Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1826-04-13

to send private political agents.
Tie Con- m.ttee have felt il their duty
10 consider this question chiefly OF strict
grounds of political expediency, and in
reference TO the principle OF our diplo-
matte intercourse. They, however, ac-
cord III sentiment with the President,
that a sufficient inducenent 10 accept
the invitation would have been ito meet
la the spirit OF kindness and friendship,
IAN overture made in that spirItby three
sister Republics of this hemispher re"
Il will not escape the consideration OF
the House, that the conduct OF the Uni
ted States, toward the new Republics,
has ever been regulated by the maxims
of frank and liberal policy. Had We
acted toward them, even as we have lett
it our duty to act toward Europe, our
course would have been essentially DIFF
fereut. Had our feelings toward them
been the same as those which our poll
iical fathers have incu!cated toward Flu
rope, we should certainly have regarded
il rather as an evil than benefit, that
so many new Republics, oil which the
greater part must be powerful states,
are rising into exls eHce on the same
side of tne water as ourselves. We are
henceforYard To be without that which
has formerly been regarded as The geea,
bulwark eff our national security, our
geographical distance from every other
state. But we have not Resitated to
break down this bul.ark. We have
gone to meet and welcome the new Re
pubies. We have ourselves assisted to
exchange weak colonial tor powerful
sovereign neighbors AS far as ii de-
pended on US, we have, chosen to place
the regions, on oar immense southwes-
tern frontier, beneath the government OF
vigorous republican Institutions, instead
Of having the m under the safe and ener-
waiting despotism Of Spain. In tue Judg-
ment OF the Committee, this has been
SQUAD, great, and suspicious policy
1t was not ;ashiy adopted; it was long
deiiberated, well weighed, aud at length
received It's sanction IN the unanimous
voice OF tins House, and the acclama-
IONS of the people From this policy it
IS now too late TO recede. We cannot
now do much to obstruct The growth OF
the new States; we cen do every thiag
to concilate and attach them or to
estrange and disgust them. The first
course will promote the general cause
of liberty will perpetuate friendly reia-
tons between the 'tw" great portions OF
this continent, to the mutual advantage
OF both; and will render US more and
more independent of Europe. The lat
ten course will tend to revive in the New
World, the false and pernicious maxlms
Of the Old; to teach neighborng BE
puDics to fix on each other the fatal
name of natural enemies; to create pi-
ratical and border wars; to generate
systems of exclusion; and, finally, to
establish, in.this hemisphere, those poll
teal principles and habits which have
caused the downfall of SO many foreign
States, made SO many others stationary
and gushing, aud checked the growth
of all We are now To consider, wheth-
err we will take the FIRST step in an un
friendi' and repulsiVe policy, by reius-
ing to accept the ourteous invitation OF
three most respectable neighborsng Go
vernments. rendered in manner equal
ly creditable TO their delicacy, and flat
tering to the United States. Nothing but
a certainty of pernicious consequences
to result from our attendance at the
Congress, would, in the opinion of the
Committee, be sufficient to justify our
refusal to accept such an invitation. AS
our attendance at the Congress, ad
of being ejudicial to the public inter
ests, is, in the Judgment Of the Commit.
tee, a measure of the most odious poll
teal experience, as it is stipulated to
bring into no hazard the neutrality of the
United States; as all fear of an entan-
Cling alliance have been shown TO be I'M
founded; in a word, asSthe Congress
viii be regarded by the Executive of
the United States, as purely consulta
tive meeting; and, as the objects OF con-
sultation are of primary Importance to
tie country; the Committee on Foreign
Affairs are of opinion that the mission
to Panama ought to receive the sanction
of the ,iouse of Representatives; and
they accordingly recommend the adop-
ton of the following resolution:
Resolued, That, in the opinion of the
House, it is expedient to appropriate the
funds necessary to enable the President
of the Z uited tates to send Ministers
to the Congress of Panama.
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