Abridgment of the Debates of Congress, from 1789 to 1856.

DEBATES OF CONGRESS. 419 MARCH, 1826.] Secret Executive Proceedings. [SENATE. the proposed mission to Panama, any distinct in- to send any Ministers to the Congress of formation that the publication of the communica- American nations assembled at Panama, before tions, alluded to in said resolutions, would or would it shall have received satisfactory information not be prejudicial to existing negotiations, they upon the following points: 1st. The subjects find a strong objection, on the part of the Presi- to which the attention of the Congress will be dent, to the publication of those communications, directed: 2dIy. The substance and form of inasmuch as they were made "in confidence, and the most of them in compliance with a resolution the powers to be given to the respective Repreof the Senate requesting them confidentially." And, senttives: 3dly. The mode of organizing the although the Senate have the right to publish com- Congress 4thly. The mode of action in decidmunications so made, and to discuss the same with ing the questions which may be submitted to open doors, without the assent of the President, it." when, in their opinion, the public interest may re- On motion, by Mr. HAYNE, of South Carolina, quire such publication and such discussion, they do that the further consideration of the resolution, not think that present circumstances require the with the proposed amendment, be postponed exercise of this right, so far as respects a discussion to Friday next; it was determined in the negaof those confidential communications with open tive-yeas 20, nays 25. doors. On motion by Mr. REED, of Mississippi, that he be excused from voting on the proposed FRIDAY, February 24. amendment, it was determined in the affirmaOn motion, by Mr. LLOYD, of Mass., that the tive -yeas 32, nays 12. Senate proceed to consider the resolution re- On the question to agree to the proposed ported by the Committee on Foreign Relations, amendment to the resolution, it was determined in relation to the expediency of sending Minis- in the negative-yeas 19, nays 24. ters to the Congress of Panama; it was A motion, was made by Mr. VAN BTREN, Of determined in the affirmative-yeas 32, nays New York, to amend the resolution, by adding 12. thereto the following: On motion, by Mr. HAYNE, of S. C., it was Resolved, That the Constitution of the United ordered that the further consideration of the States, in authorizing the President of the United resolution be postponed to, and made the order States to nominate, and, by and with the advice and of the day for, Monday next. consent of the Senate, to appoint " Ambassadors, and other public Ministers," authorizes the nomination and appointment to offices of a diplomatic MONDAYP, March 13. character only, existing by virtue of international The Senate resumed the consideration of the laws; and does not authorize the nomination and resolution reported by the Committee on appointment (under the name of Ministers) of RepForeign Relations, relative to the expediency resentatives to an Assembly of Nations, like the of sending Ministers to the Congress at Pana- proposed Congress of Panama, who, from the na. n18. ture of their appointment, must be mere deputies, A motion was made by Mr. BENTON, of lo., unknown to the law of nations, and without diploto amend the said resolution, by striking out all matic character or privilege. after ~"Resolved," aznd inserting " That the Sen- Resolved, That the power of forming or entering after cannot advise that irt is expedienTt hfo -t (in any manner whatever) into new political assoate cannot advise that it is expedient; for the ciations, or confederacies, belongs to the people of Government of the United States to send the United States, in their sovereign character, Ministers to the Congress of American nations being one of the powers which, not having been at Panama, before it shall have received sntis- delegated to the Government, is reserved to the factory information upon the following points: States or people; and that it is not within the conFirst, the subjects to which the attention of stitutional power of the Federal Government to that Congress will be directed; secondly, the appoint Deputies or Representatives of any descripsubstance and form of the powers to be given tion, to represent the United States in the Congress to the respective Representatives; thirdly, the of Panama, or to participate in the deliberation, or mode of organizing the Congress; fourthly, the discussion, or recommendation, of acts of that Conmode of action in deciding the questions which gress. may he submitted to it." Resolved, As the opinion of the Senate, that The Senate then adjourned. (waiving the question of constitutional power) the appointment of Deputies to the Congress of Panama, by the United States, according to the invitaTUESDAY, March 14. tion given, and its conditional acceptance, would be The Senate resumed the consideration of the a departure from that wise and settled policy by resolution reported by the Committee of which the intercourse of the United States with Foreign Relations, relative to the expediency foreign nations has hitherto been regulated, and of sending Ministers to the Congress of Pana- may endanger the friendly relations which now mna, together with the amendment proposed happily exist between us and the Spanish American Ithereto by Mr. BENTON.States, by creating expectations that engagements Othenrmeto by byM. BENTON. Twill be entered into by us, at that Congress, which On motion, by Mr. BENTON, of Missouri, the Senate could not ratify, and of which the people the said amendment was modified as follows: of the United States would not approve. StrikEe out all after "'esolved," and insert, Resolved, That the advantages of the proposed "' That it is not expedient for the United States mission to the Congress of Panama, (if attainable,)

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Title: Abridgment of the Debates of Congress, from 1789 to 1856.
Author: United States. Congress.
Canvas: Page 419
Publication: New York, [etc.]: D. Appleton and company [etc.]; 1857-61.
Subject terms: United States -- Politics and government

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Abridgment of the Debates of Congress, from 1789 to 1856.

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