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they will evidently arise out of the deliberations of the Congress. He is, however, authorized by his Government to assure the United States, that these points have no tendency to violate their professed principles of neutrality. The undersigned has also been instructed to suggest some subjects that will form useful matter of discussion in the Congress.

These subjects constitute two classes

1st. Matters peculiarly and exclusively concerning the belligerents; 2d. Matters between the belligerents and neutrals.

As the United States will not take part in the discussion of subjects of the first description, we will confine ourselves to the latter. At Panama, the best and most opportune occasion is offered to the United States to fix some principles of international law, the unsettled state of which, has caused much evil to humanity. It is to be presumed that this Government possesses more light upon the subject than the other states of our hemisphere, both from its experience during the wars that succeeded the French Revolution, and from its negotiations now on foot with Great Britain and other nations, relative to these principles. It belongs to each of the concurring parties to propose their views, but the voice of the United States will be heard with the respect and deference, which its early labors in a work of such importance will merit.

The manner in which all colonization of European Powers on the American Continent shall be resisted, and their interference in the present contest between Spain and her former colonies prevented, are other points of great interest. Were it proper, an eventual alliance, in case these events should occur, which is within the range of possibilities, and the treaty, of which no use should be made until the casus fœderis, should happen to remain secret; or, if this should seem premature, a convention so anticipated, would be different means to secure the same end of preventing foreign influence. This is a matter of immediate utility to the American States that are at war with Spain, and is in accordance with the repeated declarations and protests of the Cabinet at Washington. The conferences held on this subject being confidential, would increase mutual friendship, and promote the respective interests of the parties.

The consideration of the means to be adopted for the entire abolition of the African slave trade, is a subject sacred to humanity, and interesting to the policy of the American States. To effect it, their energetic, general, and uniform co-operation, is desirable. At the proposition of the United States, Colombia made a Convention with them on this subject, which has not been ratified by the Government of the United States. Would that America, which does not think politic what is unjust, would contribute in union, and with common consent, to the good of Africa!

The descendants of this portion of the globe have succeeded in founding an independent Republic, whose government is now recognized by its ancient Metropolis. On what basis the relations of Hayti, and of other parts of our hemisphere, that shall hereafter be in

like circumstances, are to be placed, is a question simple at first view, but attended with serious difficulties when closely examined. These arise from the different manner of regarding Africans, and from their different rights in Hayti, the United States, and in other American States, This question will be determined at the Isthmus, and, if possible. a uniform rule of conduct adopted in regard to it, or those modifications that may be demanded by circumstances.

The undersigned merely makes these suggestions by way of example; it is left to the wisdom of the Governments and the judgments of their Representatives, to propose whatever may be esteemed of common good to the new hemisphere. Inviting the United States, in the name of Colombia, to a Congress. the mere assembling of which will increase the political importance of America, and show the facility with which she can combine her resources in defence of common rights when necessary, the undersigned hopes that the United States will make an early appointment of a person or persons to represent them in this Assembly, as the conditions that were required have been fulfilled.

The undersigned has the honor to offer to the Honorable Henry Clay his most distinguished consideration.

JOSE MARIA SALAZAR.

Mr. Clay to Mr. Obregon.

DEPARTMENT OF STATE,

Washington, S0th Nov. 1825.

SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your official note of the third instant. communicating a formal invitation from the Government of the United States of Mexico, to that of the United States, to send deputies to the contemplated Congress of Panama; and particularizing several subjects. which your Government conceives may be proper for the consideration of that Congress; and I have laid your note before the President of the United States.

When, at your instance, during the last Spring, I had the honor of receiving you at the Department of State, and conferring with you verbally, in regard to the proposed Congress, and to the friendly wish entertained by your Government that ours should be represented at it, I stated to you, by direction of the President, that it appeared to him to be necessary, before the assembling of such a Congress, to settle between the different Powers to be represented, several preliminary points. such as the subjects to which the attention of the Congress should be directed the substance and the form of the powers to be given to the respective representatives; and the mode of organizing the Congress; and that, if these points should be satisfactorily arranged, the President would be disposed to accept, in behalf of the

United States, the invitation with which you were provisionally charged.

In your note, there is not recognized so exact a compliance with the conditions on which the President expressed his unwillingness that the United States should be represented at Panama, as could have been desired. It would have been, perhaps, better, if there had been a full understanding between all the American Powers, who may assemble by their representatives, of the precise questions on which they are to deliberate; and that some other matters respecting the powers of the deputies, and the organization of the Congress, should have been distinctly arranged, prior to the opening of its deliberations. But, as the want of the adjustment of these preliminaries, if it should occasion any inconvenience, could be only productive of some delay, the President has determined, at once, to manifest the sensibility of the United States, to whatever concerns the prosperity of the American hemisphere, and to the friendly motives whch have actuated your Government in transmitting the invitation which your have communicated. He has therefore resolved should the Senate of the United States, now expected to assemble in a few days, give their advice and consent, to send Commissioners to the Congress at Panama. Whilst they will not be authorized to enter upon any deliberations, or to concur in any acts inconsistent with the present neutral position of the United States, and its obligations, they will be fully empowered and instructed upon all questions likely to arise in the Congress, on subjects in which the nations of America have a common interest. All unnecessary delay will be avoided in the departure of these Commissioners from the United States, for the point of their destinati ·n. I avail myself of the occasion to offer you assurances of my distinguished consideration,

DON PABLO OBREGON, Envoy Extraordinary

and Minister Plenipotentiary from Mexico.

Mr. Clay to Mr. Salazar.

H. CLAY.

Don Jose Maria Salazar, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Pleni potentiary from Colombia.

DEPARTMENT OF STATE,

Washington, 30th November, 1825.

SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your official note of the third instant, communicating a formal invitation from the Government of Colombia, to that of the United States, to send Deputies to the contemplated Congress at Panama, and particularizing several subjects which your Government conceives may be proper for the consideration of that Congress; and I have laid your note before the President of the United States.

When, at your instance, during the last spring, I had the honor of receiving you at the Department of State, and conferring with you verbally, in regard to the proposed Congress, and to the friendly wish entertained by your Government, that ours should be represented at it, I stated to you. by the direction of the President. that it appeared to him to be necessary, before the assembling of such a Congress, to settle between the different Powers to be represented, several preliminary points; such as the subjects to which the attention of the Congress should be directed; the substance and the form of the powers to be given to the respective representatives; and the mode of organizing the Congress; and that if these points should be satisfactorily arranged, the President would be disposed to accept, in behalf of the United States, the invitation with which you were provisionally charged.

In your note, there is not recognized so exact a compliance with the conditions on which the President expressed his willingness that the United States should be represented at Panama, as could have been desired. It would have been perhaps better, if there had been a full understanding between all the American Powers who may assemble by their representatives, of the precise questions on which they are to deliberate, and that some other matters, respecting the powers of the Deputies, and the organization of the Congress, should have been distinctly arranged, prior to the opening of its deliberations. But, as the want of the adjustment of these preliminaries, if it should occasion any inconvenience, could be only productive of some delay, the President has determined, at once, to manifest the sensibility of the United States to whatever concerns the prosperity of the American hemisphere, and to the friendly motives which have actuated your Government in transmitting the invitation which you have communicated. He has, therefore, resolved, should the Senate of the United States, now expected to assemble in a few days, give their advice and consent, to send Commissioners to the Congress of Panama. Whilst they will not be authorized to enter upon any deliberations, or to concur in any acts inconsistent with the present neutral position of the United States and its obligations. they will be fully empowered and instructed, upon all questions likely to arise in the Congress, on subjects in which the nations of America have a common interest. All unnecessary delay will be avoided in the departure of these Commissioners from the United States for the point of their destination.

I avail myself of the occasion to offer you assurances of my distinguished consideration.

H. CLAY.

Mr. Canaz to the Secretary of State.
[TRANSLATION].

To the Hon. the Secretary of State.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 14, 1825.

The Government of Central America which I have the honor to represent, as early as the year 1821, was sensible of the importance to the independent nations of this continent, of a general Congress of their representatives, at some central point, which might consider upon, and adopt the best plan for defending the States of the New World from foreign aggression, and, by treaties of alliance, commerce, and friendship, raise them to that elevation of wealth and power, which, from their resources, they may attain. It also acknowledged that, as Europe had formed a continental system, and held a Congress whenever questions affected its interests were to be discussed; America should form a system for itself, and assemble, by its representatives, in Cortes, whenever circumstances of necessity and great importance should demand it.

Entertaining these views, the Government of Central America voluntarily expressed its willingness to appoint its deputies for such an object; sensible of its importance, which has also been felt by the Governments of South America, it has resolved to send plenipotentiaries to a general Congress, to be formed for the purposes of preserving the territorial integrity, and firmly establishing the absolute independence of each of the American Republics. On the 19th of March last, the Government of Central America formed a convention with that of Colombia, providing for this object; and I, as its representative, have been instructed to express to the Government of the United States the desire entertained by my Government, that it should send a representative to the general Congress.

To fulfil the wishes of my Government, and convinced, at the same time, of the importance and respectability which would attach to the general Congress of the American Republics, from the presence of envoys from the United States of America, I now address this high Government upon this subject, in the name of Central America. I am anxious, therefore, to know, if this Republic, which has ever shown itself the generous friend of the new American States, is disposed to send its envoys to the general Congress, the object of which, is to preserve and confirm the absolute independence of these Republics, and to promote the general good, and which will not require, that the representatives of the United States should, in the least, compromit their present neutrality, harmony, and good intelligence with other nations. This, my Government has deemed it necessary to state distinctly, in making the present invitation.

Be pleased, Sir, to accept expressions of the high consideration, with which

I am, respectfully,

Your obedient servant.

ANTONIO JOSE CANAZ.