Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1826-11-10

spulae, tlat San assemble Snail be iofmoi com,o,
oil TWO Pempoeniiaries Tor each party, in the same
terms, aud 1'th the same iormaes, which, in copiIr-
NIFTY TO established usages ought be observed for the
appointment Of ministers of equal class penipoten,
aries near The governments of foreign naons.n The
parties ''obgc themselves to intcrpuse their good Off
ces With The governments of the ether Amer
ca, formerly Spanish enter the compact Of union
league and confederation" aud as soon as this great
and important object has been attained, "a general
assembly of Spanish American statcs shall be convened
composed of their plenpoentiaries;n* 10 be charged
IN addition 10 their general powers, with certain speci-
tic duties in relation 10 the coneGeated states. 1t is
manifest therefore, that this Gssembiui not be held
for the purpose OF forming alliances even among the
Spanish American Republics. "A compact of union
league aud confederation" was formed by the same
treaties which spniae for the meeting Of picnpoen
uar'es at fana'ila and as ''this great and IN
potant objec the alliance between all the states of
America, formerly Spanish should be attained and mol
fUhen, was the general assembly TO be convened.
AssooD as the two first of these treaties pronul-
gated the contemplated assembly attracted the aten
tenion. and excited the solicude, of all statesmen 10
Tins Union->r them was thought TO present favor
able opportunity for settling many important questions
OF national la'v, AT least among the nations the two
Americas) by he consent1ueous adotoirof princires
OF maritime neutrality.p IL hoped aud believed
that te doctrine Chat free Ships make free goods and
the restrictions OF reasnn the extent OF blockades
which has long been contenled by this nation at the
expense of much blood and treasure, might be estab
ishcd among the American Republics that the disas
rous consequences Justly apr eerded BY the southern
ana probable conquest of Cuba and Porto RICO BY the
Spanish American States, in the ncipatlon of the
slaves and possible renewal of the shocking scenes o.
81. DontnGo might be prevented. They, therefore,
maintained that the policy of the United States required
that they should be represcne led in That assembly, and
"hen II became known, That our government had re-
ceived an Invitation, for this purpose, its acceptance
was universally desired. The Opposition immediately
seized the occasion 10 assa the Adnnist in their
favorlto mode of attack. iieir presses accorinpIy
commenced operations, by ipSipuations, ntimating
ENi.sI tl.,tI >,,l n
ted Some of the editors in the immediate neighbor-
hood OF Gen. Jackson at length boldly and distinctly
asserted, that the invitation would not be accepted;
and assured Of the fact denounced the Adminstra
ton as guilty Of an unpardonabc offence, in concm
plating refusal Tiswa considered as signal from,
to Chief, ard the Panama mission became the raIlvn
point oil the whole coalition, not Gas nov oppose but
10 support IT, against the admin ist alton When the
President announced the acceptance Of the invitation
they contented themselves by directing their attack on
e power supposed 10 be asserted TO appoint ministers
without the advice and consent of the Senate Rut
when afterwards this point OF attack removed by
the nomination of the Senate they became pfuriated
by their disappointment and arraycd themselves against
the once avoTite mission.
Aware, however, that their consistency mi fht iustv
be questioned, the more consderate OF the leaders
thought eXfedent 20 offer apology of some SORT for
the sudden revolution in their opinions and this as s;I-
al, was found in the irresistible arguments of their
coniedcrates The speech of Col. Benton on this sub
Jec oi wbch two entire editions have been sent bv
mail from Washington, and circulated in this state TO
the manifest abnse of the franng privilegel NAV be
considered as fair specimen Of the spirit in which the
Opposition has been conducted, and tue mode of rea
sonng by which the conederates pretend 20 have hecn
ihis gentleman commences by saving, 81
had not expected TO speak in This debate; and if had
spoken among The first, would have been on differ
ent side from that on which now appear.n Now II
WIN be observed that true transations of the treaties
OF oiumba with Chill and Peru, which create the con-
sress, we're published in the principal papers Of the
United States, early as the year iG2i and were IN
doubtediy read and studied by him, long before the
nomination iVas inade consequently, the mission Gas
represented in the Presidents message and the nubl;
cations oil the day." could not have uised him. In
Decd his determination to oppose it appears 10 aye
been made as early that of any of Tie canfederates:
lor oy reference TO the Journals it will be seem that
from the very commencement of the debate In The time
his speech was delivered, (which was nearly or oute
the last) he voted uniformly with the Opposition I'm
every question, including Mr.. Van Buren,s resolution
ashin? the OPINION OF The President about the pubIica
tIon of documents The conclusion is therefore inev
liable, that the decided change not wrought in his
mind by ''tIn9 AMI rcileciion;' and, notw hsandinr
his Preteice, that 1t was the committees seport which
first set him thinking" he appears 10 have been nc
ready to vote against the mission before the commence
Tnent, as after The close, of the debate
he diplomatic character of the assembly is denied
shough IN The treaties ii is declared to be aSsetbf
q PfcHigofe'ltHFie which The orator admits to he the
very definition OF dipooac congress and even main
tans that republics are incompetent create any other
he INSISTS, That the sovereignty of the napns 10 be
represented will be present az Panama ..Enr IIo
exercising the rights of sovereignty ier7fo,qli ,t
The committee bold different opinion. They saw
That m certain event the United States vii! he Tie
hrst To solicit The assembling of coprrcss of Amor
can States and the gentleman himscfsays nins,crs
known TO The la7 OF nations represent the sover-
eIghy oil Their nations at any point upon the globe
They may from tlc four quarters of the globe
and form diplomatic assembly," lie enumeraes The
different grades OF "miasters known TO The law of ma
TONS among which lenipoteataries and says thc
essential character ofeach and the rights of all are
equal yet contends. that the assembly at Panama viii
be OF unequal grades, although it is be composed of
two PlePotentidies for each party, appointed with
The same formaes, and commissioned in The same
form and manner, as required by established ,tsaes
IN Inc commission OF ministers OF equal character
tgrade) among olfer nationst lie apprcieids That
entanSng alliances VIII be entered into yet denies
the possibility that any treaty whatever can be formed
ny the assembly at Panatoa. lie maintains that be
advising power IS high one and n little less than
power to control and govern the eventn and therefore
IS unwilling TO advise tie appointment Of plcnipoentia
RES uncs TIE Senate permitted 90 scontrol and
govern" Their of, 1