Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-03-07
r.ou the National Journal:

r,on the National Journal:
or PusLrc DocvMENTs.-Nefe
'IH",,ch the records Of Congress, from :he
W nsrr,mrnt Of The Government, We ,"inA
o" .a"Id find no instance Of more gross anu WI,
ma fr d,,respect,, than that exhioi'ea D! 'ue
caIsu os,,y in both Houses, on Tuesday, III
!l'A'. upn, Of the Message OF the Presioeh'
TIC" 49,, the Instructions OF the Panama MI
'"P' The circumstances which rendered !.
N"'I m Keen these instructions under seal
" n,ssrd away, they are communicate
a''"SEEc affirmation. The People have a
W 80 he informed, in all cases where lheir
u" will rot be injured by the dlsclo-
'n,.s and il is leTi with the President 10 ue'ei'
,a;ns when the disclosures can, win ProP''e'y'
made. In this case, the Presiden' eAe'eise'
%' discretion; decides that The Necessity 'or
a.,sry has psssed away, and communicate
~ Socbmen,s for the public benrhi-"Jus'ice
- Go,crnment from which they emana'eu'
and 70 The People for whose beneht II was III
,;n,ed, requires tina; they should DC "'aue
snoxn" II appears, however, that wnat 'he
prs.id,o, deems that the People nave a right
.,Enow the two Houses Of Congress, throw
hsm,gIves between the President and the
p,ponle. determine 10 conceal from 'hsm' ihe
,+n,,,, therefore, instead Of transmitting a CO.
80 &C The Instructions 10 the House, as request
1 II ne ,hs President, forbid il even To be read,
..I.. n nrjn, it, transfer II to the Executive
,.,nch. and Mace the seal Of secrecy upon II;
nj N. House srfuse 10 lay the document be-
| lore their constituents.
N,bere be not characterization IN inns
.,ur>s we know no, where to find il. II II does
10, brray an apprehension Of the effect
\ shicb would BE- Produced on the public mind
4. b, the publication, we will admit that we are
/ me msrest Tyro in the knowledge OF p"htcai>
/ no,i,es. Whence the terror Of Mr.. Tazewell
/ shen the message was read and his eager anx-
,.ty 10 check further disclosures, but from the
anger which would result to the reputation
!. ho5e who opposed the Panama mission, IL
he auth should be suffered to leak out! Peril
10 himself and party on the one hand, and Gis-
.0ur,esv TO the Presideh, on the other, II Is
ro, so much 10 BE- wondered a, that he should
aSe the latter course; and the fact that he took
his course is proof Of the dilemma in which
he found himself. He was sustained by his
psrty in both Houses. and thus a temporary
respite from disgrace was purchased by an act
which will stand on the records of congress a
sds i rp and enduring as history itself.
Blu, after all, what has been effected by the
attempted suppression Of these public ducu-
meats? DO the men who hug themselves into
the belief that they have performed an unpre-
cedented and meri,orious act Of adroitness, in
closing the doors against the escape OF these
Instructions, really expect that there is no other
avenue ,hrough which they will find their way
70 TIE people! They have proved themselves
much more daring than sagacious. They may
atA the seal on the Executive branch OF the
Senate; they may lock he doors Of Congress; but
ne country has a press which can be neither
gagged nor fetrered. Mr.. Adams owes it 10
Aun'eIt TO make known those instructions
which he has declared " justice to the govern.
msh' from which they emana'ed, and TO the
people Tor whose benefit it was instituted, re-
iafss should be made known" He yves no
uor' courtesy TO Congress than Congress has
AaoIsa towards him. With a perfect know
'Use Of the genius OF our own institutions, and
tenure acquiescence in the forms they pre-
N'oe' ne has made an effort to approach the
PS'Pe through the official avenue, and has
Upou u closed against him. The people will
: 'APee' The knowledge which has been thus
%''0I"d IN Us course, through a more direc,
%""' and We shall make every exertion 10
'-'e 'ae Information within their reach.