Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-02-09

hr. w eos,er observed, that the amendment cei
tanly proposed an unusual interference with ,I
Executive power. He believed it was thing al
together without precedent to call Tor the insruc
lions proposed 10 be given by the Executive to
Minister TO foreign power.
Mr.. McDuihe agreed with the gentleman fror
Mass. that The terms OF his proposed ainentimen
were unprecedented; but they were so because sue
case had never occurred before, as that presente
by the proposed mission to Panama. He under
look to say, that the whole of the information
sought by the resolution, would be wholly unin.
por'ant, without the provision of the amendment
10 which the exception had teen taken by tn
gentleman from MISS. What is the inquiry TO
| TINS House to make? What DO we want to know
Not the moving cause of tie determination to no.
inmate Ministers to Panama; not the mere COME
OF the invitations from the Southern Republics; bu
the true character of the conv en,on at psnapo 6
the attitude which our Ministers are to assume
there In What character are to send Ninisie err
there! As the Members OF the Amphictyonic eoun
cii 10 be bound ourselves, through our Representa-
yves, by the decisions to be made there? What ar.
they to do there! How they to participate in III,
deliberations OF that Congress? understand the OBJ
1ects oil that Congress OF nations be- first to res
late their own internal political affairs secondly
10 resist, electually, the Spanish Monarch and
thirdly, perhaps, TO accomplish some other vague
and Indefinite object. l wish to know then, said
Nr. Med. wha, instructions our Ministers are to
take with them Are they to participate in the
deioerations OF the convention, to the proposed
iederatiye system Are they TO participate in its
deliberations, as to resisting the Spanish Monarchy
How are we 10 know, without being apprised of
the nature and substance of the instructions TO be
given to them, how they to 20, what they are
to do, what character they are to 90 ins This was
The material information, without which all the
other information called Tor would be wholly unm-
portant.
Mr.. Webster said, he thought a little reflection
would satisfy the gentleman from South Carolina
that, in his motion, he was leaping before he got
TO the style 1t was only by means of information
which this resolution proposes to call for that in
formation could be obtained of the terms and con-
dilions upon which this country has been invited to
send Ministers to Panama, and upon which the
Executive has accepted the invitation a cardinal
principle oil this mission, the President had in'hs
message, informed The House, was, that our Minis
Iers are 10 do nothing, and settle nothing which
can compromt the neutrality of the United States
The call Tor the instructions proposed to be given
10 those Ministers appeared to Mr.. w. TO be a mo-
one. As TO the idea of an Aps'rlc-
Iyonc council, 1t could not be within ths'each OF
possibility that the Convention of P~1ama could
be an Amphiclyonic council. LIQUID pc Ike
other meetings of diplomatic >-een's' where each
one acted independently es,ns olher according TO
10. 49, s.,.-, =; % any body's contemplation 10
,erd NI:,;s,.-rS.om this country 10 that Congress-
IN anw 80 footing. Among other thingsto be
r.ns-sted there, it had been suggested that com
sferial treaties to be formed; and il was no,p
ravely proposed to call for the instructions to our
Ministers relativs sofc fesssss,ion nfsse.. trades
w ever 'efore heard of, that the graduated in>
10 Minister abroad were called for,
previous 10 lheir oei'-r acted upon, SO as make
Pupiic, oeiofe hanu' "na'''e required to claim,
and what he was authorized to grant or accent
This reminded him of the case Of, Minis,er 10 a
foreign power, having graduated iqstl ss.ions. who
exhibited to the opposite party, at once, al. his in
itructions. If we to send Ministers to Para
ma, with public dispatches, we defeat every object
which such a mission could have in view. In |
'tructions given to Foreign Ministers always
private, and necessarily so, until they are fulfilled
It least.
We are informed by the President (said Mr.. |
w } that an invitation has been given to US to send
Ministers TO the Congress OF Panama. Does any |
'ne suppose the terms of the invitation will not
disclose the object of it? We are told also, that
he invitation has been accepted Does any one
suppose we shall not know, from the terms OF
ba; acceptance, the purpose for which Our Minis
ers are going TO ask for the instructions propos-
ID 10 be given to those Ministers, is asking more
han has ever been asked before. If ever a case |
AN arise when such a call would be expedient, or
ustifable, hat case certainly does not now exist
Mr.. McDufiie said, he should he sorry to have
he vanity to suppose that he could foresee any
hing that could not be ioreseen by the gentleman
rom Massa chuseiis but he apprehenGcd the terms
Of the call proposed by the resolution, merely rela
Ing to the circumstances which induced the ac-
,eptanee OF the invitation from the Republics OF /
Sonth America, were not sufficiently comprehen- |
iive TO elicit all the information which it was ni--
portant for the House TO have on this subject and
he therefore wished 10 have the call made specific
10 the point which he considered the information
most important. The gentleman from Massachusetts
seemed TO suppose that the whole matter commune
raied was of 10 be published to the world;
1ut that did not necessarily follow. We called
TO act, said Mr. McD) upon measure, respect
ing which ii is necessary that should have all
the information which can be obtained. We are
10 decide the question, well the Executive |
The measure proposed is one which ought not to
be adopted without the consent OF that body in
whose hands is the question of peace or war. /
have given no opinion, sir, as 10 what may be the
character OF this Convention. That is a question
to be determined by the information which we may
receive Respecting is. But, if we are 10 determine
here, a delicate question concerning our relations
with foreign powers, and which may, in its coase-
quences, involve the question OF peace or war, Il
Is necessary that we should have before US all the
bearing on the case. When the gen.
tleman compared The proposition contained in the
amendment with the case of Minister who dis
closed at once his graduated instructions, d tie
gentleman regard this House, in its relation 10 the
Executive, as foreign poweri When we call
upon the Executive for information, is be to deal
with W as he would in negotiating with fOi eign
power If it is important that the proposed IN
structons should not 20 70 tie foreign world, let
them be sent here conadentially. The information
ought TO be sent, and used by this House as not
to prejudice the public interest. This much NIr.
Med. ventured to say that, whatever might be
the sagaciiy of the gentleman from Massachusetts,
or Of any other member, lie would defy any mem
Der Of this House to decide this measure with the