Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-03-20

=
the Island of Hayti is to be regarded, are also
among the subjects mentioned by the Minister
from the Republic Of Colombia, as believed to
be suitable for deliberations at the Congress-
The failure of the negotiations with that Re-.
public, undertaken during the late Administra-
ton, for the suppression of thai trade, in COM
piance with resolution OF the House Of Re-
representatives., indicates the expediency OF lis
tening with respectful attention to propositions
which may contribute to the accomplishment
OF the great end which was the purpose OF that
resolution, while the result Of those negota-
tons will serve as admontion to abstain from
pledging this Government TO any arrangement
which might be expected to fail Of obtaining the
advice and consent of the Senate, by consti-
tutlonal majority, to its ratification.
Whether the political condition of the Island
OF Hayti shall be brought at all into discussion
at the meeting may be question for prelimi-
nary advisement. There are in the political
constitution of Government Of that People, cir
cumstances which have hitherto forbidden the
acknowledgment ofthem by the Government of
theU States, as sovereign apd independent Ad-
ditional reasons for Withholding that cknow
ledgment have recently been seen in their &C
ceptance Of nominal sovereignty by the grant
ola foreign prince; under conditions equivalent
to the concession by them, of exclusive CONNER
cial advantages 10 one nation, adapted altoge-
ther to the state of colonial vassalage, and re-
tanning little of independence but the name
Our Plenipotentiaries will be instructed to pre-
sent these views to the Assembly at Panama
and should they not be concurred in; TO decline
acceding TO any arrangement which may be
,roDocph unon iii fIer,ut nrinciDIpS
The condition Of the Islands of Cuba and
Porto Rico is of deeper import and more i'm
mediate bearing upon the present interests and
future prospects of our union. The CORES
pondence here with transmitted will show how
earnestly it has engaged the attention Of this
Government The invasion Of both those ISL
ands by The United Forces Of Mexico and Co.
lombia; is avowedly among the objects to be
matured by the belligerent States at Panama
The commissions to which, from the peculiar
composition Of their population, they would
be liable; in the event Of such an invasion, and
the danger therefrom resulting of their falling
ultimately into the hands Of some European
Power, other than Spain, will not admit of our
looking at the consequences TO which the Con-
gress at Panama may lead, with indifference
1t is unnecessary to enlarge upon this topic, or
10 say more than that all our efforts in refer
ence to this interest, will be 10 preserve the ex
listing state of things, the tranquility OF the ISL
ands, and the peace and security Of their inha-
bitants.
And, lastly, the Congress of Panama is be-
lieved to present fair occasion for urging up
on all the new nations Of the South, the just
and liberal principles of religious liberty. Not
by any interference whatever in their concerns,
but by claiming for our citizens, whose occu-
pations or interests may call them to OCCASION
al residence in their territories, the inestmablc
privilege Of worshipping their Creator accord
ing 10 the dictates of their own consciences.-
This privilege, sanctioned by the customary
law Of nations, and secured by treaty stipuIa-
tons in numerous national co,npacts; secured
even TO our citizens in the treaties with Colon
bia and with the Federation of Central Ameri-
ca, is vet to be obtained in the other South A.
mercan States and Mexico Existing preju-
dices are still struggling against it, which may
perhaps; be more successfully combatted at
this general meeting than at the separate seats
| Of Government OF each Republic.
| can scarcely deem it otherwise than super
f1uous, TO observe, that the Assembly will be in
It's nature diplomatic, and not legislative. That
nothing can be transacted their obligatory upon
! any one of the States 10 be represented at the
meeting, unless with the express concurrence
| of its own Representatives, nor even then, but
subject TO the ratification Of its constitutional
authorities al home. The faith Of the United
States to foreign Powers cannot otherwise be
pledged. shall, indeed, in the first instance,
consider the Assembly as merely consultative;
and although the Plenip o,entiaries Of the Uni
ted States will be empowered to receive and re-
fer to the consideration Of their Government,
any proposition from the other parties ito the
meeting, they will be authorised to conclude
nothing, unless subject TO the definitive sane
ZION of this Government, in its constitutional
forms. 1t has, therefore, seemed TO me unne-
cessary to insist, that every objecr to be dis
cussed at the meeting, should be specified
with the precision of a judicial sentence, or
enumerated with the eXactness Of a mathema-
teal demonstration. The purpose Of the meet
ing itself is 10 deliberate upon the great and
common interests Of several new and Deighbor-
ing nations. If the measure is new and with
out precedent, so is the situation Of the parties
10 it. That The purposes Of the meeting are
somewhat indefinite, far from being all obJcc'
ton to it is among the cQSent reasons Tor its a.
etoplion. 1t is not the establishment Of prirci-
pies of intercourse with one, but with seven or
eight nations at once. That, before they have
had the means ofexchanging ideas, * commu-
ncating with one another in common upon
,Lo.o ,bo,, ebonJJ b,yo IaE,,,;ya1y =