Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-05-13
CONGRESSIONAL


:
In SENATE--FRDAy, MAY 5.
The Senate having under consideration the bill to enable
the President Of the United States to take temporary military
occupation Of Yucatan--
Mr. HANNEGAN said When the message Of the Pre-
siden was received and before il referred the commit
tee the hope that action and prompt and decd
ed action would be taken In pursuance OF the ecommenda
ton Of the message without debate at least without oppo
sition satisfied however, from what has TRANSFERRED
that have opposition anticipate and, in opening the
ter at this time shall con6ne myself to very few obserya
tions and those mostly reply TO the suggestions which fell
from the Senator from South Carolina Saturday Those
they suggestions rather than
comprise believe the only objections that have been
be offered upon the merits Of the question, and without fur
Their premise or preface shall proceed consider
them in the order in which they present themselves to me-
The Senator expresses his surprise that the President should
have taken occasion Of this kind to recommend Con-
gress the armed occupation Of Yucatan for temporary
period He ponounces to be, in his opinion mop
perfume and points with alarm the results which are oo
low But the distinguished Senator has failed to point
the results which he to consider 30 formidable. my
SELF after the closest and deliberate scrutiny which
have been able give the subject have unable to dis
cover the alarming dangers which, like hidden ledge orocks
beneath the smooth surface of the in the Senator's app
henso covered by the plain and explicit language Of the
message. The meaning Of the message appears to me- is
obvious the there plainly and clearly stated and
also fully given in the documents which accompany Yucca
applies the United States for assistance protect her
people against the barbarous who pursuing hem
their wives and families to the They appeal TO by
every obligation which hold dear to their rescue
or else in few short months from this period they
exist The President presents the Congress- and
the committee to whom the subject referred report bill
strictly in accordance with the recommendation which the
message contains bill be drawn We propose by the
bill the discretion Of the President furnish to
Yucaan munitions of and all necessary of defence
and protection. We PROPOSE moreover to allow him to alb
stract from Mexico, or from any part Of the United States,
L~~I
haps before this day in possession Of the capital Of Yuca
We propose 60 further than this The President
does ask for The permanent occupation Of Yucaan The
bill expressly prohibits the thoughts declares by its title that
it shall be but temporary military occupation. No man has
dreamed as yet far know of the permanent occupa-
ton Of the territory Of Yucatan. There are motves how
ever which may lead to such result As the Senator from
South Carolina has remarked, may be led we know not
where Considerations may arise which will lead beyond
FIRST intentions, and render it imperative that should
convert this temporary occupation into something
thus frank in the outset for desire disguise Let be
remembered however, that these my individual feel
ings and opinions, and that speak only for myself.
Sir there is formidable power in Europe menacing
American interests in that country and let add American
institutions too That power is Fastening with racehorse
speed to seize upon the entire sthmus Heretofore, by slow
degrees according her usual policy England has got pos
session various points along the Gulf the Ishus
Now sir have authentic information that this hour,
despite tho assertion of the Senator from South Carolina
whose information and whose opinions always hold in the
the Senator that England has enough attend do home
and will attempt interfere with the affairs Of Yucatan
have authentic information that she has neered in the
affairs Of Yucaan already England has seized upon the
rtory of the Belize. She holds that absolutely Farther
south the whole Mosquito is in her possession and if
openly agents she has advanced her troops and
uay seized upon tho southern portion Of Yucatan undert the
petence Of taking Of British interests there England
enough do take Of her affairs home ~ Eng
land never saw the day when she had enough TO do at home
Since the remarks of the Senator from South Carolina
made Saturday. the steamer has arrived with the nte
gence that while all the other Of Europe convused
and distracted with internal dssensons England has had the
ability without shedding single drop Of blood, alay the
tempest that threatening disturb her domestic ranqu
ty, and laugh the hreatenngs of her dsaeced subjects
England had do at home prevent her
from extending her power all the habtabe globe Eng
land chershes the design, this moment the
practicable route for artificial of communication be-
the oceans and to effect that object she is grau
ally and rapidly absorbing the entire lsthmus Unless act
she will accomplish her purpose Does any suppose for
moment that the miserable traffic dye woods which the
principal article Of there what leading England
steadily and regularly TO seize, foot by foot oil the territory
OF which she obtain possession in that quarter Of the gobe
No II the great and mighty object which have just in
Dictated In Yucasn she has another and higher object
She has in fact double purpose The first relates herself
but the second strikes directly at Look the position Of
Yucaan Look upon the map-see how she stands out in
almost uxtaposition with Cuba. She shakes hands with
Cuba The possession OF Yucatan by England would soon
be followed by the possession Of Cuba doubt
that IL she secure Yucaan now five years hence we shall see
her in possession Of Cuba. doubt than do my
existence doubt it than doubt that the
will put forth their leaves and that the grass will itself
SPRING II is inevitable Every indication points it,
The conduct Of England tends directly to IT, We have
may say, authentic information that this very hour she is
taking steps accomplish that object Give her Yucaian and
Cuba and what win be the result That very instant
Gulf Of Mexico will be under her control II becomes mare
clausun The whole Of the United States from Cape
Sable to the mouth Of the Rio Bnvoa coast with all It's
sinuose nearly thousand miles in extent-is locked
as possibly could be by fortified positions Cuba has been
called the key Of the Gulf Yucatan and Cuba combined are
the lock and key Place them In the hands Of England and
she controls the mouth Of the Mississippi as absolutely
controls the mouth Of the Thames We shall not be able to
60 in out without her permission l. not enough that
she holds all the pariime power Of the North Atlantic coast
Is sufficient that she holds Halifax standing
doeshat mighty observatory, the prominent feature Of
the coast Shall stand still, quietly folding arms
while she is proceeding thus 10 hem and encirce with
her possessions Shall we, BY rejecting this BILL show that
we willing to acquicsce In her sggressonsl
Sir will the American Government stand quietly by and
England take possession Of Yucstsnand If we refuse
she will do So for she is acting in has taken
the first step the Governor Of Jamaica has been already APP
pealcd TO- and he viii probably respond that appeal before
five fold and refuse to render assistance
drive back the savages and protect Yucaan the proab
ty isnay it is q certanty-thst England will seize upon
Yucaan and afterwards upon Cuba. There Is feature
in this correspondence TO which especially desire call the
attention Of the Senate 10 show the design Of England The
auson Of the letters Of Mr.. Sierra the commissioner
Of Yucaan, Is broad not be misundcrstood that
Fnoland In absouey through her anents these