Weekly national intelligencer., 1848-06-03
SPEECH OF Mr.. DAVIS,
or MASSACHUSETTS,
On me Proposed Occupation Of Tucatal.
IN SENATE, Nay II, 1913.

conne myself 10 the amendment, which alone is approp
aey under discusson discriminate between the amend
men and toe bill but rather to the general question which is
presented for the consideration of the Senate. Some time
ago. sr, admonshed that message would be sent
by the Executive demanding immediate attenton-a
message emergen in its character, relating matter
generally understood in the Senate which admitted of de-
lay The message came here, sir, accompanied by certain
documents and thereon bill reported, the title ofwhich
you have just read bill sir proposing take temporary
military occupation OF the State OF Yucatan and proposing
10 send our assistance many suppose, TO country dis
ressed and demanding aid from humanity the
habants from determination; not TO send them troops to
in maintaining their jurisdiction their territory and
thus establishing their authority but to take possession in
own name and maintain II IN own right, by establishing
government Of 1t is not therefore, ques-
ton OF humanity, but of appropriation TO use,
and therefore involves considerations of very grave character
and for one greatly obliged to the honorable Senator from
South Carolina, who SO promptly met this subject at tue out
SET and warned the public of its Importance 1t here,
sir, assuming preeS, the claims of humanity That
the principal ground upon which at first IL placed.
There has been information repeatedly demanded since upon
the subject and we have, believe, no less than three install
mens OF documents and messages in print which have
been furnished by the Executive which lying my
table, furnishing information relative TO this subect and sir
upon what bass does the matter stand at this moment If
be mtsd express opinion, with all due respect
TO gentlemen ~ho take contrary positions would that all
grounds of humanity substantially abandoned and that we
are called on now to act upon question ofexpedency IL
seems to me- SIR To have assumed that shape and orm and
for one greatly obliged the chairman of the Committee
Foreign Relations foi his frankness He did not in the
course OF his remarks omit TO urge duty the OF
humanity still he chiefly discussed the higher and i'm
porant bearing Of the questionable expedency acquiring
the territory for The chairman OF the Com
mee Military Affairs the distinguished Senator from
ch who occupied attention through the day yese
day. employed the greater portion of his time in aborng to
prove that cny expedifnt but duty take pos
session, in way by MEANS which he does not
very satisfactorily expn of the whole coast Of the Gulf of
Mex!co and why this necessary expedient Because
argued the gentleman for the interest of this country SO
TO do We have he urged great passing through
this gulf which may be interrupted by others if they possess
the adjacent country, and therefore ought, for
security, 10 hold the whole That is the argument sir
stripped OF all psusbiy; this is the object 10 be attained
at present dwelling longer upon this aspect of the is
enough for here say that the question has become
very important has become that demands the
grayest consideration Of this Government and may involve
consequences OF very alarming character.
First, then, sir, desirable understand why is that
the Iucaanese sppy for aid and armed force and
secondly the terms upon which is proposed that shall
lend our ard and assistance We told, sir that in Yuca-
there exists ciy war; and that the parties en-
gagged in the contest applies 10 the United States for assist
ance This party represented to be the existing Govern
men Of Yucatana Government that sends here the repre-
enaon that she has 10 hold in subecion the
position existing against il and is incapable Of sup
porting itself against that opposition and that the force arrayed
against is irresistible il character that unless assistance
extended 10 eventually
overwhen the Government, il does not extermnae the
white altogether That is the substance Of the epresen
taion made this subject That, according 10 the
Of the commissioner the condition Of the party which
applies 10 for assistance Sir is said be be-
tween races-castes OF deny this Mr. President. II
be meant when that assertion is made, that there is
surrec,on in which the whole Indian indigenous OF
Iucatan arrayed against the white population affirm
that the contents OF the documents upon table justify
such conclusion. On the contrary of the officers Of
own Government, Mr. Mekenney, OF the navy in his des
patch points the of this ebeion-he portion OF
the country in which has and does rage and the number Of
the population engaged in H. He estimates the number of
these Indians thus engaged including all ages and sexes
hundred and twenty thousand. Now, appears an
indputabe fact that the whole amount of this class Of the
population Of Yucaan between five and six hundred thou
sand The amount unable present determine
10 my satisfaction but gentlemen all around estimate
to be greater. OF these FIVE hundred thousand In
dians them only hundred and twenty thousand
engaged in instruction civil The remainder
passive and obeden TO all existing law deny then,
that this between the waged generally in Yuca
tan. II embraces only inconsderable portion Of the nd
genous Indian race, and is general rising to exterm
the whites These dispatches emphatcaly confirm this
view This officer (Mr McKenney) well others,
inform Us that the mixed partly Spanish, partly Indian,
have their sympahes and feelings upon the question in dis
puie, which decidedly with the Indians
might notice, sr, another fact stated by Of
officers IN his despatch that this commenced with
out provocaon given the Indians the part Of
those who appeal for aid Sir, have heard bat
vide OF the question, stated In such terms and with such
gravaons selneest dictates. Are these Indians war;
has been suggested Tor the love of blood from desire
70 eNermnaie their white associates s because they have
been wronged and seeking redress by force Of
uee not enter here upon the injustice that has been done 10
the from time mnemoria but may state their recent
wrongs, may that through their aid aud insru
mentality that eleven thousand Of the Mexcn troops, under
the command Of Santa Anna invasion Of the State of
ucaian by the Mexican Government expelled from the
borders Of that province Sir they may be ferocious, but if
the evidence i reliable they brave and fearless people,
IN consequence Of the aid thus furnished them by the lJdans
against their invaders the Government OF fucatan promised
Them 70 remit the cipaion iaxan odous, oppressive
tion. Their then Governor, Mendez, who by Of their
ponuneamentos superseded Barbachano holding the
situation refused abide by the OF his agreement
he gave orders 10 have the collected though he had been
pad WIN blood foI tie remission refusal followed and the
consequence wa', Lieut. Hcrndon Of the navy states,
some oil the Indians huchered That the way, sir
the war begin-n Rad faith and cruel murder by Men
dcz and bis party Tie Government refused TO fulfil their
solemn arrangement entered into with this humble but brave
people refusing The privilege which they bad purchased with
their blood, and the result is what might be anticipated from
such ireacSery, civil That sir understand TO be the
presen, condition Of these sees-the origin OF the
We find, sir that these Yucatancse who come here solicit
ing our assistance represented in the dispatches not only
the weaker party, bu pusIlanmous miserable people,
utterly incapable Of defending or protecting themselves proof
Of which VIII be found ia the letter Of Commodore Perry.
Lieut. Mason, who has associated with them freely calls them
cowardy race, and another Of our officers expresses IL
bis opinion that they are incapable OF making any substantial
defence against the esoue force aayed against them. AT
page IL Of the same despatch il is said that after having
an and