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

event. and, as historical occurrence without
a parallel in the history of the world But the
Committee cannot admit that every. subsequent
political act Of these new States, or of other
States, in reference to them, is, therefore, to be
called novel and unprecedented, and that in an
Injurious sense of the words. On the contrary,
it appears to the Committee exceedingly natu-
raj, tina, these States should hold diplomatic
conferences with each other and neighboring
nations, who have important relations with
them. Nothing, perhaps, is more frequent in
political history, than similar meetings, among
friendly States.
Nor, when the subject is correctly viewed, is
there any thing in principle, novel or unprece-
dented, in our attendance at the proposed Con-
gress. AS merely historical event, indeed, 1t
NAV be considered as without an exact prece-
dent; although the negotiations between the y.
States, France, and Great Britain, in 1882,
which resulted in the treaties of peace between
the several countries, were of the nature Of the
conferences of meeting of diplomatic agents.
1t will also not escape the reflection Of the
House, that, had this Government ever acted
on the principle that exact precedent was ne
cessary to authorize its measures, no one OF the
most important measures Of the Government,
since the date Of the constitution, could have
been adopted. Whatever weight there is, iii
the mere argument in want OF exact precedents,
applied, in its full force, to the adoption Of the
federal constitution itself, the whole history Of
the world contained ne precedent of such go
vernment.
But, in point Of principle, there is no novel
ty, in our attendance at the proposed Congress
at Panama Our Ministers will carry with
them the same powcrs-no larger, no more dis
cretonary-than have ever been vested in the
foreign Minister. Of the United States. II has
been the characteristic policy OF the United
States, to ask no questions about the quality or
constitution Of the Power TO which our Minis
tiers were sent We have rested for our securi-
~, not on a timd calculation Of the powers OF
the Government, or Of the body, with which our
Ministers were to treat but on our constltu-
tional safeguards, at home 1t has been indif-
| ferent to us whether Europe were at peace or
a, war; or by what title her sovereigns filled
| their thrones. To instance in single case
| we have sent missions to France, alike under
| the ancient absolute monarchy, limited monar-
chy, and revolutionary anarchy; TO the Conven-
ton and to the Directory; to the Consular and
the Imperial despotisms; and to the present con-
stitutional Government. The posture OF affairs
which our Ministers have found, in that coun-
try, has often been novel; their personal posi-
ton, Unprecedented; the scenes they witnessed
strange and unexampled. But Of none OF our
successive missions, could it have been said, IN
any important sense, that the mission itself was
novel; that is, that it opened door to any re-
Taxation Of the constitutional checks, IN the adj
ministration of the foreign affairs OF the Gov
eminent at home. In like manner, the mission
10 Panama is in the strictest conformity with
aur wi.oIe International policy which is, to De
represented wherever We have important politi-
cal aud commercial connections Our Com
miss oners will go there 10 DO the business OF
the c, unry. Their appearance at that meeting
cannot, surely, have the effect of breaking down
the Senate and House of Representatives, and,
by kind of dictatorial power, unknown to the
constitution, of binding the country in a for
eign alliance.
Lastly, tmay be objected that, in Congress
Of assembled powers, there is something essen
italy pernicious, which this country, instead Of
| approaching, ought to shun; and the existing
oreanization in continental Europe may be quo
| ted as the illustration. The Committee deem
| it hardly necessary to remark, that the pernicl-
| Gus character Of the late European Congresses,
| or of any Europe Congresses does not
consist, In tne act Vi Assembling anu lrcalHiS
together, but in the character OF the Govern
mcnts assembled, and in the objects effected or
aimed at.-A Congress of despotic Powers,
welding the force oflarge standing armies, and
meeting to concert measures for violent inter-
ference in the internal affairs of other States, is
certainly pernicious assembly. In other words,
despotic governments, standing armies, and un-
provoked invasion, are pernicious in single
State, and proportionably more so, when scve-
raj despotic governments league their forces TO
prevent the establishment of liberal institutions,
in any country not beyond their reach. But.if
the States of Europe were free Republics, bless
ed with popular governments, written laws,
elective Magistrates, and senatorial bodies be-
| yond the reach Of corruption, the Committee
| do not perceive that meeting OF the diploma
tic Agents Of such Governments, to form Irea-
ties and Conventions, on their mutual interests
and concerns, that are to be sent home to their
constitutional ratifying functionarics, would be
in any degree alarming. Moreover, it is an OBJ
| vious reflection, that this argument against the
Mission to Panama, fit prove,any thing, proves
too much. If the pernicious-character OF the
Power, to which the Mission is TO be sent, form
reason for not sending it, it would be lmpos'
sible for the United States to maintain single
mission to Europe. Our ministers there are,
in every case, accredited to Governments, con-
structed, as we think, on principles, which
| -..lJ 40, ha introduced here without imme C. l.