The proslavery party had a majority in the Senate com tee on foreign relations, and Mr. Mason of Virginia, chairman, made a report dated January 16, 1826, recomm ing that the Senate disapprove the action of President Ad in accepting the invitation to participate in the Pan Congress, and refuse to confirm the nominations of deleg he had selected.

This report covers about thirty printed pages of the us size, and ends by recommending the passage of the follow resolution:

"Resolved, That it is not expedient at this time for United States to send any ministers to the Congress of Am can nations assembled at Panama."

The committee took the ground that the measure was "n and untried" and "in conflict with the whole course of poli uniformly and happily pursued by the United States fro almost the very creation of this government to the prese hour." And then, after discoursing at length on the "und fined objects of this Congress, so imperfectly disclosed in t vague descriptions given of them," disposes of the subject slavery and slave trade in the following words:

"Some of the sovereign states here represented (the states the Union) were the first in the world to proclaim their abho rence of this traffic (the slave trade). . . . The Unite States, however, have not certainly the right, and ought nev to feel the inclination, to dictate to others who may differ from them on this subject; nor do the committee see the exp diency of insulting other states, with whom we are maintain ing relations of perfect amity, by ascending the moral chai and proclaiming from thence mere abstract principles, of th rectitude of which each nation enjoys the perfect right o deciding for itself."

In regard to Cuba and Puerto Rico, the report said: "The

committee are well aware that the United States can never regard with indifference the situation and probable destiny of the neighboring Spanish islands of Cuba and Puerto Rico; but so far from believing it expedient to discuss these subjects at a Congress of all the American states, and especially at this time, the committee consider the great probability that such a discussion might be forced upon the United States if they are there represented, furnishing in itself the strongest objections to the adoption of the measures proposed. The very situation of Puerto Rico furnishes the strongest inducement to the United States not to take a place at the contemplated Congress, since by so doing they must be considered as changing the attitude in which they have hitherto stood as impartial spectators of the passing scenes, and identifying themselves with the new republics."

In regard to the promotion of commerce, the committee said: "In considering these reasons (for the promotion of trade between the American nations) it cannot escape the observation of any, that in manifesting a disposition to establish such commercial relations, the Southern American nations must have been actuated by the only motive that ever operates either upon nations or individuals in regard to their mere commercial intercourse,-a desire fairly to advance their own interests and a belief that they could by such means properly accomplish that end. . . The interests of commerce are necessarily peculiar: they grow out of numerous circumstances produced by locality, population, manners, times, and other causes, not one of which exists alike in any two nations on the globe. Few general principles, therefore, can ever apply with equal truth to so many peculiarities, and such as do apply need not the sanction of solemn compact to give them effect. It may be very safely confided to the natural disposition of man, promptly to discover, and eagerly to advance, his own best interests."

It must be said, however, that the plan of General Boli was received with greater favor in England than in United States. This was due largely to the fact that her co

mercial interests, which always most influential the foreign policy of Gr Britain, were then ende oring to secure the mon oly of the markets of t Spanish American natio that has since been firmly held, and, althoug not formally invited to so, Great Britain sent delegate to the Panam Congress, to witness an report upon the proceed

ings, if not to participate i

them. The same course was taken by the government of th Netherlands.

In his plan for the Congress, and in his instructions to the delegates from Peru, of which republic he was then president General Bolivar defined at great length his purpose in calling it together and the results he desired it to accomplish. He proposed (1) a compact of union for defense against Spain, and all other European powers upon the American hemisphere. (2) A declaration of the policy to be pursued by the American republics in their relations with the other powers of the world, "friendship for all and strict neutrality." (3) The independence of Cuba and Puerto Rico; and "if the Congress, sensible to the true interests of the countries represented in it, believes it advisable to free those islands, you should enter into a treaty setting forth in detail what forces of land and sea and

what sum of money each state of America shall contribute for that important operation." (4) He proposed a uniform system of treaties of friendship, navigation, and commerce, and defining the powers and prerogatives of diplomatic and consular offices. (5) Such an energetic and efficient declaration as that made by the President of the United States in regard to further European colonization on this continent, and in opposition to the principles of intervention in our domestic affairs." (6) A plan for the settlement of disputes between the American nations. (7) Some declaration as to the relations to be established with Hayti and Santo Domingo, "which have emancipated themselves from their mother country, but have not succeeded in obtaining recognition by any power, whether European or American." (8) The permanent definition of the boundaries between the new American republics. (9) The inauguration of "such measures as shall be deemed most efficient for the suppression of the slave trade in America.”

There were several other items of lesser importance in the great scheme of Bolivar, but these serve to show his purpose, and the object for which the conference was called. But the results did not meet his expectations, nor did the action of the Congress receive his approval. The proceedings were shortened and the adjournment hastened by an epidemic of yellow fever which broke out at Panama, and one of the delegates from the United States died of that dreaded disease on his journey homeward. The delegates to the conference lacked wisdom and experience. They failed to appreciate both the sublime purpose which had inspired Bolivar in planning the assembly, and the importance of the work in which they were engaged, and nearly all of them having recently been participants in the struggle for independence, the ruling idea in their minds was to form an alliance for mutual and united resistance to any attempt that might be made by Spain to recover her lost

provinces in America. They agreed upon a plan for a lea or permanent union of the new republics, for the purpose defense only, but it was cumbersome and complicated in details. This league they proposed to have represented by international assembly to meet biennially. They also p vided for a permanent army of defense to which each repub should contribute its quota of men, and which should directed and controlled by a central organization, subject the approval of the international assembly.

The most important topics the Congress was called to co sider were deferred to another meeting which was appointe for the next year at the picturesque town of Tacubaya, thr miles from the city of Mexico. But that meeting never too place, nor did the proposed international legislature eve assemble. Only one government, that of Colombia, ratifie

the action of th Congress, and th plan for an Ameri can union was tem porarily postponed But the ideas and

the motives of Bol ivar were immortal, and the failure of the Congress at Panama did not

cause them to be abandoned. Subsequent efforts in the same direction were

Tehuantepec periodically renewed and (the