The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1826-04-06

gress, nnr Is IL any WHERE stated who
would be the parties, oi what represents
'i'es srre either invited, expected.
or would b. received. But, in the very
COMMUNICATION which conveys the infoi :
nation already stalled, the United States
are told. thu. II the date of that cOinmuni-
cation, Nov. 5d.l the Representatives from
Colombia, Peru, Guatemala. and Mexico,
would have arrived 1T Panama, the agreed
place ofassembling, and would be engag-
ed IN settling the preliminary rules Of HE
assembly, and IN discussing the questions,
which should ne supposed by them 10 be-
long exclusively 10 the bellgertnts.
IL thus appears, that, after every thing
relative Ia the meeting Of the proposed
Congress had been settled, by formal ne
gocailons aud treaties between Themselves,
the United States have been thus loosely
invited by the other American States, As II
III mere courtesy 10 attend iis deliberations.
Should the United States accept such an
Mutation, the depntirs whom they may
send Ia Panama Will there be- associated,
vi h they know NOT whom, or for What
purposes, or in what mode. When these
deputies shall lnqule al The Congress AZ 10
any ot these important particulars, they
wiIl receive the Information they aek, IA
resolutions and compacts adjusted and con
clnd"d before their arrival. And If, waiy-
ing all these things, which none ought to
consider as mere cerrm0nlals, The agents
of the United States shall take the PLACES
previously igned them, aud propose TO
take Il part IN the dscussIons, they will
fad all the leading principal topics for de-
liberation alreapy passed upon u conelud
ed.
The Committee are well aware that the
interest and character of free States should
Inever permitted 10 rest upon matters of
mere fhstdlous etiquette aud ceremonous
observance but even in the intercourse
between individuals, ana much more in
that between ssSeI eighties, there is IA
point at which form becomes substance,
aud when scrnpulons attention To the
most minute ceremonlals that comfy aud
respect exact, is due To the sacred charac.
ter and dignity of the RepubIic.-At that
point, the Committee believe the United
States should ever make a staGd, and,
resting there, should always exact, even
from the most ancient and pulssant soser-
eiSn ut the Earth, every thing required by
their Own self respect. Nor shUnd any
thing be then waived even to manifest
their sensiblIity to Whatever concerns the
prosperity OF the American Hemisphere,
or the sincere friendship which they feel
for these new Republics.
As the most ancient State in the new
World The first acknowledged snee,e
friendship If those more recently existing !:
as a State from whose < eater experience
more light Is said 10 be- expected to be shed
upon the subjects To be discussed, and the
principles To he established. al the contem-
plated Congress, than from the other
States the United States had "A right to
expect, that, when this project Of Con
gress oil American Nations was conceived,
II should have been communicated Ia them
as early as 10 any others whose presence,
by their Representa- ives, was deemed de-
slrdble. That they too should have been
asked, whether such ii measure would be
acceptable. That they too should have
been consulted,as to the time, the place, IL
the manner of assembling such Congress
That they too should have becn permitted
10 assist Ia the enumeration of the subjects
10 which It's attention might properly be
directed in the adjustment Of the nature
aud form OF the powers to be given to the
diplomatic agents who were to compose
II in the mode Of its organization and
acton; asd, above all others, III the settle
ment of thu great question, "no should be-
invited 10 take a part IN rs drhb.rhtlons.--
The Unted States had also right to TX
poet, that the result of all such consulta
tIons should be- fixed and secured by sol.
emn pacts and conventions, IN which they
too should be parties.
Such the commitee believe ought to
have been, and would have b, en- the course
pursued by the United States towards the
other American States If the proiect Of
convenlng Congress OF American Nations
had occurred 10 us, as measure useful d
beneficial To tile American continent aud
being never disposed TO exact from others
more respect, than in like circumstances
they are willing themselves To pay, the u
nted States, in the opinion of this com
mIttee, owe il To themselves, ii an opinion
should he entertained that any thlns exists
requiring the adoption of such ii measure at
TINS time, courteously To decline the inyi-
tauOn given under the circumstances sta
ted, and to institute the proper proceedings
necessary To its consumnatlon in the mo de
which friendship, comfy, and the defer
ence TO others require. Such movement
belongs To the high character which the
United States enjoy in the estimation of
all tine World, the merit of which is accord
ed To them by none more wlIidsly than by
the ne" born States OF this Continent s.,
II II be not made, the time will go by wh.n
the position may ever hereafter be proper
ly assumed.
The committee would not be understood
as suggesting the cspedtncy ofany such
measure at this time. In their opinion,
there exists no adequate motive to induce
its adoption, Every spot known or hab-