Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-03-27
Observation-Disclosures. Al.
RICHARD {. ANDGrI5oN AUD JouN SERGEANT, tsgra.
appointed .snvoys EX,rnorJnaty and Min. ters
Ilcnipotcntiary oftic United States 20 the Con
gross at Panama.


Ilenlpo'entiaiy OF the United States 80 the Con
gross at iart,nI
r}rr,praryr or :. re-
Washington, aaa .alay, 1850
GENIE EMEN: The relations in which the U.S'tGtes
stand to the other American powers, ans, -ae duties
interests and ynIpathics, winch belong those ra!.
tons, have determined the Prcsi,spi To accent an
Invitation which has boon given by he republics OF
hpioa'u..', Mexico ans: Central Auerc; to tht. Uni
ted StatcS to scrd Representatives to The CONGRESS-
at Panama lie could not, indeed, have declined an
invitation proceeding ito!n highly respect
able, and communicated i'll the delicate and res
pect!ui maner without suhiccting tie U. Stacs to
the rcproach OF rscMsihliy To the deepest concerns
Ut the American hemisphere and perhaps to want
ri sincerity IL most Important CCcihrat socnpy
made by lbs predecessor in tn" face Of the Old and
the New World. IL yielding, therefore othe friendly
wishes ot those three Republics communicate cal in ,
notes OF their respective Ministers WasI,nrton Of
which copies herewith sent, the L. States act il,
perfect consistency We all Their previous conduct &
professions, rcspcC. 20 the New American Statues
ihc assembling OF Congress 1T Panama, compo.
se'i OF diplomatic Representatives. from independent
American Nations, Will form Il epoch in human
affairs. The fact itself. whatever may be t,. ;ssu,
% the conferences OF such Congress cannot fail Ia
challenge the atteno,. o the present generation of
the civilized world anito nn,and that of ,ostcr;t>,
But the hope is confidently indUgcd, that it will
have other iil' stronger Gums upon he regarl of
mankind, than any which arise out II the mere cir
Cu1stancc : It's novelty: and that it viii cn;;tle iiI,
to Che affection and lasting gratitude Of al! America
by the wisdom and iiheraiity of its principles ana
by the new guarantees it may create for the pr.at
interests Which will engage its dci5crv ms On nj,
occasion 50 highly important ana responsible the
President has been DESTROYS that the representation
from the u Suites should he composed of Cistinouis
ed citizens. Cunidng in your zeal, abiii and p,-
triotism, by aud with the advice and consent of the
Senate, he has selected you for this ntcrcsneg scr
vice. And it is his wish that YOU should uroccnI
with all practicable despatch, to panatla For tIe
purpose o. carrying out Mr. Sergeant The g. s; shin
Lexington has been prepared and is now ready sa;!
from the port OF n. orl TO Porto Belo MI A;i;irr
son, having been notified i hisappuilcInenf has h,r,
dlceted tig Affairs oil The =. States Bogota in
Tie charge such personals he may for that purpose
Designate and 10 join NJ. Sergeant IT Porto Cello
from whence 1t is supposed that it win bt, most
convenient to proceed. by a.ll, across the i,,us
Panama. MiMs:egaTon several of he Powers have
probably By this Time, rcucI!cd hat pIlcc and they
may even have proceeded to Il Comparison al. thcjy
respective credentials and Conference, on so,.. III
the objects Ut the Congress- but it is probable
they will nave deferred, unit! your arrival, a con
sidCrato" Of those III deliberations Oh which !. was
expected that should lake part.
our power accompanying this letter is ioiiit and
several, authorizing you confer aud trcut with min,
stcrs also daily authorized, from all or any Of the =
lnerican powers ofpcacc, friendship commerce, nav
igatlon maritime law, neutral and bclligcrcnt RIGHTS
and other matters interesting to the continent oil
America. AILer the mutual exchange Of powers IL
viii be necessary to determine the iyrius OF dal,bcr,
ton, and the modes OF proceeding Of the Congress-
1t IS distinctly understood, ~ tie President that il
Is to be regarded IL all respects, IS diuonsii, i'm
contradistnction to a body clothed VIII powers nfi
ordinary legislation tina: say, one Of The tntc
represented is to DC considered bouad by any treat,
and eXressy assent by its acting representative; and
HAT, III the instance OF treaties, Conventions and
pacts, they to be returned, for final r9tifcation ~
cach contracting State, accordingto the provisions of
IT'S paTtIcuar constitutions. All idea j.. therefore OK.
Guided OF binding minority 10 Geycclncmts and ars
contrary to its will, by the mere circumstance oftbn
concurrence OF Il majority Of tho States in those
agreements and acts. Each State will, consequent
y, be governed and left free, accorlinr TO it's ov,,
sense Of It's particular interests ! i! notion is rnon
tedof an hinPhyciionic council invested With power
finally to decide controversies between the American
states, or TO rcguatc, III any respect, their CONDUCT
Such council might have been well crouch edaotcd
20 number II small. contracted, States whose uni
ted territory "oul !a Short Of the extent Of that ~
She smallest oftia American powers Tie conIo1i
Gated and yGrious int.rcss which apDsrtan TO The
nations Of tbs vast continent, cannot ,e safely conf
Gcd TO Tie superintendent OfUEc legislative authori
~. We should GiBIo.t as 5o5 EXPECT to see al Am
pfyctonc council to rc@ttc tie ai;rs Of the whole
globe. But even il II were desirable TO establish
such tribunal, it is JcvoUd the competency of fle
Government OF the Omitted States voluntarily to as
s-nt ton, without previous change Of their actual
Constitution. Although the speculation Of .,,ch n
C5JnC has been sometimes made {, as.c.,4led IN tho
pubic papers With The -,,,.~ -7pigtcl Congress, we
c'n hardly r~"'c t,a "jli BE- scriou. " pressed
~ a. =, She poEcrs. lrc Congresses Which have
ycCuou common l Europe, especially within these
later tiutoa, hav" bean alogc.lcr diplomatic and
consequently HE States whose ministers composed
thcm we're only bo.nd b. their signatures with
81 IS necessary and .nGspcuab bic restriction upon the
"coI ~ toHGr"s- greet advantages may, nov
r.t1aiga@ sc derived i,5 al assembly. 49, tie same
atr ard '5cc. OF ministers tFosa all The american
.il.ip.-. 5H. ~ n-siab,v VIII AFFORD great f7cili
-s lor re aHd FL 3a.v r..rcuccr for mutual and
tcc5lury explanations ari for discussing and cstab-
Lining tb'o general principles, applicable to pracc
a1h war 10 comment. 'uI navigation, With the sauc-
l.d ~ ul America. lr-11rs may be concluded, I'm
s tc course O.. % ." . &C. such q Congress, Jay.
lny th" loIEd'j,op Cd ae1g caGly md good ucigi!-
sairmn' nleet dizzy vondae NJ oil prac' cabe,
by separate and sH "'aire .nrotaiions, conducted