The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1848-05-12
MIR. Calhoun on Yucatan.

| The following the remarks of MIR. Calhoun
the presentation to the Senate of the Presidents
message respecting Yucatan. Iy lie message having
| been read, Senator moved its reference to the
Committee Oh Foreign Relations, when Mr. Cal
| houn said ,
| Before that question is put, must rise to express
my regret that the President has thought proper to
put this upon any other ground than upon the high
| ground of humanity. Ii have heard the message
Alright, he undertakes to assert that In consequence
| of Mr. Monroe,s declaration, when any portion of
this continent comes to be placed in situation like
that of Yucatan, and the people of the country
situated feel themselves under the necessity of ap-
plying somewhere for protection, we must nterpose
and protect them. A broad proposition, truly! To
what extent may it not be pursued Where it
| is to find a limit no one can tell and | take this
early occasion, before the committee have acted
upon the sGbject-for long experience has taught
to strike thing that is obectional at the very
moment it is named-to express my astonishment
and deep regret that the President should have re-
commended The occupation Of Iucatan by our army,
or by such portion of it as might be spared from
Mexico. These are great topics-sartling propo
sitions.
. In the present condition of Europe, sir there is
no more probability of England, any other power
seizing Iucatan, than there is that should seize it,
Who can tell what will be the condition Of Eng
land--nay, what is her condition now! These
things are TO me strange, unaccountable, wonder
full | did hope that the experience OF the Mexican
war-that preciptate and rash enterprise, which
has cost the country hundred and twenty millions
of dollars and thirty thousand lives-would have
taught the Administration some moderation and
that we would have been prompted, in extending
aid and cooperation to the people of Yucatan,
purely by phianthropical motives and purposes.
Are we to usurp the dominion of every portion of
this continent falling under the dominion of civiliz
ed man. Sir, the condition of the world ought to
oJu piuh. oil Wh1 ic rop0 IN and fro
at this moment9 What is the great charge that is
made against Guzot: what are the charges now
made against the British Government-that the
burdens attendant upon the war of our Revolution
did not terminate with that Revolution Has not
that been the case in this country Has there been
any alienation Of the burdens of debt growing out
of the Revolution and out Of the of 1872? Has
there been any mitigation of the expenses of the
war of 1922 Nor sir. We have gone forward
with rapidty in our expenditures far far outrun-
ming either England, France, or any other country
in the world. MIR. Monroe administered this Co
vernment for eight years, terminating in 1926 at an
annual cost not exceeding weivemiliions of dollars
TWenty-three years have since elapsed, and our
population has perhaps been doubled In that time.
suppose we may think ourselves fortunate II We
can now get along with an expenditure OF thirty
millions. The annual expenditures of the Govern
ment are now nearly double as much as they were
when we had the war OF 1872 on our hands. Yet
we are establishing a precedent that will involve
lis in cost the amount of which no man can tell.
Sir am willing to respect the feelings of humanity
as far as be done with propriety and had the
matter been put upon that broad ground, would
not have offered word of objection. should be
readily disposed to crafty these feelings BY extend
ing relief to these people, who placed in one of
the most calamtous conditions in which any people
can be placed But it would seem to me that there
is an intention to urge upon this body the adoption
of course of policy which cannot sanction. l
do not say that it is intended; can hardly believe
that it is but must lament that the President has
thought fit to indulge in such views upon such an
occasion.
The case of Yucatan, Mr.. President, is an awful
case, and one from which we may derive instruc-
ton. They, acting upon the idea that all men are
entitled to>the enjoyment of iberty-that one man
is as good as another-lberated all those whom we
choose to call slaves They liberated those degra-
ded and ignorant beings to level with themselves
placed them upon terms of equality and to that |
is to be attributed for thus acting contrary to the
dictates of truth and nature) the evils which they
are now suffering. These manumitted slaves have
wheeled around and become their murderers; and |
such must be the end and result with all the false
of the age, in any country where such |
a course is adopted.