Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-02-09


will not be formed there. Besides il | have any
knowledge of facts on this subject, treaties have
ucen already formed by with most of those
powers Why should we, then not have the
Sxsent OF the powers, the substance of the
Instructions, to those Ministers, communicated to
US: Do we go there to drive bargains with the
Governments OF the South. presenting them FIRST,
stl we wish TO gain. and keeping back what we
should be satisfied To- receive! Certainly not; Oar
policy towards those Governments has always
been an open one; il has been publicly avowed, and
j hope never will be departed from. What is il,
We sly to them, we ask noihing from you; treat
us as you treat ali the world, we ask no favor from
you, and will accept none.
MIR. +. said he did not intend at present to tres
Pass further On the a,ention OF The House. II
was certain that the House could not decide the
expedicney oil the measure nf the mission TO Pans-
ma, without knowing precisely all that is intended
by 1t the character in which our Ministers to
appear there the part to be taken BY them in the
deliberations OF the Congiess, Sc. To enable the
siouss lo ascertain these particulars, the iulorma
lion proposed by the resolution, as it had bceA mo-
dihed, was indispensable, &c.
MT. Maliary, OF Vermont, observed, that the
gentleman from Georgia enjoyed much better OPP
por,unity OF obtaining information the subject,
than he did, and had told the House what is TO be
the character of this Congress that is TO be- held
Panama, deriving it from the stpnlaons OF Trea-
Mexico; but would ask said Mr.. NJ. whether
that treaty expresses the understanding agree
nent oil the other provinces and does the gentleman
Undertake TO say that this is all the information we
must have?
The argument which the gentlemen from Georgia
mad drawn iIom the provisions OF the treaty 10
which he had referred, the strongest one that
could be used 10 induce the House 10 call for that
information. and not take il by inference from
treaty between TWO OF the parties, and infer the
great objects from that but ralr; 20 TO the sources
OF information which present themselves, and see
what If HE object. Could there not be an object
regulated between two OF the powers, and also
other objects for the decision oil the Congress, with
which they have con,ern?
As respects the question immediately before the
iicuse and the motion Is; made. II proposed TO
tall on the President; for information the in
slructons he intends 10 give. l should suppose,
said Ms. MslIary, 1t would be proper, when you
call on the President for that information, you
ought to know that ministers have been appointed,
10 whom these instructions are TO be conh,,ed. 1t
SEEMS 10 me that the call is OF such character,
as mas never before been made. 1t Is said this is
an extraordinary case, and that, having know
ledge OF what the OBJECT OF the convention is 10 be-
we have right, in al, extraordinary case, and for
extraordinary purposes, insist on the President 5
communicating the instructions he intends to give
10 these ministers. BY whs authority are the
Ministers appointed! Is it not derived from, the
same source that by which the PRECEDENT apponts
Ministers 10 France and England-by ,rtue of The
Constitution of the United States, which confers
On him the power OF appointing, and to thesenate
the power OF confirming the appointment! Is tiare
any difference in the source from whence he de
iives this authority, and that which heEexeIcises
GA any ordinary OCCASION? II is the same, and |
he is resolved 10 make the appointment, why shou'
you apply different rule 10 this case, IRON Ina
which is srrlied in all others?
If, when Ministers are sent abroad, THO Hous
las right To inspect the instructions given TO then
By the President. it shows power ointerference in
Compatible with = fispesr your Instructions. am
IN .hese Instructions, we can, with til
same proprieiy, give instructions oA,selvs. ON
demand al the President that he shall "a, ~ ne i
srnctIons you prescribe 1t is direct violation @
Ane treaty making power itself, il is an invasion O
the privileges conferred Oh that power by the Con
s'itut'on. That instrument expressly confers I'll,
power on the President of the United States HI
sends the Instructions and gives his directions and
when those negotiations terminated, whateye
mas been the result, that is 10 be submitted to tn,
senate Tor their Inspection. and they are TO decd,
on u, and then we have right, il the President has
violated the Constitution, or if he has acted cor
ruptiy, zoe have right to investigate the subject
Da', while the negotiations going on it seem.
10 me that we have no right interfere ,Ya
the instructions lie is TO gve,or require inforna-
tion as TO what they are, than we have TO impose
instructions on him
Mr. Everett of Massachusetts said, he felt him
sell called upon to make remark two, in con-
sequence oil what had dropped from the gentleman
from Georgia, (Mr. Forsyth That gentleman,
both to day and on former occasion, had express
ed himself as standing in embarrassed position in
reference 10 this resolution, in consequence OF a
statement, which he had made in his official relation
to the House, that is, Gas lie understood him to
mean,) his situation as the Chairman oil the Com
nlttee of Foreign Affairs. He has informed the
House, said Mr.. T.. that, in that capacity, he has
already waited on the proper Department and re-
ceiyed the information that the papers called for
will, in due time be sent and that be therefore feels
embarrassed in calling for them As a very hum
bic and subordinate member of the same commit
tee, feel myself called offer the House an ex-
PLANTATION OF this matter, that they may know pre-
cisely how it stands. have believe, sir attend
ed every meeting OF the Committee Of Foreign AZ
fairs, and been present at nearly every moment,
when business has been transacted in that commit
tee feel, therefore, able to say, that this call for
papers on the Panama mission has never been be-
tore that committee; that the honorable chairman
mas never been instructed to have any special COM
nunicsion with the Department of State, on The
subject; that he has brought back TO the committee
no report Of the result of such an interview; and
consequently, has been instructed by the committee
10 make no report on the subject to any Individual
or to this House /, therefore, respectfully protest
against its being understood, that any such official
fnforma ion, this subject, is in the possession of
the House. of any member of IT, Sir, need
not say that do not make this remark, in the
least, to impugn the correctness of the statement
81 my friend from Georgia, the Chairman of the
Committee Of Foreign Affairs was apprzed Of
his interview with the Department of State by
himself, very shortly after it took place. thought