Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-08-09

SS SthtcsEich 1ulftysTtVe 1e1fa ago.
cid reader of the Richmond Enquirer
.tfll r~ecoilect the interesting and. protractcd
discussion upon the panama Mission" in the
congress Of the United States during the Ad.
,Hinistra:ion Of John Quincy Adams. The
ssepublics Of Colombia and Guatemala called
f General Congress-" to be composed Of
cnipoten:iaries from "all the American
~:ates," for the purpose of establishing, On a
ore solid basis, tho intimate relations which
exist "between all Of them individually
;SSad collectively, and that it may serve as a
council in great events; as q point Of union
n common danger; as a faithful interpreter OF
Silblic treaties when difficulties may arise; and
81 an arbitrator and conciliator in their disputes
iM,d differences" The South American States
Tnt a special invitation to the Government OF
!!Sie United States to join them in the Congress
acoposed to be held Mt Panama, in accordance
9Th the stipulation aforesaid. President Adams
:aarmally accepted this invitation without con.
'Salting Congress, and thereby brought down
rg2on his administration IN opposition which
d could not Withstand. Macon, Tazewell, Ran.
Ih5lph, Benton, James Hamilton, Jr., Polk and
Snumbcr Of other statesmen of the Federal
legislature opposed the Panama mission apop
a e..ground that it would be a departure from the
Hue policy Of the Government, and might,
lHid, in all probability would, have a tendency
~ involve the country in "%entangling al
L%Es,nces" and endanger the neutrality and rela-
as,ns Of amity and peace which then existed
A,tweea the United States and the belligerent
E5wers-old Spain and the Southern Republics
81 this continent The proposition was con-
g3ered and discussed in all its bearings in both
Of Congress by the giants of that dag.
Sasmes Hamilton, tho acknowledgement of the
a8uth," made one Of his ablest speeches, from
:aIhich wo make the following extract for the
Of presenting the view then taken of
ssaivateering by our illustrious statesmen. Upon
ssssFs important subject, the South shows a clear
sd consistent record:
sstl.1 shall not indulge, on the present occasion,
III anything like a formal discussion of the
3aestious necessarily resulting from this bysnch
81 the subject: whether it be polite or other.
ssse, tc participate in deliberations, more Is.
with the South American Powers,
sSying a tendency to restrict belligerent
s&;hts? How soon the EFFICIENCY may arise,
ssifen wc shall have to use them, in their full
,S;s,or, no man can predict. As, however,
#a:re is no dispute among Nations, on the ab-
Exact principles Of contraband and blockade,
SSiour treatics with the South American Re-
SS1blics prove; and, as these principles are
lied in every treatise on international Inv
N onsentaneous adoption of auy stipulations,
ssAsfelation to them, by the compacts of a Joint
kA1gress, is m act of s~upererogation and it
ItJ be fairly questioned whether, to make
,,asIE' new concessions Of the established rights
4 war, is not something worse. But, before
Z surrender, among these, the privileges Of
i a'ate war, or, to use a less diplomatic, though
yji'e pertinent term, prirateering, we should
Atder we'll on the wisdom of such an agree.
Eat
hhSknow, Sir, it is fashionable to indulge in a
t5skish sensibility, in regard to this mode of
Il sfare. It is a fine thesis for ford declama.
ES To a country which has o large com.
IaAfcisl, and a small naval marine, privateering