Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-04-14
CONGRESSIONAL DOCUMENT.

Hoasc Of Representatives, March 25, 1926.
MISSION 10 PANAMA.
MIR. Crowninsh;eld, from the committee on
Foreign Affairs, to which was referred the Mes
sage OF the President Of the United States, OF the
10Th instant. made the following Report
3He Committee Of Foreign .4Dairs, TO ,rlon
Uds retired the Message Of the Presid,nt of
the Uafed States to the House OF Repre-
senfdhurS Of the 18th instant, ,Cith the Docu-
alen.s accompanying It, hare had tie sumo
under consideration, aud jsg leare to report:
That It appears, from the above named messae e
and papers, that an invitation has been received by
he United States from the Republics OF Colombia,
t. sntral America, and Mexico, 10 attend the Com
eIcss about TO be held at Panama. 1t appears that
this invitation WIS accepted by the President on
the condition that the nomination Of Commission
ers for the Mission should receive the ADVICE and
Consent of the Senate. The advice and consent
having been constiU,ionaily expressed in the con-
ii,mation OF the Ministers nominated By tie Presi-
dent the concurrence Of the House OF Representa-
tlpes il requested, necessary 10 carry tire mission
into effect, by an appropriation to defray Tire ex-
pense Of il. This concurrence being " subject TO
The free determination' Of the Hous., the Com.
itfee have regarded it rs their duty the House,
20 inquire into the expectancy or accepting this
invitation. The ordinary courtesy OF nations in
friendship with each other, and the peculiar inter
est which, for the strongest reasons the people Of
the United States have felt, and must ever
feel, in the new American republics, would seem
10 dictate the propriety OF accepting this invitation
unless there sufficient, reasons for declining it,
Noeucb reasons are believed by the Committee OF
Foreign Affairs 10 exist.
Ia order TO present the subject in its tue light 20
he House, the committee would first make a re-
mark the general nature ofthe assembly designa,-
Ell By the name OF the Congress OF Panama The term
Congress- il need scarcely be observed, is by no
L.. L.. .,,,Ia ,y,.l; 81 . 1
i is applied to some other political assemblies
The Congress at Panama is nota representative de-
legation, forming branch OF a government, like
the present Congress of the United States I, is
not body in which the government ofseyerai con-
fe c,ate sovereign states is deposited like the old
American Congress. Neither is it personal
meeting OF SoyeIeigns, like the recent Congresses
81 Europe. II is assembly of diplomatic a.
gents, clothed with no powers except TO discuss &
20 negotiate, deputed by Governments, whose con-
stiu.;ons require that all engagements with foreign
powers shall be subject TO the ratification Of some
organic body a; home; and the more cffeciuay 10
guard against mistake, even of tie desigu in
which this Congress has been proposed il is slipu-
lated, in the several treaties formed by Colombia
with the Other new republics, that this meeting at
Panama shall not affect, in any manner, the ex-
S.ci-e Of the national sovereignty of the contract
ing parties in regard to their laws and the cstab-
ii-hment and form of their respective govern
nenrs'
Snb IS The genera! nature ofihc proposed Con-
gfess, as appears from The papers referred TO this
Oh rs objects, the committee will, in
,he course Of This report more particularly speak,
They are in general, all subjects interesting to the
pOwer4 represented at the Congress, and suscept-
Die OF discussion al sich meeting The Minister
81 the Colombian republic, with the liberal design
. !: would appear, Of excluding the supposition !
b., his own government, or those which Joined il |
o inviting us to the Congress, hal any wish to 1
exercise dictaton IA to what Subjects should ex- /
usively be discussed, has observed, in his letter
~ tie Secretary OF State, OF "a November, 1925, |
nat the topics Of discussion therein enumerated |
ire designed merely " - Suggestions by way Of /
sample, while " j: - left 10 the wisdom of the
governments, and heJudgment Of their representa-
ives. 10 propose Whatever may be esteemed Of
snnon good 70 me new Hemisphere" in nc