American watchman and Delaware advertiser., 1826-03-21

lies from the oppression, under which they mao oeeh
an long afflicted was hailed with great unanimity oy
the People of this Union, among the most auspi-
cious events OF the age. On the 4lh OF May o2S'
an act of Congress made an appropriation OF one
hundred thousand dollars Tor such missions 10 me
independent Nations oriethe American conuheh'' as
The President OF the u States might deem proper
In exercising the authority recognzedby this act
nv predecessor, by and with the advice and consent
of the Senate, appointed, successively, Ministers
plenipoten,iary to the Republics OF Colombia, Bue.
nos Ayres, Chill, and Mexico. Unwilling to raise
among the fraternity Of freedom, questions OF pre-
cedency and etiquette, which even the european
Monarchs had Of late found it necessary 10 great
measure TO discard, he despatched these MINISTERS
10 Colombia, Buenos Ayres, and Chill, Without ex-
acting from those Republics, as by the ancient
principles Of political primogeniture ne might nave
DONE that the compliment of Penipoentiary mis-
sion, should have been paid first by them to the
United States. The instructions prepared under
his direction to MIR. Anderson the first OF our MI
nislers to the Southern continent, contain, al much
length, the general principles, upon which ne
thought desirable that our relations political and
commercial, with these our new neighbors, should
be established, Tor their benefit and ours, and that
Of the future ages Of our posleri.y. copy OF so
much OF these instructions relates to these general
subjects, is among the papers now transmitted 10 Inc
House. Similar instructions were furnished TO the
Ministers appointed to Buenos Ayres, Chin, and
Mexico and the system OF social intercourse which
it was the purpose of those missions to establish
from the first opening OF our Diplomatic relations
With those rising nations, is the most eHectve ex
position of the principles upon which the invitation
10 the Congress at Panama, has been accepted by
me, as we'll Of the objects OF negotiation at that
meeting in which it was expected that our Pienipo-
tentiaries should take part.
The House will perceive that, even at the date OF
these Instructions the first treaties between some oil
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 it might concern
the policy of the United States, and at the same time,
with what irankness and good will towards those
nations, he gave countenance to their design OF in.
viting the United States TO this high assembly tor
consultation upon american interests. IL was not
considered conclusive reason for declining this IN
vitation, that the proposal Tor assembling such a
Congress had not first been made by ourselves. II
had sprung from the urgent immediate, and mo.
mentous common interests Of the great communl.
ties struggling for independence, and, as il were,
quickening into life From them the proposition
to US appeared respectful and friendly; from us to
them, il could scarcely have been made, without
cxposing ourselves to suspicious OF purposes OF am.
bon, II not OF domination, more suited to rouse
resistance and excite dstrust, than to conciate ia
vor and friendship. The FIRST and paramount prin-
cpe, upon which it was deemed wise and just TO
lay the corner stone of all our future relations with
them, was disinterestedness the next was cordial
good will to them; the third claim of fair and
equal reciprocity. Under these impressions, when
the invitation formally and earnestly given, had
it even been doubtful, whether any Of the objects
proposed for consideration and discussion at the
} Congress, were such as that immediate and impor
tsnt interests Of the United States would be affected
by the issue, should nevertheless have determined
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 it was made, beLiered that i'm
portant interests of ours of theirs, rendered
E attendance there desirable. They had given US no
tce, that in the novelty OF their situation, and ir
the spirit Of Difference experience they woult
be pleased to have the benefit Of our friendly coun
4 sci. To meet the temper with which this propose
0 was made, with cold repulse, was not though
congenial to that warm interest in their welfare
: with which the People and Government Of th,
(; Union had hitherto gone hand in hand, through th'
$ whole progress Of their Revolution. To insul
them by refusal OF their overture, and then inv
them to similar assembly, to be called by our
selves, was an expedent which never presented
itself to the mind. / would have sent ministers Il
the meeting, had it been merely to give them suc
: advice as they might have desired, even with refer
y ence TO their oWn interests not involving ours
would have sent them had it been merely to explai
and set forth them our reasons for declining an
proposal OF specific measures to which they mig h
e desire our concurrence, but which we might deer
d incompatible with interests or our duties.
e the intercourse between nations, temper is mis-
ID sionary, perhaps more powerful than taent.-Noil
s. ing was ever lost by kind treatment, Nothing ca
l. be gained by sullen repulses and aspiring prefer
m sions
ID But objects of the highest Importance, not onl
" to the future welfare of the whole human race, b,
&c bearing directly upon the special interests of ,h
&c Union wiu engage the deliberations of the Cor