Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1848-05-10
G O n G. & = S s .
United states ana Yucatau.

On the 23ih Of April, the President, of III
United States transmitted to Courress the 70,
lowing message relative to solicitation mad
by the government of Yucatan for assistance I
protect their white population from the ravare
of the Indians:
10 lac Senate and House Of Rspresentaticcs OF III
ated States:
submit, for the consideration of Congress
several communications received at the DEPART
n'eEt Of State from Mr.. Justo Sierra, commits
>ioner of ucatan, and also a communicative
from the Governor of that State. representa-.
the condition ofeatreme suffering TO which IN ii
country !lfs been reduced by an itisurrec ton o
the Indians ithin lis limits, and asking the al.
of the L Hited States.
The communications present Of hu
nan suffering and misery which canuot fljl Il
excite the synpathies OF all civilized nations
!, rom these ANA other sources of information. il
appears that The Ind ans of Iucatau are waging
war OF determination against the white race
In tliS CRUEL war. they spare neither age no Sc 4
baf PITT to death. unfortunately. all who fall
WITHIN tier power. The inhabitants panic
stricken aud destitute of arms. are living before
their savage pursuers towards the coast: and
'htT expulsion from their country, or their eN-
'er'n'nafion' would seem 10 be inevitable, unless
they can obtain assistance from abroad.
In this condition they have. ihrouc n their con
stitu'ed authorities, inipored the AID of this gov
ernnlent 10 save the from destruction. Off ring,
III case this should be granted, to transfer the
dominion and sovereignty of the Peninsula TO
the United States Similar Appeals for all aud
protection have bcen made to the Spanish and
English governments.
"ht!>t itis not my purpose to recommen nj the
adoption of any measure, Wit, a view 10 the
acquisition of the dominion and sovereignty
over 1ocatan, yet, according to our establish
policy. we could not consent 10 "A transfer of THIS
dominion and sovereignty,' either to SPAN,
trrc#t Britain, or any other European power.
In the language of President Monroe, in his
message OF December, I>23, 'Me should consid
or any attempt on their part 10 extend their
tenn to any portion OF ihs henisp here danger
Gus 10 our peace ami safety Ia my annual
message Of December. 1915, declared that
near quarter OF a century ago, the principle
was distinctly announced 20 the world, in the
annua! message OF one OF my predecessors, that
the American continents by the free and indie
pendent condition which they have assumed and
maintained, are henceforth not to be consid. red
as subjects for future colonization. by any Euro
pean power This principle viii apply with
greatly increased force, should ANY European
power attempt to establish any new co ouv in
North America. In the existing circumstances
Of the world, the present Is deemed proper
casion to reiterate and rcatfirm the principle
asoWed by Mr.. Monroe, and 10 state cordial
concurrence in its wisdom and sound policy.
The reasserton Of this principle, especially in
reference To North Anne rica, this iay but the
protnn! CATION of II policy which no European
power should cf!eri>!i the disposition To resist.
ENisting rights of every European nation should
be respected; but it is due alike to safety and
our interests, that the efficient protection of
laws should be extended whole terrific
rial limits, and that it should be distinctly an
nounced TO the world. settled policy that
no future European colony dominion shall,
W It'll our consent, be planted established
any part of the American continent
Our own security requires that the established
policy thus announced should guide our conduct,
Oh a..
of Yuca,an. 1t is situate in the Gulf of Mexico.
on the North American continent; aud from It's
vicinity TO Cuba, 10 the Capcs of Florida, to
New Orleans, aud indeed to our whute southwcs-
tern coast, 1t would be dangerous to our peace
and security if it should become colony OF any
European nation.
We have now authentic information that if
the aid asked from the | nitrd States he not gram
ted, such aid Will probably he obtained from
some European power, which may hereafter as
sert claim TO dominion and sovereignty over
Yucatan.
Ourexisting relations with Yucatan are Of
peculiar character, as Will be perc. wed from the
note of the Secretary of State to htr comu.i,-
sioner. dated the 2Jiii Of December last;
copy Of which is herewith transmitted. Yucca
tan has never declared her independence. aud
treat her as State of the Mexican republic
For this reason, we have never oilicHl received
her eomnli ioner; hut whilst this Is the case,
we have, to Il considerable extent, recognizrs!
her neutral III our war with Mexico. W hiist
still considering Gucatau as portion OF Mexico
If We had troops 10 spare for this purpose, !
would deem II proper. during the continuance Of
the with Mexico to occupy aud hold military
possession of her territory, and to defend the
white Inhabitants against the incursions of the
lnaians, III the same way that we have employed
our troops in other States of the Mexican
publ &C IN our possessou in repcllibC the attacks
of savages upon the inhabitants who have main
tanned their neutrality in the war. Bat. unior-
tunatc ~. we cannot at the present. without Sc
rous danger, withdraw forces from other
portions Of the Ne xican territory now in our "c-
cupatiou, and send them to Yucatan. All that
can be done. under existing circumstances. Is to
employ our naval forces in the Gulf. not required
at other points, to afford them relief. Bat 1t Is
not to be expected that any adequate protection
thus be afforded. as the operations of such
naval forces must, Of necessity, be confined to the
coast.
have considered it proper to communicate
the information contained IN the accompanying
correspondence, and l submit TO the wisdom Of
Congress 10 adopt such measures as, IN their
Judgment, may be expedirnt to prevent Iucatan
from becoming a colony of any European pow
er, which in noevent could be permitted by the
United States, and at the same time to rescue
the white from determination or expu SION
from their country. JAMES h. POLK.
Washington. April %, ISIS
When tbs. message was received in the Senate,
Mr.. Hanuegan moved the printing of the mes
sage and documents. and their reference to the
Committee oil Foreign Relations
Mr.. Calhoun made II few remarks conaemna-
tory of the grounds tax en- in the message. Had
the proprety of giving aid been based exciusIvely
the question of humanity. he would have been
disposed to 90 very far. But there were sugges-
lions the message. with which he do no, con-
cur and the tendency of which was to lead us
to dangerous results. He pointed out the suffer
ings which had fallen Incatan as the I'M
avodabte consequence of eievaiIng a race. close
" allied 10 the class of slaves, to equality Of
rights and privileges with the white race The
result is that they turning upon and muir
Gering their BE- nefactors. He had felt regret at
the ground taken concerning foreign int"rfer-
In the present condition OF Europe,
there probability that any foreign
government would take possession Of Iucatan
than that he should.
Mr. flanagan said he was restrained from re-
plying at this time, although he felt very anxious
to reply. because the senator from South Caroii-
had clearly misunderstood the purport OF the
u1essspe-because il was the understanding Of