And State Papers 743 



the firmness and prudence with which Commander 

 Htibbard carried out his orders and prevented either 

 party from attacking the other. Our action was for 

 the peace both of Colombia and of Panama. It is 

 earnestly to be hoped that there will be no unwise 

 conduct on our part which may encourage Colombia 

 to embark on a war which can not result in her re- 

 gaining control of the Isthmus, but which may cause 

 much bloodshed and suffering. 



I hesitate to refer to the injurious insinuations 

 which have been made of complicity by this govern- 

 ment in the revolutionary movement in Panama. 

 They are as destitute of foundation as of propriety. 

 The only excuse for my mentioning them is the fear 

 lest unthinking persons might mistake for acquies- 

 cence the silence of mere self-respect. I think proper 

 to say, therefore, that no one connected with this 

 Government had any part in preparing, inciting, or 

 encouraging the late revolution on the Isthmus of 

 Panama, and that save from the reports of our mili- 

 tary and naval officers, given above, no one con- 

 nected with this Government had any previous 

 knowledge of the revolution except such as was ac- 

 cessible to any person of ordinary intelligence who 

 read the newspapers and kept up a current acquaint- 

 ance with public affairs. 



By the unanimous action of its people, without the 

 firing of a shot with a unanimity hardly before re- 

 corded in any similar case the people of Panama 

 declared themselves an independent republic. Their 

 recognition by this Government was based upon a 



