Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-03-30

usual diplomatic powers and Instructions, II
follows that their mode o. proceeding must De
that Of diplomatic discussion and conference,
and their mode of deciding that which can
alone exist between Diplomatic Agents-the
mutual reference of whatever convention or
pact, may be negotiated, to the Constitutional
authorities at home. That such is to be the
case with respect to our Ministers is particu
lar!y stated in the message OF the President, as
also that they are to be bound by no decision OF
the Congress without their own consent
While the Committee arc OF opinion that these
details are of no great Importance, they appre-
bend that, as far as they are OF importance, the
omission to fix them, or to propose them for
acceptance to the United States, is rather favo-
rable than Instantaneous to US. The Com
mittee are persuaded that, on these details as
we'll as in the leading business of the Congress,
the new States are DESTROYS TO have the advan-
,age of our experience This sentiment is re-
peatedly EXPRESSED in the letters Of the Minis
tiers of the new States, communicating the in
vitation
The next objection may be, that our atten-
dance at this Congress may put to hazard our
neutrality To this it may be answered, that
having already acknowledged the independence
Sc
of treating them as free and independent States,
as well towards Spain as all the rest OF 1.-The
world. These States are nominally at war with
Spain, and Spain alone Her allies have taken
no part in this war. The most powerful OF
those allies, Great Britain, has formally acknow-
lodged the independence OF several OF these
States, and established diplomatic relations
with them. To these acts on our part and that
of Great Britain, Spain submits, although they
not only essentially weaken her as belligerent,
but directly violate her colonial laws. But, If
our recognition of each of the States represent
ed at the Congress, and our trading with them,
in direct cunlravention Of the colonial laws OF
Spain, be no breach, as it is none, Of our Deu-
trality, so neither is our attendance at Dlplo-
matte Council Of all those States united, a breach
of neutrality. This is particularly true, when
it is added tina, the United States, instead OF
going to the Congress to animate the war a.
gainst Spain, will go as mediators and peace
makers, 10 promote, by every means, termIna-
ton Of the contest on terms honorable 20 the
new States, and advantageous to Spain This
Power has already received the strongest p!edg-
es that such is the policy Of the United States.
The Committee are clearly OF opinion that, if
our attendance at this Congress be desirable, on
the part of the new STATES, it is not less so on
the part OF Spain.
The next objection that may be urged against
our attendance at the Congress of Panama, is,
that it may involve US in an entangling alliance
with the new States. To this 1t may be an
swered, that the project Of such an alliance is
expressly disclaimed by the President In the
message referred to the Committee. In the
next place, the Congress is neither Govern
men, nor coniederacy Of Governments, with
which we could, by possibility, in the first In
stance, enter into an alliance, entanging or NOT
and lastly, a.e-. II ~oS~eiatfon LOT suCh an d.
lance were entered into, by our ministers, con-
trary to the principles on which, it appears
from the message Of the President, that the in
vitation was accepted, it would still remain for
the treaty Of alliance to be submitted TO the con-
stitutional ratifying powers, in this country -
Whether, under these circumstances, our &C
ceptance of the invitation can be considered,
even as an approach TO an alliance, the Com
mittee need not say.
If it be still objected, that, from the nature Of
this assembly, there is danger that we, by our
attendance, may be drawn into an alliance, il
may be replied, that there is no other danger OF
the formation Of an entangng alliance, IN con-
sequence of this mission, than that which is in
cident to any mission 10 any Power. We have
Ministers to France, to Russia, to England
We have had ministers to European, countries,
a, periods when very strong temptations of mo-
men,ary interest existed, for forming alliances
with foreign Powers. The Committee are not
aware, that il ever was suggested that the least
danger existed, of the formation OF such all al
lance, in consequence of such missions. Our
Minister to France followed the march OF the
French Emperor to the confines Of Russia, but
10 one surmised that we projected an alliance
with him, although we were, at the time, en-
gagged in war with his other chief enemy, Great
Britain Yet ii is plain, that the wayto an al
lance is much more direct, in an ordinary mis-
sion, than in that proposed. When our Minis
ter is accredited to foreign sovereign, parlicu-
larly an absolute one, he is accredited to par
tv competent 10 form an alliance, without fur.
Their delay or Interior responsibility. while,
on the other hand, our ministers to Panama will
be accredited TO other Ministers, no more COM
petent than our own, to pledge their Govern
ments.
Farther, it is particularly to be observed, that
an alliance with any one Of the new Republics
would be fully as changing as an alliance with
them ALL They are all at war, and with the
same enemy. They stand in an alliance often
sve and defensive, with each other. Precise
" the same consequences, therefore, would re-
suit from the formation Of an alliance with ell
a.