Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-03-07
SELECTIOMs-

TGe Panama .MisSidp.-Soon af,er the cnr,
mencement OF tire present session of Congress. a
resolution was introduced, az our readers will re-
collect, by Mr.. Hamilton, of South Carolina. 70
call upon the President of the United States for
information, relative the object. which i, was
expected would be accomplished by sending minis
iers to the proposed Congress OF Panama AT tina,
lime the friends of the administration ere opnos.d
sc the adoption OF the resolution, on the ground cf
It's being indecorous to the executive, and not cal
cIated to be productive OF any advantage TO the
country 10 make the call. 1t was, however.
aedged That the information embraced by the resp
lulion, would be furnished in dne time, and Mr.
Webster went FAR as to say, that it was the
Intention OF the President 10 furnish the ministers
with graduated powers, by which, IL is supposed
he designed to be understood that they were 10 be
Instructed TO take advantage Of circumstances
with view 10 obtain commercial advantages. in
case an opportunity should present itself TO drive
good bargain.
The in.na,ion that The information would bc
furnished by the Presdeat, withou; any call being
made, satisfied Mr.. Hamilton, at the time. and his
resolution suffered to lie upon the table Some
time after, the nomination of persons TO fill the
station OF ministers 10 the Congress, was made TO
the Senate, by the President; but instead of meet
ing with an immediate sanction IL was ascertained
that there was doubt felt by the members of that
body respecting the propriety of the measure,
che Adams men, both in and out of Congress- In
fhs Honse OF Representatives the proposition of
Mr. Hamilton for call upon the President for the
correspondence in relation TO the proposed mission
was suddenly discovered by the friends of the
administration TO be 4" marvellous proper mea-
sure, and instead of considering it any longer I'M
necessary or indecorous to make the call, tbev
became extremely anxious that it should be made,
in order that they might ascertain from the in f,r
he oJst
were the nature and extent of the consequences
which might be expected to result from IT,
The case was a most extraordinary one. Here
were the advocates and friends of the President
Urging the adoption of resolution TO call upon
the President 10 furnish the House with inlorma-
rson, which ], ia his power, without call, 70
furnish at any moment he proper. The call
was then opposed by others, because it was be-
lieyed that those who then urged ii did not desire
the information embraced by the resolution, but
adopted the course Of urging its adoption, with
view to spur on the Senate 70 a sanction of the
nomination Of ministers, without due inquiry into
The pFoyriey OF the measure, and the qualification
81 the persons named, to fill the station proposed
t6r them and they did not fail to point out to the
administration men, the Inconsistency OF ,heircon-
Si1ei, and TO intimate 10 them their suspicious re-
speeding The cause OF il.
Alter several days had been spent in discussing
tie propriefy Of it, the resolution was adopted in a
form corresponding with the wishes OF the admin
isration men, and the call was accordingly made:
gu, although considerable time has since elapsed
and notwithstanding the measure was urged by hrs
iisads, and was adopted in the form in which they
wished it,. the President has not answered the cali:
and the general opinion seems TO be that il is not
mis- intention to do so. Ii has been stated tina, the
administration men in Congress, who exerted
themselves to procure the adoption Of the resolu
hail TAI their iuefrucfiona in "A,
fsom the Secretary Of stae, and that he and the
President are at points in relation to the proprety Of
the course, or that the latter is not disposed TO per-
mi! the former 70 prescribe for him what course his
friends shall pursue for The promotion Of his own
ends, and is not now anxious TO relieve him from
the unpleasant situation into which, by his Off
cousness, he has made Out to throw himself
To the nation 1t is matter Of some importance
.asch Of ihs TIME Of Congrsss, sod much Of the