The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1826-04-10
NrNuTBHrsTa cowGREss.
MissION 70 pANAMA.

tn, COMMITTEE Of Fo'tsrn .1fairs 10 nhor
,nns vtti.-red ne Message offhe Prsif'n
nfih, II .SYaiey 10 fhe Roase Of Repre-
sentasipts. Of ire 18Th instant. Nth IN
Docnntnfs accompanying 1t harc hal
n, Same nrdy consideration, and beg
ledpG 10 report:
That u appears. from fh. above nam d
s,essage and paper =, that an invitation has
been received bs ihr Upiied States from
the Republics of Colombia C"n'ral Amir
lea, and Mexico, 60 attend the Congress A.
bout 10 BIZ h,ld al Panama, II spears
that this invitation. WAS accepted by the
president, m the condition that the M
mirniion Of Commissioners for the Mi
SION should receive the advice aud con-
s.nl of the Senair. THIS advice aud ron.
sent having been consltutlonaIy express
ed, IN fhr confirmation of thu Ministers no
minated by thu President, the concurrence
ofthe House OF Representatives Is rcgprs
It'd, As necessary 10 carry ths mission INTO
effect, by an appropriation 10 deifay the
EXPENSE m II. This concurrence being
subject tn IN. free determination" of the
Hous.. IN. COMMITTEES hav. rrgal ded II as
shrir duty 10 the House. to inquire into
ton, The ardina,y courtesy Of nations,
~ friendship with zach other. aud the pr
cnliar interest which, for tn, strongest rps-
sa,s. the People of the United States have
eve felt, aud must ever te.l, III the new
American Republics, would seem tn die
sdte the proprlsty Of accepting this invita-
fion, unless there were sufficient reasons
for declining ii. No such reasons ARE be-
iievrd by the Com nl,tre of Foreign Affairs
g. exist,
In order 10 present the subject in lis
true light To the liouse. the COMMITTEE
would first make rctnark on the general
stature of the Assembly, designated by ihs
par. of III. Congress of Panama. Thu
trm Congress, it nsrd scarcely be- observ
ed, is by no means to be here understood
IN the srns. IN d" hich it's applied to som.
other political assemblies. The Congress
Of Panama Is not u representative dlesa-
tlon, forming branch Of government,
Ike the present Congress OF the United
States. II is not u body in which the CIV
ernnenf of several coufederated sovereign
States is deposited, like III. old American
Congress. Neither is IL personal meet
ing of Sovsleig >, like the recent Con
grrss If Europe. II IS an assembly Of d..
plomatic agents, clothed with no power.
except 10 discuss aud To negotiate, depnied
by governments whose constitutions re-.
qn'rr that all engagements with fnteign
Powers shall be subject to thu ratification
of some organic body at home, and ths
more III ctnaly TO guard against mistake
oven of me design in which this Congress
bds been proposed, it Is stipulated IN The
several treaties formed by Culomhia with
the other new Republics. thai this a1trtmg
a Panama 3" shall not affect, in any man
n"r, tn. ex.rcis. of the national sovereign
y u the contracting parties IN regard 10
their laws and the establishment aud form
otthejr Irrespective Governments"
Such IL the general nature of the pro
posed Congress, as appears from the pa
prrs referred Ia tins Committee. OF its
otJscfs, the Committee will. IL the coarse
OF tins report, more pdftlcul rly speak,
Ihcy are, In general, all subjects INTEREST
Ing to the Powers represented ~ the Con.
gross, and susceptible of discussion at such
meeting The minister of the Colon.
hlAu Republic, with the liberal design, as
u would appear, Uf excluding the suppose.
ton that hlS own Government, or those
"hich joined II, IN inviting us to the Con
gross, had any wish to exercise - dlctation
~ 10 what subjects should exclusively be
d.cussrd, has observed in his letter To the
SECRETARY of State, of Cd Nov. 1873, that
Tie topics oi discussion therein euuneta,-
ed, are designed 4nrreIy as suggestions
by way of example :" while sit is left In
the wisdom OF the Governments and thu
I'm ,,C ia,
pose whatever may he esteemed of com
mon good 10 the new II, rnlsrhrrr." In
thr same hitter of the Colombian Minister
y the Secretary Of State. the Erovin re-
ulfrks also occur: " At Panama, the best
ana mnst oppoTtune occasion is offered IL
the United states to fix some principles Of
iniernaiond law. ia" unsettled state of
which has caused much evil lu humanil,
II Is Ia BIZ presumed, that this Govern.
n"nt, ithe l.. States OF Amrrlc., ! ROSES
81 more light upon the snhrct than the
0'hrr States of our hemisphere both
fra It's expeli nee during the wars TINT
surc"rdcd the EreHvh Revolution, and
from Ms nfE"ciatlnns no" on foot will
Grcat Britain aud other nations, relative In
these principles. j belongs 10 each of the
concurrlng parties To- propose their views,
but the voice of the United States wIII be
heard with the Respect aud Difference
which its early ahors in work of such
Importance will merit" The sentiments
here expressed by the Minister Of Colom-
iha, are in accordance with those OF the
Ministers Of Mexico aud II Central Amer
ca, as contained in their respective letters
t"the Sec@etary Of State, on the subject
OF lhelnNtallon to attend the Congress.
The objects of thu body, therefore, as
far AS the United States are Concerned, are
oil subjects which the United States may
'd"rn II lnF theu interests to propose for
discussion. They embrace, consequently.