Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1848-05-24
4 Fairs i'm Yucatan-Me<nge of the
PrcSi1eAt-ActiOpf Of c. agrees

ports, it will be seen that Mr. Hannegan,
the Chairman of the Committe on foreign
Affairs in the Senate, has reprted bill,
to enable the President to ike military
possession of the province off ucatan.
The scenes Of suffering, oeasioned by
the inroads Of the savages, daily Witnessed
in Yucatan, are heart-rendiH in the ex-
IRENE. On Saturday, the Prsident COM
municated a Message to Cortress, trans
hitting the application of the Commission
er of Yucatan, for projections 1t is as fol-
lows: II q r a~a
b Message Of the PRECEDENT.
10 the Senate and House Of RI resentatives:
! submit for the consideration Of Con-
gress, several communications received at
the Department Of State frqn Mr. Justo
Sierra, commissioner Of Yuctan; and also
a communication from the government Of
that State representing the condition Of ex-
IRENE suferingto which theft country has
been reduced by an instruction of the In
dams within its limits, and asking the aid
of the United States. These communica-
tions present case Of human suffering and
misery which cannot fail to excite the
sympathies Of all civilized naions. From
these and other sources of information, il
appears that the Indians Of Yucatan are
waging war of extrimination against the
white race. In this civil war they spare
neither age nor sex, but put to death in
Discriminatory, all who fall within their
power. The inhabitants, panic stricken,
and destitute Of arms, are flying before
their enemy, and their determination
would seem to be inevitable unless they
can obtain assistance. In this condition
they have through their constituted au-
liberties, imptored the aid of this govern
ment to save them from destruction, offer
ing, in case this should be granted, to
transfer the dominion and sovereignty o!
the Peninsula to the United States. SINH
lar appeals for aid and protection have been
made to the Spanish and English govern
ments. Whilst it is not my purpose to
recommend the adoption Of any measure
with a view to the acquisition Of dominion
and sovereignty over Yucatan, yet, accord.
ing to our established policy, we would no,
consent to transfer of this dominion and
sovereignty either to Spain Great Britain
or any other European power.
In the language Of President Monroe
in his anual Message Of December lS43
we should consider any attempt on theil
part to extend their,system to any portion
Of this hemisphere as dangerous to OH,
peace and safety. In my Annual Message
Of December, 1915, declared that nearl,
"a quarter Of century ago the principle
was distintly announced to the world il
the annual message Of one of my prede.
cessors, that the American continent, b,
the free and independent condition which
it has assumed and maintained, is hence
forth not to be considered a subject fo
future colonization by any European
power. This principle will apply witt
greatly increased force should any Euro
pean power attempt to establish any new
colony in North America. In the exist
ing circumstances of the world, the pre-
sent is deemed proper occasion to reit
crate and re-afhrm the principle avowet
by Mr.. Monroe, and to state my cordia
concurrence in its wisdom and policy.
The reassertion Of this principle especi
ally in reference to North America, is, a
this day, but the PRONUNCIATION Of polio,
which no European power should cherish
the disposition to resist. The existing
rights Of every European nation should be
respected; but it is due alike to our saiet,
and our interest that the efficient protec.
ton of our laws should be extended over
our whole territorial limits; and it should
be distinctly announced to the world as
our settled policy, that no future Europe
an colony or dominion shall, with our con-
sent, be planted or established on any part
of the American continent. Our own Sc
curity requires that the established policy
thus announced should guide our conduct,
and this applies with great force to the
Peninsula of Yucatan. 1t is situated in
the Gulf of Mexico, on the North Amer
lean continent; and from lis vicinity to
Cuba, to the Capes Of Florida, to New
Orleans, and, indeed to our whole south
western coast, it would be dangerous to
our peace and security if it should bee ONE
a colony of any European nation. We
have now auth entic information that if the
aid asked from the United States be not
granted, such aid will probably be obtain
ed from some European power, which
may hereafter assert claim to dominion
and sovereignty over Yucatan. Our ex-
listing relations with Yucatan are of Pc
culiar character, as will be perceived from
the note of the Secretary to their commits
sioner, dated on the oath Of December last,
a copy of which is herewith transmitted.
Yucatan has never declared her independ-
ence, and we have treated her as State
of the Mexican Republic. For this rea-
son we have never officially received her
Commissioner; but whist this is the case,
we have, to considerable extent, recog-
nized her as a neutral in our war with
Whilst still considering Yucca
tan as portion of Mexico, if we had
troops to spare for this purpose, l would
deem it proper during the continuance Of
the war with Mexico, to occupy and hold
military possession Of her territory, and
10 defend the white inhabitants against the
Of the Indians in the same way
that we have employed our troops in other
States Of the Mexican Republic in our
possession in repelling the attacks Of the
savages upon the inhabitants who have