Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-07-07
SELECTIONS.
From the Trenton IN. Emporium.
THE PANAMA QUESTION

~ III Is matter OF general complaint that so littl
Esousiness has been transacted during The session
congress, which has just closed but after all w
ka'holl ii very doubtful whether it would no, hav
eoeen better for the country if less had been done-a
Eeast 1t the time which was spent in pushing III
Es Panama Mission, by thin and doubtful maiorItes
81 through that body, had been devoted 10 bushes
SJoi more profitable character. The merits of thi
Ei4uesiion lie buried amid mass of documents, an
kinessages, and speeches SO vouminous that NOR
IA me and research is necessary 10 master the sub
Eject, than the generality OF readers would be will
Es' =, 10 beStow, even If all the means were within
III cir reach. Il is, how ever, question Of grea
n "portance- perhaps of far greater importanc,
stI"n II has appeared FIRST view to be, to The pso
tfpie OF this country. They should understand il -
a1and II when they DO understand it, they should b,
3 ready TO conclude that it bears Its face some
.spromlse OF business for future sessions-they vii
ssEonly share in very common apprehension.
Y An error was doubtless committed by the Presi-
dent in the outset of this business which, though i!
:has no immediate connection with the policy OF the
4 mission, deserves notice. He assumed in his mes
q -e the power of sending ministers TO Panama,
swithout the concurrence of the Senate. The in
: '''a'on OF the South American Republics, he said
81 hos been accepted and ministers ,riH be COM
n,sStoreG, and again, in subsequent commu-
4 'cation he said that this measure was deemed 10
Zoe lCithiR the Constitutional competency of the
a = scutiUe. What says the Constitution on the
Isnb)ect OF the competency of the President in the
cease! : That he shall have power, by and toith
s'he GaUice and consent of the Senate, 10 appoint
ambassadors, other public minister's SC and
i shall have power to fill up all vacancies that
smsy happen during the recess of the Senate Sc
y }ul here, was vacancy The President was
4 vrons. 1t Is one of those which is so per-
y fctly plain, As TO need only to be stated This,
! iowever, 10y the way.
The simple question presented 10 Congress in the
tproposition TO send ministers to Panama, seems to
\ have been very similar 10 this Shall lve gut
;:oiv olrn to stand upon foreign ground!-This
appears from the following facts connected with the
y >Ibect.
The Congress OF Panama is to be permanent
5nody; its objects and powers being thus defined IN
IL he treaties between the South American states
Z - a general Congress shall be assembled, COM
posed OF Plenipoten;iares from the American
d-iates, tor the purpose of establishing on a more,
S,olid basis, the intimate relations which should
$exist between them all; individually and collec-
sfively; and that it may serve as a Council in great
fevents, as point OF ANTON in common danger, as
"a faithful Interpreter OF public treaties in cases Of
i Misunderstanding, and arbitrator and con
tcliator of disputes and differences. Here is the
fbroad commission OF the Congress TO which eyeryi
Estate subscribes the It enters into the CON
Federation by delesatng ministers 10 its body lis
pernanency necessarily iollows from the naiure
Sof its powers. Let Us inquire, then, what conse
gluenccs may Prise f. ON the step we have taken-by
Becoming party TO the Congress.
l. We are expected 10 bind ourselves 10 max,
5cORuHOn cause with the South American govern,
1ments in future wars. This seems TO be the distinct
understanding with which were invited 10 the
Congress, and with which too we accepted the IN
.,viaion. The Congress 10 established as a point
sof union in common danger IN the President. !
1nessage of iS23-and in the recent intercourse be
4 ween the governments of South America, ou.s
ministers and Mr.. Clay, it is distinctly admitted
understood, that the United States hold heto
SELVES readiness unite with the southern govern
'enis in resisting by force OF arms any hostile at
emps that may be made upon them by any no
SHeurai European power and also to unite witt
s'hem IN resisting any attempts those power
Sinay make TO coonize any part of this cont
snentand to these aledged pledges is one oil;
! he main purposes OF the Congress. To show more
di'c'ncly how far stand committed in this ques
5 n we will mike two quotations from document.
y 'etOre us-hr Ponset, our minister TO Mexico, j J!
letter TO Mr.. Clay, dated the 2sth OF Sept. last
! lrratins an interview he hsd just had with tie.
!excan PlenipOtentiares, says he told them tba
4 lie United States had pledged Themselves not t.
-rmit any other power Chan Spain) to interferei
;her with their Independence or form of govern
INT; and that as in the of such an attempt
eng made by the Powers Of Europe, we would
se compelled to take The most active and elficien
Part and bear the brunt of the contest, it was mol
is; that should be placed on less favorablel
p1iing than the other publics Of America who,es
Xistence tcere re ally to support at such hal
{ >'rd' That MIR. Poinsett spoke the language OIL
shls instructions there be little doubt from thcI
character of the man-and Mr.. Clay himself inh
a note TO of the 9Th of November, after STATING;
hat when, just before, the French government a.
supposed to be on the point of invading Mexico, /
siha government called upon the government of thei
fUnned States, to fulfil the memorable pledge ois
President of the United States in his messsag.t
Ito Congress of Dec. iS23'--adds, what then,
i the United States) WoWid hare done, had thief
contingency happened, may be Inferred from az
I espa,ch 10 the American Ministers al Paris ~
@py Of which Is herewith SENT With these ac- +
. .nowledged views the part of our executive z
delegates have been commissioned 70 the Conge.sA
Panama. body created as d point OF uHi0ny
% common danger
?. The second object for which this Congress II
Gated is specified TO be to interpret puJEc frea-s
/ s,s N cases Of misunderstanding. ConsequenGg
ould any difference arise as to the coustuciiol
our treaties with either OF the southern repub- <
IS, TO be bound by the decision Of foreign \
, whatever that decision may be.
4 3. And whatever disputes may arise beiweeni
United States and these nations are to be decd
ed by the same triounal--actng as Grbitcr between
the cOnlederaies.
We go upon the general presumption that - e
i're not to be half iCdy party to this Congress
awe have right 50 TO presume. Our minister
q lave been regularly commissioned the executive
Jas refused positively permit any restrictions 10
put upon their powers by Congress even sue
sj,s vent simply to prohibit them from compromi
saing the neutrality Of the country.
d II then, we understand the nature OF this Con
kgess, II is be the head of continental sliance