The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-05-19
MrELLIGEscE Bv the MANS.
W4sBs5gos, aag rs isls
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T'' ~ 'E'-
Tucdtan.
The Senate is now engaged IN debating billto
authorize the President take military possession
of Yucatan. The measure, as reported, is stamped
with rashness, folly, and stupidity Its history l..
utterly disgraceful. The President was invoked
months ago, to send relief to the unfortunate Yucca
tecoes. To the touching and earnest appeals Of
Mr.. Sierra, he was deaf, because measures of re-
lief adopted at that time, would have grown stalls
and have lost their effect before the meeting of the
Baltimore convention. AT length, two weeks ago,
the measure was recommended to Congress- in q
message from the President, and bill was imme-
dately reported by the chairman of the committee
OF foreign affairs This bill authorizes the Presi-
dent to do three things-to take military possession
OF lucatan-to sell arms and munitions of war To
the white population, at whatever price he may
choose to put upon henl--and 10 raise an additional
number OF volunteers, to supply the place of the
forces Withdrawn from the army in Mexico for the
purpose specified. II alleges no reason Tor the act
no grounds Tor this hasty determination 10 seiz.
upon foreign State, and hold her IN military bon
dagr. Ii rs the mere skeleton OF n plan designed
for aught that appears its face for no other pu,
pose than to take torcbIe pnssession Of the country
The bill has all the appearance Of having been
got up IN q hurry, or by one who was wholly mex
perienced IN such matters Why is there not some
man at the head of the Committee Of Foreign All
fairs who is at least capable of drafting blu 3
Perhaps the President has drawn it up, and do
MT. lidnnepun injustice. III 80, Mt. ltlnnegun
should never have sanctioned tn, belief that to
himself 1t owes its paternity. So wild scheme IN
language lame and unfashionable-neve
before was presented to the Senate to be enacted
into a law.
Already it has been found necessary 10 patch it
twice. Mr. Davis, of Mississippi, introduced an
amendment, which Is, unfortunately, no improve
ment on the original, as wild and eytrayagant a.
is the latter. The amendment offered by Mr..
Lewis covers the whole deficiency. II sets forth,
in the form of preamble, the cause of our inter
terence.the fact OF war being waged by the In
dams. of Yucatan, threatening the extinction of
the white racethat Yucatan is entitled to the pro-
lection of the Mexican government-that Mexico,
by our military operations, Ii crippled and incapl
citated from atfordng that protection in Mex
leo our authority is substituted for that of her
government; and, therefore, that we, having super
seeded the power OF Mexico, should assume the pro-
lection of Yucatan until the former shall be able
to reassllme 1t.
Assistance should be rendered freely speedily,
cordially. Not day should be lost. It would be
monstrous nhumanity to defer egisatlng so long
that subsequent action would be fruiess. TO
waste time IN mere words, therefore, would be to
trfe crimlnally with the lives of our feow-men;
but nevertheless it is just as well to have a bill ia
some degree Ineligible as the stupid, laundering
thing that has been reported 1t is besides neces,
sary that our actions should be placed in a proper
light before the world, especially before the go
vernment of Mexico, with which we are at this
moment negotiating.
Mr.. Calhoun's speech of yesterday on this qucs-
ton seemed very like argument against his
own convictions. But nevertheless, there was one
conclusion in which every body must agree with
despatched by the President if he had been
actuaed by motives of humanity. Very few
will coincide with Mr.. Calhoun in the view
that the less courage the Yucatecoes have dis
sern we should manifest to prevent their exter-
mination. However well it may SOUND his is
not humane sentiment. 1t should not matte TO
us whether they be brave or cowardly. u they
all thp nor ntarfor
would be as much matter of duty, and as mertorl-
Gus, as if they were Spartans in bravery.
But it appears that MIR. Polk desires to take mill
tary possession of Yucatan, with view to its per-
manent occupation. 1t is to be hoped that the Sc
nate will not permit the American people to be
again mortified by Mr.. Folks dabblng in foreign
policy ;, His conduct IN the Oregon question, the
certainly to have Inundated us sufficiently. His
convulsve efforts at show of holiness have ex-
posed the country to ridicue. Shaking his fist in
the face OF England, and then going down on hia
knees at the first motion of her understanding
Mr. Wise In boarding the beardless Emperor Of
Brazil, because he dreaded Mr.. Wise, and after
wards sustaining Mr.. Tod, when that jewel of Il
minister plcnipotentiary had aboriousy endeavor-
ed to throw dscredt on Mr.. Wise and upon his
country-as TO Mexico the less said, perhaps the
better.
II, then, it be the intention of Congress- If il be
the desire of the American people, to take posses
sion of Yucatan or Cuba, any other foreign de-
tendency, let the measure be postponed, by all
means until 1t can be carried INTO execution by
man of nerve-by some one whose caution is not
the consequence of his fears, and who will not pass
off buster for bravery. Ii may be said the next
choice of the politicians may be as bad. Mr.. Polk
has happily rendered such a chance impossible
There is but one of those named in connection with
the Presidency who at all approaches him and
that PERSONS unfitncss is fortunately too prominent
to admit of any apprehension of his nomination,
In this connection, ] would remark that the
representations of Mr.. Dalas's friends as to his
prospects in the convention are very Idle and very
groundless. 1t is absolutely impossible that Mr..
Dallas can be nominated; and admitting that he
WERE he would stand just as much chance of cleo
ton as John p Hale, or the hltless Prophet. !
should perhaps apologize to Mr.. Dallas for placing
him in Juxta position with the former individual;
hut the illustration Is apt He would IN all proba-
bty carry, in Presidential election, the de-
mocracy of the city and county of Philadelphia;
bu, even there he could not get majority. As to
carrying any State the idea IS preposterous.
GAIvIEysTs