The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1842-04-24
Yucntan, south America.
Correspondents OF the Herald.l
MERIDA DE YUcArAN, March 2S,

MERIDA DE YUcArAS, March 3, ISL.
Interesting History of the Yueatan Republic for tsoo
years in bref-Rerolution-Wa War pih Merico-
The Treaty. Geography and Commerce Of the
Country--E Election in Merico -Smta Anna.
JAMES GORDON BENNETT, ESQ.
SIR:-
AT the request OF Mr.. d. L. N, l embrace this
opportunity to address you, and 10 give you a few
news en- ;sassent from this part of the world, from
whence there has been lately written, and some
writing at this time, and no doubt a considerable
package of wishy-washy is going by this convey
ance to your city, but directed, in all probability,
to the editor of another Journal, several and vari.
Gus news, but in regard to facts the gods only know
at the present bat time will test them 10 future
whether they be such.
Asthe political state of every country 10 the prin-
cipal lever which controls her other movements, l
shall commence this communication with that prin-
cipal point.
? Yucatan, formerly one of the states of the Next
can confederation, under the Constitution Of 1924,
has from time to time shared in common with the
other members of said federation, the vicissitudes
Of the misrule of the Mexican dynasty up to 1910.
In February of said year a revolution broke out at
| Valladolid, in the eastern part of this peninsula,
headed by the patriotic General Santiago lyman,
the result Of VIII ch was the re-establismen mt Of the
federal authorities oflsSi, and the resuming of the
state rights and the sovereignty by YacAtan, Sc.
ceeding from the central government at Mexico,
and authorizing the Governor of the State TO as
sumo all the authority of the President Of the Next
| can Republic under the constitution Of 1921, within
the limits of the state. This order of things was
superseded by a new reorganization Of the State
under her present constitution, adopted the 3lst
March, 1911, copy whereof is hereby accompanied
as a reference Of the details. BY this constitution
| political and religious liberty is secured to every
inhabitant Of YucatsH, whether a citizen or a so
journer, native or foreigner. The privileges Of the
clergy and military are abolished, and one aud the
same law rules and governs all classes of inhabi.
tants. The right Of acquiring real estates by TO-
reigners is also secured. In one word, it is the
charter of q democratic representative govern
msnt. By virtue OF, and in accordance to this
constitutions, laws have been enacted; and among
them one which regulates the mode and manner,
and establishes the basis upon which this State
will Join again the Mexican Union, provided a fede.
raj constitutions be framed, by which to re organize
that distracted country This basis was the ground
work, and the cornerstone upon which the late
treaty made with the Mexican commissioner was
predicatcd; and unless the said treaty ~isratifed by
the overs that be in Mexico, Yucatan will pre-
serve her present neutral position. The principal
features o! said treaty are az follow, viz -
LIST. That every thing done in the interior admin
~istration Of the State of Yucatan, since her secession
" NlCAlSOs ohoAl VoAoh V&iu II III ull IOICCs
viz the constitution and laws.
I'd. That Yucatan shall have right to establish
ports of entry for foreign trade, adopt her tariff
laws, appoint her custom house and other revenue
officers, collect her revenues, including duties of
import and tonnage, and dispose of them for her
uses.
81. That no Mexican troops or officers. civil or
military, be permitted TO enter Yacatan; and no
men to be levied for the Mexican army or navy,
within Yucatan, by force.
18th. Not to contribute to the use of the general
proportion to her means, and required for real aud
not fictitious wants OF the nation.
9th. Not TO submit to any order of things. unless
to measures to be freely discussed and determined
eqaal representation, elected by the people.
9th and finally. That Yucatan will remain In statu
quo until the premeditated general constitution is
enacted; and if it shall cover all the points above
enumerated, and the constitution of the State, and
be accepted by the State, then she will join the an
~ticipated union.
Now, when this will be done, we cannot say; for
although the treaty was concluded with the Mexi.
can commissioner on the 18th Dec. 1871, and sent
to Mexico, and two commissioners appointed on
the part of the government Of Yucatan to accom-
and to effect the ratification Of the said treaty, after
which to take their seats among the members Of
the government, privy counsel. at Mexico, to be
composed OF two members from each department
or state. As yet nothing has been done in the case,
and tho two Yucatau commissioner have not taken
their seats, neither is the treaty as yet ratified; to
the contrary, rumor, founded upon good authority,
says, that Santa Anna has thrown upon the floor OF
his an iience hall the Yucatan treaty with ~indignity,
and rebuked the Mexican commissioner for having
abused the confidence Of his government, by having
tacitly acknowledged the Independence of Yucatan.
Something Of the Kind might have been suspected,
as that commissioner was q native Of Yucatan; but
he could do nothing better than TO admit the pro-
posed treaty by Yucatan, for it was predicated upon
an absolute law, or he would have had to return to
Mexico without ~eGfecting any thug, aud then per.
haps fall into Santa Annals d~isgrcce. He had to
follow the example of the Chinese mandarins at the
last battle at Annoy with the English. viz, either
TO conquer, or drown, or sheet himsel6 to save his
head from being cut off at Pekin, by order OF the
Celestial Emperor, for having lost the battle.
That the treaty cannot and will not be ratified. by
Santa Anna is a fact self-evident. The r~atifying il
places him in an awkward predicament, by open.
ing the door wide TO the other States for similar
pretensions. whereby not only the most democra.
tic order of a popular representative government
be established on a broader principle than it was
under the constitution Of 1924, or even that Of the
American Union, but q complete notification sys-
TEN, which would not only give the States the
means Of controlling the general government, but
would thwart every action ofthe executive in eases
OF any emergency, to which Santa Anna will not
willingly submit, as his desire and desigu is, to have
The country precipitated into sue disorder and
Confusion that no regulated government will be able
to. extricate it from the chaos; thus to save itfrom
they're cipice, uponlwhose border it has been linger-
ing, with imminent danger Of falling into it since
the days OF Iturbide, declare himself a dictator"
Indeed he Is at this time, for nothing else infu.
enced him to dethrone B~ustamente, under whose
administration the nation has been prospecting
60 ially as well, as il dses now under the present
dynasty, il it can be called at all prosperity, unless
it be the self elevation and aggrandizement. But
since Santa Anna has lost the election Of the mem.
beers to the next convention, upon which he calcu.
lated very strongly by means Of his controlling in
f1aeace and by which convention he expected to
be elected President for life time, alias Dictator /;
he cares very littls about the meeting of the said
convention, and is rather seeking some causes and
means by which The meeting of The game NAV he
paraly zed and he remain, as he is now, invested
with plenary powers to rule aad govern the country
ad ibitum. Again, to refuse to ratify the Yucatan
treaty Is for Santa Anna also an extremely arduous
case, because in that event Yucatan declares its
absolute and unconditional independence from
Mexico, which would be to Santa Anna a death
blow, as he would get both parties in Mexico
against himself on the score Of his having been