The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1848-05-20

GEN. CAss's SPEECH ON YUcATAN-In the u.
S. Senate, the 10th inst, the debate being upon
the bill for relieving Yucatan, Mr.. Cass addressed
the Senate at length He referred to a remark
made recently by the Honorable Senator from Con-
necticut (r. Niles) and insisted that it was right
for the President seek information upon this,
of the most important questions which had ever
been laid before Congress-one Of the most extra
ordinary cases of humanity ever presented to the
world All the facts had been communicated so
soon as they were obtained-there had been no de-
Ian on the part of the Executive-and now that
they had all the information necessary, he hoped
there would be prompt action.
There is great question OF public safety, he
said, introduced in the question: based on the doc
trine promulgated by Mr. Monroe, reiterated by
MIR. Polk in his message two years ago, and re-
peated In his present message. The Senator from
Ohio foresaw, two years ago, the existence of
state of things like the present, and urged the
sIderatlon OF resolution on the subject but with
out success The foundation of the doctrine is,
that we have interests and institutions of our own,
opposed to these of the European Continent, which
it is our duty to LOOK after and protect-that we
should cut loose entirely from European Govern
ments, leaving them to the full enjoyment of their
institutions if they prefer them, simply desiring that
they will not interfere with the policy which we
have deemed it necessary to adopt on this Con-
tinent.
No one, he said, can doubt that the decree has
gone forth, that the period is fast approaching,
when the last foothold of European domination on
this continent must be reinquished. Yet Yucatan
is of vast importance to England, and it does not
follow, because there may be an entire and funda-
mental change in the government of England, that
England will not remain, that her people will not
remain, and that her policy will not remain. She
has now chance to make an acquisition IN the
same manner all her Colonies have been obtained,
he believed, with the exception OF Scotland. Would
she hesitate, when her interest is to be promoted,
and her character for humanity elevated
He understood that there were four companies
of British troops actually in the Southern pro-
vince of Yucatan, thus indicating the intention of
England in this matter. If I'VE refuse now to come
to the assistance of Yucatan, and England takes
possession we shall have no cause to complain.
And when had England, after once obtaining pos
session of a country, relinqushed it +. She might
do it in the case of 4ucatan, but 1t would be the
first time.
The consequences to the United States of allow
ing England to take possession, were pointed out
the immense power which it would give her, with
her feet also planted in Cuba, and in the Bahamas,
the control of the Gulf of Mexico would be lost to
lis. He had no belief that England would now
attempt to obtain by force possession of Yucatan-
in that he agreed with the Senator from South Car
oIina-but she might and probably would use the
peaceabe measures now in her power to obtain pos
session, unless we afforded the protection required.
She would then possess the gate TO the great artery
which commands one-half our empire.
He then went into an examination of the facts
connected with the present condition Of Yucatan,
and her relations to Mexico. He drew the concur
sion from these, that Yucatan is an Independent
Government-as entirely separate from Mexico, as
she is from China. But if this were otherwise,
and we were at peace with Mexico, he would still
interfere from motives of humanity. The terms of
the armistice required that things should remain as
they were. No armstice would be construed to
permit one party to overrun the country and require
the other to sit by quietly without interference. 1t
was our duty, under the armistice, even admitting
Yucaan to be part of Mexico to interfere for her
protection.
The argument which had been used for years on
all questions of such character the danger of
involving the country in war had lost perhaps
by its frequent repetition and in its frequent reu-
tation by the course of events all its terrors. Not
withstanding frequent predictions to the contrary,
our country yet remained with the strongest Go
vernment on the face of the earth.