Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1826-04-21


'.greSs IF .4me,'ican Nations at Panaman
- Mr. hobBlNS said, the honorable gentleman from
tennessee tMr. WHITE) called upon us (by US mean
NOSE VINO have not adopted the reasoning of the repor
10 snow wherein the reasoning the report was moi
conclusive; implying that we were either 10 do this or
10 ADOPT the resolutions the resolution the neces-
sary result OF the reasoning, if that was conclusive
90 not agree that this is the necessary alternative for
an argument fail of convincinr tho mind nav no
et as very tallacious and yet the mind be unable TO
eect It's iaacy and unable To expose that allacy eli
liner TO itself or 10 others Berkley's argument arainst
The existence OF matter i memorable instance of the
KIND; 1t convinced nobody yet puzzled every BODY II
coto"roed all the philosophers and metaph, sicans of
me early part OF the last century, many them abored
hard at It's rcfuation. but lahorcd i'm vain. Reed nj
last Int upon the clue that unrav eed the subtle web
al least, he conceived that he had-aud for while il
was admitted that he had-but now il seems again TO
be doubted whether his refnation is not more seemino
IMAM sc'id. suppose Be key here now 10 put TO the
honorable gentleman from Tennessee the same diem
ma winch he would put 10 us, and 10 him-Nu,y
feiu'e my argument or adopt my conclusions admit that
iete no material world reiue the reasoning bv
winch demonstrate that there is nonc admit the cham
DER IN winch we sit, that the columns which adorn il
are not material objects, external to u.s. but merely
IDEAS IN the mind. My honorable friend would saw /
oeeve, MT Berkeley. your alternative is hard one
ana as unreasonable as hard. feel that YOUR concu
SION is false, though find myself unable 10 detect the
iaiiacy oil your reasoning You will give me leave
therefore, TO believe in the information of INV senses
and to let your subleties aone.n
Desidcs' an argument may be true, and unanswcra
ole because 1t IS true yet be satisfactory: for il NAV
be outwcghed by other arguments equally true and nm
answeraoe. and more satisfactory, because of moro
weight This is the as TO all questions tlependnu
oa oiahce of pr"hablies; as questions of political
expectancy do. of which this is one. Bu; if we were
reduced TO the alternative which the gentleman from
ennessee would reduce u.s. still tlinl, we should mot
be compelled to adopt the resolutions Cor that reasoning
SuSue and ingenious as is, almost Bcrkieen and i'm
posing as 1t is at first blus will be found upon closer
examination and reflection, 10 be far from conclusive
IL Is altogether hyPohctical and he hypothesis is no
where support ed-it is not even atemped TO be
por'edh The report. In this way, you may prove any
ul: Tor, SU10S2f0 quo iiJct Scqi,itc aud RLekD If
you are at Liberty 10 make your promises what vo,
please, yon may make your conclusions what YOU please
ana make them necessary. 1t is hypothetical altoce-
ther, as 10 the nature character of that bodvo
Congress at Panama IT supposcs that body 10 he mr.
Is 10 become confederate organized sovcreignty pos
essg me prerogatves OF sovereignty, possessing the
powers supreme and final all subjects within the
sphere W It's action, but that sphere be underlined at
ieast as far as We know. This is implied throughout
me report MANY passages might be cited in proof. ]
VIII select only a sample:
In page 4tb, are these words; at was therefore
much 10 be desired and certainly to have bnon exo,
cd that before the desnies of the United States should
DC committed To The elaboration and decision of Con-
gress composed not of citizens but o tho
iresentar"s of many different nations that the oh
Jects OF such deliberations should he most occurte
stated and defined, and clearly and distinctly marked
ou';"-Iiearly implying, that desnies would he
committed 10 the deCis tfat BODY in case To- ara
represented there Ifso that body mus Ia We s,,nro,,
and inal powers on the subjects of their deliberations
ana these subjects must involve the destnies of this
country II must be, as said before confederate
oGapiZed and absolute sovereignty, within the sphere
ct lis action, whatever that sphere rnrbt be This i;
the suPpositon of the report the assumption ON which
us reaSohngS are oottomed, the principle from which
all It's alarming dangers deduced and neither tbe
'eaSohihgS nor The consequences be supported on
any other supPositIon. Now if this was the fact-iC
' was or was TO be, organized sovereign
y as 1t is assumed 10 be, the present question World
nj pyD p1ipnc. I,to
sttulioDai power. Gould send delegates to become
constituent members OF foreign sovereignty? take
IL 10 De very clear that could for that vonld be
10 transfer portion of the sovereignty of this naor
10 foreign power Can we aienate the sovernrn, rs
hls nation, or any portion of il? Not ONLY ALLEVIATE lint
SUBJECT the sovereignty OF this nation TO The soverernt =
SO ahenaed: Such an idea TOO absurd for reutation
ana needs only TO be mentioned to be rejected Fit was
fact that this Congress was to be an orrapzed sovor
). cIGnty, the committee should have stopped there
should have reported The simple fact and have snare
themselves the labor of all their subtle reasoninGs of
all their nciaI OF probable dangers for surely we wan
ted no reasOniDgs 10 convince us Of the nexDedencv
- OF transferring portion Of the national sovereignty ic
foreign power, and Of subjcctng the residue to the
control OF that power; and exaggerated mixtures of
national dangers to deter from COMMITTING ercb =,
act OF national suicide If it be fact that this Con
greSs IS TO he this organized sovereignty POSSESSING
Y those sovereign prerogaycs and 10 cxcrcise fs en-
IS preacy over us, let the gentleman who drew This
If report, or any other gentlemen show it, and e
senate must reject the proposed mission with one voice
I'ut s supposItlon, made by The report is entirely
gIatuous and has not any whatever from any
OF the documents which founded il IS not on
without evidence, bnt contrary all The evidence /
IS appears from these documents that this Congress is IL
y ne a mere diplomatic council with power Whatever
ID but as such 1t 10 possess one attribute of
cIgnty--no legislative power, executive power no
= judicial power; power whatever but that of an adj
e Ysory council This council is not to form the conrod
Grafton of the S. American nations as the hon enfe
man from South Caroline Mr.. HAYNE) supposes Tha
confederation IS already formed, and this council is u
pointed by teach nation appointing two pIenipoten
taries to be Of il. That confederation is formed h,
their treaties, made between themselves; but still !
leaves each nation an independent sovereirntv-nde
pendent IN all ITS foreign relations independent in all IN
internal regulations and only united in a CONNER
league offensive and defensive, to common dangers
II was absurd therefore TO suppose as the report SUP
poses mat wheD they had provided with such Jealous
J. care for their separate and absolute soveroionf;c a.
IF nave subjected those sovercges to the SOVEREIGNTY
congress- and That each sovereignty had ns becon,
eG &c Sc Nothing can be further from the fac Sc,
tIl. nc frcof nil rofo