The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1826-04-13

question OF eNpedlcncy, out u question: 'H
constitutional power. Gould we send del
egates to become constituent members OF
q foreign sovereignty? | take II 70 be very
clear, that we could not: for that would be
to transfer portion Of the sovereignty of
this nation 10 foreign power. Can we
ALLEVIATE the sovereignty OF this nation, or
any portion of it, Not only alionate, but
subject the sovereignty of this nation TO
the sovereignty so alienated? Such an
idea is too absurd for retntation, and needs
only TO be mentioned 10 be rejected. fit
were fact that this Congress is to be al or
ganized sovereignty, the committee should
have stopped there-should have reported
the simple fact, and have spared them
selves, the labor of all their subtle reason
ings, of all their detail Of probable dangers;
for surely we wanted no reasonings to con-
vince us Of the neXpediency of transfer
ring portion of the national sovereignty
to foreign power, and of subjccting the
residue TO the control Of that power, and
no exaggerated pictures of national dan
gers, to deter US from committing such an
act of national suicide. II it be fac;
that this Congress is to be this organized
sovereignty, possessing those sovereign
prerogatives, and to exercise this snpre-
macy over US, let the same gentleman who
drew this report, or any other gentleman,
now show it, and the Senate must reject
the proposed mission with one voice.
But this suppostion made by the re-
port, is entirely gratuitous, and has not
any warrant whatever, from any of the
documents on which it was founded;it il is
not only without evidence, but contrary to
all the evidence. 1t appears from these
documents, that this Congress il TO be
mere diplomatic council, with no power
whatever, but as such. VI is to possess
no one attribute of sovereignty; no legisla
tive power, no executive power, no Judi
cial power; no power whatever but that
Of an advisory council. This council is
not to form the confederation Of the South
American nations, as the honorable GEN
! tleman from South Carolina (Mr. liaync,)
supposes. That confederation is already
| formed, and this council is appointed by 1t,
each nation appointing two pienipoten-
tiaries to be of it. That confederation is
formed by their Areaties, made between
themselves; but still it leaves each nation
an Independent sovereignty; independent
in all its foreign relations, independent in
all its internal regulations and only united
in comman league, Of fensive and defen-
sinrA. eraame,"ru supPusv, ustnc rvgo'
supposes. that when they had proVineo
with such Jealous care for their sepa-
rate and absolute sovereigntles, that 'hey
have subjected those soverelgntics 10 'he
sovereignty Of Congress, and that cach
soyereipnty had become ielo de Sc
NothinS can h, further from the fact
Sec article 10Th, in the treaty OF CoiomDia
and Chile; article 9th, in the treaty oil 20
lombia and Peru, article 18th, IN the
treaty of Colombia aud Guatemala; ana
article 18th. in the treaty Of Colombia aHj
) Mexico. The provision is precisely the
: same in substance, and nearly the same
in words, in all the treaties. It. is as loi
{ lows:-I recite it from the treaty last men
! t;oned.--"This compact perpetual union
= league, and confederation, shall not, II
= any wise, effect tic exercise oil the ma
c tional sovereignty Of either contracting
b party, in regard to its laws and forms o
= government. or its foreign relations
e This council is to be composed OF Plenlpo
Il tentiaries. two from each nation. Inc
$, are called plenipotertIares IN every ln
at stance in which they are mentioned or re
x ferred to at all, without one Single eS
m ception. -rc.,o,;, ,r
" Chile, they are so called.-The Congrcs
o, ia 70 he an Assembly of the States, "cou
O. posed of their Pienipoientidrles." In a.
nv ticle Sd. Treaty Of Colombia and FER
h. they are so caled-The Congress ls 10
ur an assembly of the States, composed
ke their Plenipofeniinries." In article ~
nd Treaty Of Colombia and Guatemala, IN.
,al are so called-The Congress is 10 ne
.er assembly Of the States, composed oi the
IA PieuipoientiayIes." In article lith, IRE
,e- " Of Colombia and Mexico, they are
ty; called-the Congress is to be an asse,nu
tv: of the States, composed OF their fte'
all potentinries." SO whenever they are in'
on. dentally mentioned, they are called ite'
ast not, ,niiGries; as in the Sd article oil
led Treaty of Colombia and Chile. IL PROVO
res that the continrcnts theroin mention'
on shall be adjusted at the meeting OF
Plenipotentiaries. Are Plenipotentar
ne invested with the powers Of governm'
or. and sovereignty: The idea is prepos
ore rous. Will it be said, they may be-
no they cannot be, as such. Besides, Il
cis- expressly provided, in every one otth
our Treaties. how they are to be commissl
: Of ed. They are to be commission
s Of az Plenipotentiarics, and not otherw
en- In article 18th Of the treaty of Colon
and and Mexico. il is provided in th
words" A Congress shall be formed
MICS which each party shall send two Pl'
, of no,en,iaries, commissioned in the 81
,,od sorr, and manner. as are observed towt
enc ministers OF equal grade to foreign
heir tions:" thl1 IS, mMdns m"'u.oS u