Weekly national intelligencer., 1848-05-13

We male war upon what we call the sayages of Yucaan
70 prevent from numbering or TO punish them for
daring the white inhabitants Of Iucaan England France,
~ Snan makes war upon because she alleges have
teered needessy and unnecessarily putting death the
aboriginal inhabitants of the country. Thus, s is got
p on all sides in of humanity and in the of
humanity there confused slaughterng spreading
throughout the world Ii may be Ought not, then,
10 be little careful-however laudabe may be the motives
which mpe us however active may be feelings OF bene-
VIOLENCE that do suffer ourselves this instance 10
violate of those great principles upon which the security
and peace Of and of nations by msgude
humanity and by the dangerous example which SET,
aid in the suveson of the peace and order of society," and
add those very evils which depecae, and in the vain
hope of aveing which embark in this war There will
be there will be OF wars And when will they
cease how they TO be made TO cease BY our inter-
position the inerposon Of the army OF single nation!
No; is higher and mghie Power alone that can stay
the Of war; destructive unjust war; waged in
rou quarters of the globe. How many unjust
going in the world How many wars comparatively are
Just Very few There but few of which history gives
any Mr. President, TO upon these new
schemes, Ours has been the safe doctrine and policy Of nom
intervention We meddls with none, and allow to
meddle with We cannot take too much to maintain
that policy now and forever We shall acquire honor
in that way than any other We shall contribute most TO
the principle Of among men BY that course rather
than by adopting active intervention upon whatever plausible
preext. II is the safest and best for not that
would not il were in the way save who assaed,
the distressed the feeble from the hands OF the
murderer but cannot upon general principles undertake
the correction OF these and the persecution OF these
savages BY any general system OF national policy we can
nation adopt such policy. If we do bring upon
ourselves certain destruction, and do not accomplish the OBJ
ject at which aim.
But Mr. President there beyond all this entire want
Of the necessary information upon this subject that will enable
nerpose with Justice We hear but side upon this
question. without information to the other side oi he
question. entirely without information 10 the merits
of this warfare which waged in Yucaan It's mode is said
TO be an unlawful one-one ndscrmnate slaughter That
wrong ITSELF whatever be the merits OF the conro
versy But before ntelpose ought TO know some
thing of the merits Of the controversy itself Who complains
Are they the majority Of the people of the country Undoub
edly they minority They must be IN minori
ty how could they here men and seek sup
plants for the assistance of foreign nation And We
without examination, simply upon the cry Of the minority, to
interfere and take and uheaih swords against
the majority Why to do would be in violation OF the
principle that recognise the foundation Of government
We presume here that the majority right and It seems TO
but fair that should carry out the principle The per-
agans, whom this complaint is made Of carrying
nhuman warfare the aboriginal inhabitants Of the country
What is their condition am for one but very mperecy
informed respecting it.
Mr. HANNEGAN, lin his seat.) They are savages.
Mr.. CRrTTENDEN do not understand il So If so,
what mighty reproach be to the who calling
TO Us for assistance.
Mr.. HANNEGAN. The whites muster but thousand
troops
Mr.. CRITTENDEN. For three hundred years they have
governed these people and been teaching them religion and
giving them knowledge and education And they come
and tell US that these people still savages when Church
and State have had them under their direction for three hun
dred They have been very badly governed and
the Government must have been very unjust at least
very unpaenta one if after three hundred years Of subec
tcn, they still in their savage Now, appehend
my friend good deal mistaken. They may be savages in
point OF education and information comparison with what
have called sayages The relation which they sustain in
Yucatan is not the relation which the savages OF country
have borne towards These people citizens There
such thing slavery there in the legal of the
Mr.. CLAYTON, Gin his seat.) They have the right Of
suffrage.
Mr.. CRTTTENDEN. They enjoy civil rights; but such
civil rights and such enjoyment OF them the laws OF Spanish
colonization have LEFT the conquered people Of South me
nca-a state Of sutugaiion acknowledge. But what are
these people attempting do in ucaan than has been
done by these people in Guatemala which have considered
Government, and which send diplomatic agent
What they doing but what has been successfully done by
the people Of Guatemala about twenty when OF
their Chiefs the head of the Indian popuatonwho would
be better understood in this country we were to call them
native Mexicans the inhabitants of the country
throwing off the yoke of the spanad established govern
ent for themselves They have up against the de.
scendants Of the Spanard by whom they FIRST
queed have ovehrown them, and have governed st cou
try very well from that time the present. iknow Of no
difference between these Indians and those who termed
savages in Yucstan but may be mistaken. wish great
deal information than have before can venture
to for this bill. If our humanity must nerpcse Iwoum
rather send umpire examine the justice OF the
before should take part with either de Let be at least
judges before become execuoners. II
tremely unwise, and maniesiy unjust, enter into
trovey the character OF aber and Judge without know
ing any thing whatever Of its merits While say al this
there nothing short Of entangng ourselves with this pn
cple Of Intervention, presented, nothing short OF
adopting it principle Of policy that would not be viii
ing do to the descendants OF these Spanad the
white possessors Of fucatan, from the cruees TO which
have doubt they exposed No doubt IL Is cruel
warfare We may infer that from the parties engaged in il
Who are they We all know. They the aboriginal
inhabitants Of the country who for three hundred have
been the victims OF msgoyenment and cruelty for three hun
dred years they have suffered the oppression Of the Spanish
yoke. They have worn II upon their CALLED necks That
the warfare between these after the accumulation Of
such debt of vengeance should be exasperated and utterly
opposed all the dictates OF justice and humanity will not be
regarded surprising by any who knows human
But would stand by, If could prevent il, and
behold the accomplishment Of this work Of vengeance.
would arrest it, if could would negotiate between these
parties would put them peace with the other; and
could succeed, and found that party without
cause muderng their innocent neghbors, would not hes
tate for arrest TIE blow But as for banIshng
army Of citizens that territory, there TO remain
know how long, that is another question altogether
How long they remain there Suppose the sasages
reco aud fee the Businesses Of which informed 10
these documents there nourh the vengeance which our
ineposon has restricted will not be only to pounce upon
their prey withdraw Does not my honorable
friend from Indiana perceive that occupation OF the terri
tory may be almost ntsrmnable II object be TO protec,
the Inhabitants remain there 10 protect them
until the vengeance of the Indians be exnguished And
how long will be ill these fifty thousand OF the white race
shall become srong enough protect themselves Are
bafa To