The southern press., 1852-04-17


| that one of the objects for which that Congress
was convened, was for settling and determining
| by treaty stipuations between this country an(
those republics, the extent TO which we thus
stood committed 1t was, then, a committal O
this government to the purpose of preventing
| by armed resistance if necessary, such an inter
vention. Yet the expression used was that il
would not be looked at with "indifirence,"
| The last epoch to which shall advert in thi:
very tedious review, is the occasion of the cele
brated mission to Panama, during the admins
tration of John Quincy Adams. In his message
of December, 1925, he informed Congress that
the government of the United States had been
invited by several of the South American re-
publics to unite with them, through representa-
| tives, in General Congress at Panama. for Ger.
tain purposes which were set out in the invita-
ton; that the invitation had been accepted on
his part, and that ministers would be commits
stoned. Subsequently, when he sent to the
Senate of the United States the names of these
commissioners, for their advice and consent he
submitted to the Senate-as on the occasion OF
appropriations would necessarily be submitted
to the House-the policy and expediency OF
such mission. 1t would seem that this pro-
ject of General American Congress, to be
held by all the South American States at Pana.
ma, had originated with Bolivar, President of
Columbia; and, in treaty stipulations bet, zen
several of the South American republics, it
had been arranged by them, that such Con-
gress should be held. The parties to these
treatise invited the United States to meet them
in that Congress, and President Adams accepted
the invitation. The nominations came to the
Senate. They were Richard C.. Anderson, iof
Kentucky, and John Sergeant, of Pennsylvania !;
and their title "Envoys Extraordinary and Min
listers Plenipotentary to the Assembly of Amer.
lean Nations at Panama" The nominations
were referred, with the message, to the Commit.
tee on Foreign Relations. That committee
made report, from which shall read few ex-
tracts for the purpose of showing to the Senate,
first, the opinions entertained by republican
statesmen of that day, on the expediency of
forming political connections with any foreign
powers, even our own neighboring republics
and second, the jealousy and distrust with
which they viewed any departure from the well
established policy Of isolation in our foreign re
laiions. And | call the attention of the honor
able Senator from Michigan Mr. CAssl to the
fact, well known to him, that Nathaniel Macon,
of North Carolina, was the chairman of that
committee, and made the report-a man second
to none, except Jefferson, in the estimation of
the Republican party of the country. There
they recognize, that there was course Of poll.
cy uniformly and happily pursued by the United
States, from the cieation of the government
down TO that time.
The committee held this language:
"rhe first question which suggested itself to-
the committee, at the very threshold Of their in.
vesiigation, was, what cogent reason now ex-
listed for adopting this new and untried measure,
so much in conflict with the whole course Of
policy uniformly and happily pursued by the
United States from almost the very creation of
this government to the present hour? By the
principles of this policy, inculcated by our
wisest statesmen in former days, and approved
by the experience Of all subsequent time, the
true interest of the United States was supposed
to be promoted by avoiding all entangling con-
nections with any other nation whatsoever"
"And to maintain with each relations of per-
feet amity, and Of commerce, regulated and
adjusted by rules of the most fair, equal, and
just reciprocity, the Uaited States have hitherto
sedulously abstsined from assocating them.
selves in any other way, even with those nations
for whose welfare the most lively sensbility
has been al all times felt and otherwise mani
tested"
"During the conflict for freedom and indie.
pendence, in which these new States of America
were so long engaged with their sovereign,
although every heart in the United States beat
high in sympathy with them, and fervent as
pirations were hourly put up for their success
and although the relations then existing with
Spain were well calculated to excite strong
irritation and resentment on our part, yet the
government of the United States, convinced Of
the propriety Of a strict adherence to the prin-
ciples il had ever proclaimed as the rule of its
conduct in relation 10 other nations, forbore 10
take any part in this struggle and maintained
the most strict neutrality between those belli
gerents."
"What cause exists now To prompt the United
States 10 establish new and stronger relations
with them, and so to abandon that rule of con-
duct which has therto been here so steadily
and happily pursuedp
"And the United States, who have grown up
in happiness to their present prosperity by a
strict observance Of their old we'll known course
Of policy, and by manifesting entire good will
and most profound respect for all other nations,
must prepare TO embark their future destinies
upon an unknown and turbulent ocean, directed
by little experience and destined for no certain
haven"
The members Of the Committee on Foreign
Relations, at that time, were Messrs. Macon,
Tazewell, Gaillard, Mills, and Hugh Lawson
White, Of Tennessee. Ii is said, and believe
with authority, that the report vas drawn up by
Mr. Tazewell; and ] apprehend that there can.
not be found an argument Of greater strength,
and more perfectly unanswerable, to show, first,
what the policy Of the American government, up
TO that period in its foreign relations, had been
and then, TO illustrate the wisdom Of that policy,
and that it would be the very opposite Of wisdom,
10 depart from IT, have cited Il, as have the
occasion itself, for the purpose Of showing that,
amongst our wisest and best statesmen, 10 1925.
at least, there existed recognized policy, which
they traced back 10 the administration Of Wash.
ington, which they presented to the American
people as the safe and wise policy Of the coun.
try, and from which they advised the American
people never 10 depart. What was il! To
avoid politics connections with any other coun-
try whatever, unless an occasion should arise in
which the interests and safety Of this country
demanded departure from il; and in no other
case whatever.
will cite now, very briefly, passages from the
speeches Of other statesmen of that day, in the
Senate Of the United States, in debate on this
D.u.r.. .-...,on IT, E..t n ,.,.lI .oo1 e. q