The sun., 1903-11-24
Panama's Right to Secede.

there is no analogy between the secession
of Panama from Colombia and the seces-
sion of the Confederate States from the
American Union. The Federal Govern
ment, which was headed up to March 4,
1861, by President BUCHANAN, and sub
sequently by President LINCOLN, was
! in the strictest sense of the word con-
| stitutional government, the regular dis
charge of whose functions had been un-
| interrupted since the Constitution framed
! at Philadelphia had gone into operation
! in April, 1889 In Colombia, on the other
( hand, no constitutional government has
existed since July 81, 1900; the present
Administration headed by Mr. JOSE
MANUEL MARRoQUlN being the outcome
Of coup d etat which the inhabitants of
the State or Department of Panama were
neither legally nor morally bound to
recognize.
There seems to be current vast
amount of misconception relating to
this subject. A writer, for instance, in
the Philadelphia Record seems to think
that he has refuted our assertion when
he points out the differences between
the Colombian Constitution proclaimed
in 1886 and previous organic laws of New
Granada or Colombia. He comedies that
certain provisions in earlier Constitutions
gave Panama right to withdraw from
the Republic of the United States of
Colombia, but goes on to say that these
were superseded by the Constitution of
1886. which declared "the Colombian ma
tion" to be "a centralized republic, and
prescribed that the sections thereof, for
merly entitled States and National Ter
ritories, should retain their then exist
ing limits under the name of Depart
ments. Another article Of the Consti-
tuition of 1856 provided that -the Depart
ment of Panama shall be subject to the
direct authority of the [Bogotal Govern
ment." The words quoted are from the
translation of the Colombian Constitution
of 1886, made by Prof MOSES of the
University of California, and published
in Senate Document rs during the second
session of the Fifty-seventh Congress.
From the above recited provisions the
deduction is drawn in the Record that
Panama did not possess on Nov. g.
1908, any right constitutional or other
whereby she could withdraw from the
United States of Colombia.
A little knowledge is dangerous
thing. 1t is perfectly true that a new
Colombian Constitution was proclaimed
in 1885, and that it contained the pro-
visions above quoted. A knowledge of
that fact, however, would lead to erro-
neous conclusions, if unaccompanied by
a recognition, first, of the circumstances
under which that Constitution was
evolved circumstances that deprived
it of any moral or legal claim on the
obedience of the State of Panama; and,
secondly, of the decisive circumstance
that this Constitution, such as it was, has
been suspended and imperative since
July 81, 1900. We proceed to prove these
assertions.
In 1884 the United States of Colombia
had a federal Constitution which ac-
knowledged the constituent States as
respectively sovereign for almost all
purposes, and gave each of them ample
authority for the control of its internal
organization and government DR.. RA-
FAEL NUNEz however who had been
elected President as a Liberal, soon
showed himself to be reactionist, and,
after putting down the revolution of
1885, provoked by his forcible dissolu-
tion of State Convention in the State of
Santander, organized coup 'etat, and
proclaimed the abolition of the Consti-
tuition from which his own authority was
derived. Thereafter, through his per-
sonal agents, he caused to be apponteda a
derisory assembly of eighteen members,
called the Council of Delegates, for the
framing of new Constitution. 1t was
by this body Of irres ponsibe persons.
who represented nobody except the self
declared dictator, that the Constitution
of 1886 was proclaimed, whereby Colom-
bia was declared to be a centralized
republic; and the State of Panama, now
called Department, was placed under
its direct authority. SO much for the
moral and legal claim of this so-called
organic law to the loyalty of the natives
of the Isthmus.
Irreparably tainted in its origin as was
the pretended Constitution of 1885, we
repeat that it no longer exists having
been repudiated on July 81 1900, when
coup detat organized by Vice-President
MARRoQUIN and Gen. CAsABIANCA, Min
lister of War, overthrow and imprisoned
DR.. SANcLEMENTE, who had been elected
President in 1898. From that moment,
noGovernment possessing even the show
of constitutionality has existed in Colom-
bia. The de fdcto Government headed
by MARRoQUIN has maintained itself
at Bogota by the power of bayonets
alone. 1t has been, and is, backed by
no political party, for the Liberals have
opposed it by force of arms; the Nation
lst-Conservatives have disavowed it
as the offspring of treachery, while the
so-called Historical Conservatives are
in state of dissolution, now comprising
only public officials and few military
chiefs.
In view of these facts. every one Of
which ia a rnatter ~ potoriaty " IN thora