Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-04-18
CONGRESSIONAL DoCUMENr.
f0Use Of Representatives, Glurch 20, 1876.
MISSION TO PANALA

Houss Of Representatives, .SE4rch %, 1876.
MISSION TO PANAMA.
Mr.. Crownnsheld, from the committee on
Foreign Affairs, TO which referred the Mes
sage of the President OF the United State. Of the
10Th Instant, made the following Report
.coneluled,l
Another objection TO the proposed mission, NAV
10, that the Congress is an unprecedented measure
and that Our ATTENDANCE at it would, ON our mart
be novel and unprecedented step. A little re-
Election will show, that this assumption az far ne II
forms an objection 20 attendance at the Con-
Sress, Involves confusion OF ideas The estab
hshment OF seFer"! new Republics at once may be
called an unprecedented event; and, 90 historical
occurrence, without parallel in the history of the
7oF!d Bat the committee cannot admit that eve
~ subsequent political act Of these new States or
81 Other States, IN reference 10 them il therefore
10 be called novel and unprec edenied and that in
an ln5H!ons sense of the words. On the contrary
= apVears 10 the committee exceedingly natural
nat these States should hold diplomatic conferences
WIN each oiner and neiShboring nations, who have
important relations with them. Nothing, nerhans
- more frequent in political history, than similar
meetings, among friendly States.
NO, when tine subject is correctly viewed. j.
there any thing IN principle, novel or unprece
dented, IN our attendance AT the proposed Congress-
As merely historical event, indeed, it may be
considered as without exact precedent; altbouoh
ne negotiations between the United States, France,
and Great Britain, in 1882 which resulted in the
treaties of peace between the several coun,r;n.
"hefe OF the nature Of the conferences Of a meet
'nS OF iIpioma!lc agents. II will also not escape
me rejection OF tie House, that, had this Govern
meht ever acted on the principle that exact pre-
cedent vas necessary TO authorize It's measures No
one OF the most important measures of the Gov
eihheAt' since the date OF the constitution could
nave been adopted. Whatever veioht tba5e :; =;
Of
applied in lis full force, TO the adoption OF the fd
7ai CONSTITUTION itself. The whole history of m.
"oT!a Contained no precedent o2such govern
nent &
But, in point of principle, no ,ov.,,v
IN our attendance at the propose sssgress AZ Pa
mama Our Ministers will carry with ,bera the
ssihe po"eTs--no larger, no more discretionary
,i'l nae ever been vested in the foreign Minis
.eIS oil the United States. II has been the cl..
ac'erisHc policy OF the United States 10 Az. M
questions about the quality or constitution, of H.
fowers to which our Ministers were cen, W.
HaVe rested FOR our security, not on timid calc,,
alton OF the overs of the Government mr. ~ ,lo
pouy' WIN which our ministers were 20 treat. bn,
on our constitutional safeguards, at home Il has
'u ihuiileTeht 10 US WHEELER Europe were at peace
or al war or by what title her soyeregns 6rIeJI
their thrones. To instance in a sinpIe 60. 49,
nave sent missions 20 France, alike Ind.r fbe 90
1'oHI aOseiats monarchy, limited monarchy. and
revolutionary anarchy; TO the Convention and IN
"e DTecioryi 10 the Consular and imperial dos
po'isms; ana to the present constitutional Govern
iheht' Inc posture OF affairs which our NIinis,o,
nave louna, IN that country, has often been noveI.
'heF personal position, unprecedented: the scenc
ihey witnessed strange and unexanipled Bpt al
nohe OF our successive missions could il b,.a
Deen saId' In any important sense that the roisso
tssl! was novel; that is, that il opened a dor .,
any relaxation OF the constitutional checks ia ,I
administration Of the foreign affairs of tho Gos,
ineh' az nome. In Ike manner, the tnissio, q, /
Yanama Is In the sfTictest confo,rpi,,, - ~,
"hoie international policy, which is 10 bs ,or,a.
ssnted wherever we have important ,,,t;,;.i ~,
commercial connections. OR colnrni.siors,, Iii,
go theye to do the business OF the rou,t,y s,,'
Z PpeaIahce st tn'' meeting cannot, surely. have
me eject oil breaking down the Senate and ITonse
OF Representatives, and, by kind of dirtatori,i
'O"el uhAhoWn 20 the constitution, Of bindiag The
country IN foreign alliance.
Lastly, u may be objected that, in Conor.,s
OIL assembled powers there is something essenii,Ilo
'WHIcIous, which this country, instead Of 40,
WoachinS, ought 20 sbun: and the existip, orosr; /
IN Continental Europe may be ouotsd ss tbo
4uSfalion. The Committee deem il bsrdiv No.
-es'sfy 70 remark, that the pcrnicions cbarscier al
nc tate European Congress, or Of anv I,roce,r /
congresses does not consist IN the act of ass.,Ii
4nd treating together, but in the character If the %
'tfhnsnts assembled, and in the objects eRects,9 -
.mea az. q Congress Of despotic pove,e ,yisrJ
nS zoe force OF large standing armies and rnss,,
. concert measures Tor violent interference in nc
he'Dal sbI'is d o.hei s:a.ss, "a ref,sirf,