Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-06-12
PANAMA DOCUMENTS.
SENATE U. S.-MoNpAx. 2d Marcb.

/
i transmit herewith to Congress q copy of the
instructions prepared by the Secretary Of State,
and furnished TO the Minister OF the United States
appointed 10 attend TO the Assembly of American
fienipotenares, FIRST held al Panama, and thence
transferred to facubaya. The occasion for which
they were given has passed away aud there is no
present probability of the renewal of those ncgo-
ia'ions; but the purpose Tor which they were in
tended are still :e deepest interest to our coun.
try and 10 the world aud may here after call again
Tor the active energies of the government of the
United States. he motive for withholding them
from general publication having ceased, justice 10
,he Government from which they emanated, and
10 The people Tor whose benefit il was instituted
require that they should be made known. With
THIS view, and from the consideration that the
subjects embraced by those Instructions mus, pro.
badly engage hereafter the consideration Of our
successoIs / deem il proper 10 make this commu-
nication to both Houses OF Congress. One copy
only OF the Instructions being prepared send it to
the Senate, requesting that il may be transmitted
also to the House OF Representatives.
JOHN q. ADAMS.
INSTRUCTIONS-CE ~.
Richard G. Anderson and jOhn Sergeant, Esors
appointed ENJOYS Extraordinary aud Ministers
PienipoieDtiary oil the U. States TO the Con-
gress at Panama.
DEPARTMENT. OF STATE, !
Washington, Sh Nay, 1926.
GENTLEHIEN:-The relations in which The u
nited States stand TO the other American powers
and the duties, interests and sympathies, which
belong to those relations, have determined the
PRESIDENT to accept an invitation which has been
given by the republics of Colombia, Mexico and
Central America TO the United States, TO send
Representatives to the Congress at Panama He
could not indeed, have declined an invitation pro-
ceeding from sources so highly respectable, and
communicated in the most delicate aud respect-
fui manner, without subjecting the United States
to the reproach OF insensbiity the deepest con-
Germs OF the American hemisphere, and, PERHAPS
TO want oil sincerity in most important declara-
| lions, solemny made by his predecessor in the
face of the Old and the New World. In Welding,
therefore, TO the friendly wishes of those three
| hepuoncs, communicated ~ the notes OF their re-
spective Ministers, at Washington, Of which CO.
pies are herewith, sent, the u States act in perfect
consistency with all their previous conduct and
professions, in respect TO the New American States
The assembling OF Congress at Panama, COM
posed OF diplomatic representatives from indepen-
dent American Nations, will form new epoch in
human affairs. The fact itself, whatever NAV be
the issue OF the conference OF such Congress,
cannot fail to challenge the attention OF the pre-
sent generation OF the civilized world and to com
mand that OF posterity. But the hope is coniident-
ly lhuiged, that II will have other, and stronger
claims upon the regard OF mankind Than any
which arise out OF the mere circumstance of its
novelty; and that il will ene itself to the atfec-
ton and lasting gratitude of all America by the
wisdom and liherality OF its principles and by the
new guarantees II may create for the great inter-
|
occasion so highly important and responsible, the
President has been DESTROYS that The representa-
ion from the United States should be composed Of
distinguished citizens. Conhding in your &c l.,
ability and patriotism, by and with the advice and
consent OF the Senate, he has selected YOU for ibis
Interesting service. And il is his wish that vol,
should proceed, with all practicable despatch, TO
panama. For the purpose OF carrying out MIR.
sergeant, the United States ship Lexington has
been prepared, and is ready to sail from the
port OF New York TO Porto BelIo. MIR. Ander-
son, having been notified OF his appointment has
been directed to leave the affairs Of the u States
at Bogota in the charge OF such person as he may,
for that purpose, designate, and to Join Mr. Ser
geant at Porto BeIlo, from whence il is supposed
that will be most convenient TO proceed by land
across the isthmus 10 Panama. Ministers from
several OF the Powers have, probably by this time
reached that place, and they may even have pro
ceeded 10 comparison OF their respective creden-
tails, and 10 conferences on some of the objects of
Tie Congress; but 1t is probablh they will have
deferred, until your arrival, a consideration of
those in deliberations, on which i, was expected
that we should take part.
Your power, accompanying this letter. is Joint
and several, authorizing you to confer and treat
with Ministers, also duly authorized, from all or
any oil the American powers, Of peace, friendship,
commerce, navigation, maritime law, neutral and
heiIgereDt rights, and other matters interesting
TO the continent Of America. After the mutual
exchange of powers, will be necessary TO deter
mine the forms of deliberatioB, and the modes of
proceeding, of the Congress. II is distinctly un-
derstood, by the President that IL is TO be regard
ed, in all respects, diplomatic, in Contracts
ncton TO body clothed with powers of ordina-
~ legislation; that is TO say, Of the States
represented is to be considered bound by any trea
ty, convention, pact, or act, TO which it does not
subscribe, and expressly assent by its acting rep
reseDtave; aud that in the instance of treaties
conventions, and pacts, they are TO be returned
for bna ratlication, to each contracting State ac-
cording to the provisions of its particular Consti-
tuition. All idea is, therefore, excluded of bind
Ing minority to agreements and acts contrary 10
It's VIII, by the mere circumstance of the concur.
renee of majority ofthe States in those agree
ments and acts. Each State will, conseouentlv.
be governed and len free, according 10 lis own
sense OF its particular interests. All notion is re-
jected OF an AmphyctioDic Council, invested with
power finally TO decide controversies between the
American States, or to regulate, in any respect,
their conduct. Such council might have been
we'll enough adapted TO a number of small con.
tracted States, whose united territory woliil fan
short Of the extent OF that OF the smallest of the A.
merican powers. The complicated and various in
terests which appertain to the nations of this vas,
continent, cannot be safely coufided TO the suner.
intendence Of one legislative authority We
| should almost as soon expect 10 see an Auiphyc
tonic council 10 regulate ibe affairs Of the whole
globe. But even IL il were desirable to establish
such tribunal, il is beyond the competency of
the Government Of the United States voIupiarilv
to assent TO it, without previous change Of their
actual Constitution. Although the speculation of
auch council has been sometimes made and as
ISOLATED IN public papers with the CONTEMPLATED
Congress, we can hardly anticipate that il will he
seriously pressed by any OF tie powers. The
Congresses which have been so common in Fu
rope, especially within these later times, have
been altogether diplomatic, and, consequently. the
states, whose Ministers composed them were on
~ bound by their signatures. With This pecessa-
~ and Indispensable restriction upon the action Of