PANAMA CONGRESS. A congress of dele gates respresenting various nations of America, which met at Panama in .June. 18'26. for the con sideration of questions of common interest. Soon after the establishment of the independence of the South and Central American republics and of Mexico, a movement. largely under the direc tion of Simon Bolivar (q.v.), President of Co lombia, was set on foot for the organization of an American Confederacy. in 1823 Bolivar in vited the governments of Mexico, Peru. Buenos Ayres, and Chile to send to Panama delegates empowered to take such action: hut Buenos Ayres and Chile held back, and in December, 1824, Bolivar sent a circular letter to all the :Spanish-American republics, proposing that each appoint representatives to assemble immediately at Panama. This invitation was promptly ac cepted by Mexico, Peru, Chile, and Guatemala, and in November, 1825, the ministers of Mexico, Colombia, and Guatemala at Washington for mally invited the 'United States to send dele gates to the proposed congress, stating in a gen eral way the questions which would lie brought up for discussion. President Adams, influenced largely by Henry Clay, then Secretary of State, promptly accepted the invitation and in his an nual message to Congress stated that will be commissioned to attend." This was the signal for one of the most animated debates in the history of the United States Congress, op position being aroused particularly by the fear of 'entangling alliances,' by the proposed discus sion of the recognition of Haiti. the suppression
Of the slave trade, and the liberation from Silan ish rule of Cuba and Porto Rico. and to some extent by the reluctance on the part of many to commit the United States to the policy enunci ated in the 'Monroe Doctrine.' Finally, however, Adams's appointment if two envoys extraordi nary, Richard C. Anderson and .fohn Sergeant, was ratified by the Senate. and an appropriation for the mission was voted in the House. The con gress met on June 22. 1826. colombia, Central America, Peru, and Mexico being represented. Chile, Brazil, and Buenos Ayres approved of the congress. but did not send delegates. After hold ing ten sessions and agreeing to a treaty of per petual union for defense against Spain, the con gress adjourned to meet again at Tacnbaya, Mexico, in the following year. The treaty of union was subsequently ratified only by Colom bia. The United was not. represented, Anderson having died on the way to Panama. and Sergeant not reaching that place until after the congress had adjourned. The meeting at Tacubaya was never held.