Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-03-23
PANAMA MISSION.

Ia.
,nitted to both houses OF Congress message
covering the INSTRUCTIONS given by the
executive TO the ministers Of the Congress
at Panama, with a request that they might De
40 disposed of, as to give the people an oppor-
,unity Of seeing and judging OF The motives
which induced the President TO accept the IN
yi,a,ion Of the South American States, and the
actual designs Of the design. BY party mar
euvre, and a party vote this request was refus-
ed-the President was denied an opportunity
Of yindic a,ing his conduct in the usual and pro-
per way, and to add injustice to insult the
confidential seal Of the Senate was laid upon the
documents, and their contents hidden from the
public eve The message and documents were
however subsequently and al very late date
administered {, ON the executive to the Legisla>
,ure Jour nal Of the Senate, but no order relative
10 ,heir being printed was taken. They thus
lie in the room OF the Secretary OF the Senate,
would have lain there, and the people been ig-
moran, Of their contents, but for the activity OF
conductors Of the newspaper press The ed
itor of the National Journal by attending al the
Office OF the Secretary and soliciting the cour-
tesy of that gentleman, obtained permission TO
COW the INSTRUCTIONS, and has published them
They are row before the,people, who must Judge
Of the rec,itude Of the intentions and the wis
dom Of those who planned them. We are sor'
~ that our limits do not permit US TO publish
in srisnso these much talked Of and interest
ing documents. At considerable pains how
ever, we have condensed and extracted e.
poueh below 10 shew their most prominent fsa-
lures. as well as the real objects Of the Panama
Congress az far as we were concerned. This
subject has now become matter OF history, im-
,ar,isl pos,erity will decide upon the actual
merits of the case, and tina. decision must be
favorable we know, to the motivss OF the Execu>
tive Of the y. ).
The INSTRUCTIONS directed 10 Messrs. An
derson and Sergeant are long and ably drawn
pp-The subjects referred to are discussed in
. mas,ery manuer-,he most perfect devotion
is shown throughout 10 the interests and good
of this country, and to the cause of freedom
throughout, the world The instructions open
with the reasons which induced the President
20 acccp, the invitation Of the South American
States.
"He could not, indeed, have declined an invi-
,aiion proceeding from sources so highly res
pec,abie, and communicated in the most deli
cate and respectful manner, without subJecting
the United States to the re2roach OF insensibll-
inv 10 the deepest concerns OF the American
hemisphere, and perhaps, to want OF sinccri>
Nv. in most important declarations, solemnly
made BY his predecessor, in the face Of the Old
and the New World. In yielding, therefore, 10
the friendly wishes Of those three Republics,
communicated in the notes OF their respective
Ministers, at Washington, Of which copies are
herewith, the United States act in perfect con-
sisteney With all their previous conduct and
professions, in respect TO the New American
States"
1t has, often been objected that this Mission
was calculated TO form "eniangling alliances"
and TO draw this country into federation with
the new states Of the South. This is sufficiently
answered by the following.
aItis distinctly understood, by the President,
that il is to be regarded, in all respects, as di-
,lomatic. in con,radistinc,ion to body cloth
cd with power. Of ordinary Legislation; that is
TO saw. no one of the States represented IT to be
considered bound by any treaty, convention,
oact. or act, 10 which 1t does not sub
scribe. and expressly assent by its acting repre>
sentative; and that in the instance OF treaties.
conventions, and pacts, they are 10 be returned,
for final ratification, to each contracting State,
according TO the provisions oil ITS particular
Constitution. All idea is, therefore, excluded
of binding minority to agreements and acts
contrary to it's viii, by the mere Circumstance
Of The concurrence Of majority Of the States
in these agreements and acts Each State Will,
consequently, be governed and left free, accord.
ing 20 its own sense Of its particular interests.
All notion is rejected of an Anphyc,ionie Coun-
Gil. invested with power finally to decide con-
troyersies between the American states, or to
regulate, in any respect, their conduct"
VIVA, might have been the beneficial results
Of the mission, are stated as follows:
"such an assembly will afford great faeili-
ties for free and friendly conferences, Tor ma-
,ral and necessary explanations, and Tor dis