United States Congressional Opposition to the Panama Congress of 1826

Abstract

This study is concerned with dispelling the contention that the proposed diplomatic mission to the Panama Congress of 1826 was rendered useless because of partisan political battles. The major objective of this work is to show that questions concerning the constitutionality of the proposed mission, the possible effects of the mission on domestic slavery, and the potential damage to American neutrality were the primary cause of that opposition. This study will show that opposition to the Panama Congress was based on these three serious objections, not just on the residual feud arising from the presidential election of 1824. The political feud served only to act as a rallying point for diverse segments of an opposition that would have formed in any case.