tina, the propo-
sails OF assembling such Congress had
not first been made by ourselves. 1t had
sprung from the urgent, immediate, and
momentary common interests of the
great communities struggling for indie
pendence, and, as il were, duickenine
into lie. From them, The proposition
TO US appeared respectful and friendly
from US TO them 1t could scarcely have
been made, without exposing ourselves
to suspicious OF purposes OF ambition, it
not domination, more suited to rouse re-
sis,ance and excite distrust, than to cum
ciliate favor and friendship. The first
and paramount, principle upon which it
was deemed wise and just to lay the cor
ner stone OF all our future relations with
them was di8interestedueSs the next,
was cordial good will to them; the third
was claim of lair and equal reciprocity.
Under these impressions, when The invi-
,ation was formally and earnestly given,
had it been doubtful whether any OF the
objects proposed for consideration and
discussion at the congress, were such as
that immediate and impor,snt interests of
the United States would be affected by
the issue, should nevertheless have de-
termined, so far as il depended upon me,
TO have accepted the invitation and to
have appointed Ministers to attend the
meeting. The proposal itself implied
that the Republics by whom i, was made,
believed, that important interests of ours,
or OF theirs, rendered our attendance
there desirable. They have given US
notice that, in the novelty of their situa-
ton. and in the spirit Of Difference to our
experience, they would be pleased to
have the benefit OF our friendly counsel.
To meet the temper with which this pro.
posal was made with cold repulse, was
no, thought congenial to that warm inte-
rest in their welfare, with which the
People and Government of the Union
had hitherto gone hand in hand through
the whole progress OF their revolution.
TO insult them by refusal of their over
lure, and then inviting them 10 SINH.
lar assembly, to be called by ourselves,
was an expedient which never presented
itself to the mind. | would have sent
Ministers TO the meeting had it been
merely TO give them such advice as they
might have desired even win reference
TO their o7vn interests, not involving
ours. | would have sent them, had i,
been merely to explain and set forth TO
them our reasons for declining any pro-
posal of specific measures to which they
might desire our concurrence, but which
we might deem incompatible with our
interests or our duties. In The inter-
course between nations, Temper is
missionary perhaps more powerful than
Talent. Nothing was ever lost by kind
treatment; nothing can be gained by
sulen repulscs and aspiring preiensions.
But objects OF the highest importance,
not only TO the future welfare of the
whole human race, but bearing directly
upon the special interests Of this Union,
zoW engage the deliberations of the Con.
gress OF Panama, whether we are repre-
scented there or not. Others, if we are
represented, may be offered by our
Plenipotentiaries for consideration, hav-
ing in view both those great results
our own interests and the improvement,
OF the condition Of man upon earth. 1t
may be, that in the lapse of many centu-
ries, no other opportunity SO favorable
will be presented to the Government Of
the Unhed States to subserve the bene-
voenl purposes Of Divine Providence; to
dispense the promised blessings of the
Redeemer Of mankind !; TO promote the
prevalence, in future ages, Of Peace on
Earth, and Good Will to Man, as will
now be placed in their power, by par'ici-
pating in the deliberations Of this Con-
gross.
Among the topics enumerated in off,
cial papers, published by the Republic
OF Colombia, and adverled to in the cor
respondence now communicated 10 the
House, as intended to be presented for
discussion at Panama, there is scarcely
one IN which the result Of the meeting