Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1848-05-10
Affairs In Yucafan-M Message tf a
Presidont-Acfi0n ef COngreSe.

BY reference TO our Telegraphic reports
Il VIII be seen that Mr.. Hannegan, the
Chairman Of the COMMITTEES on Foreign
Affairs in the Senate, has reported bin.
70 enable the President To- take militayy
possession Of the province Of Yucatan.
fhe scenes Of suffering, occasioned bv
the inroads Of the savages, daily Witnessed
An Yucatan, are hearf.rending in the on.
treme. M
On Saturday, the President cemmunica.
ted a Message to Congress, transmitting
the applicationofi the Conimtssionsrof Yue.
atan, for projection. Ii is as follows:
MESSAGE OF TIE PRESIDENT.
To the Senate and H0ase Of Rspressnsar
55ss & ssst ssSF
submit for the consideration Of Con-
gress, several communications received az
the Department Of State from Mr. Jus,o
Sierra, commissioner of Yucatar,; and also
a communication from she goysrnmsn,. or
that State, representing the condition Of
extreme suffering to which their country
has been reduced by an ipsurrection Of
the Indians within its limits, and asking he
aid Of the United States. These scoursu-
nicaiions present a case Of human snffsripR
and misery which cannot fail 10 excite the
SymPathies Of oil civilized nations. From
those and other sources of information. II
nppsnrs that the lndians of Yucafan are.
waging war of extirmination against the
white race. IN this civil war they spare
neither nge nor sex. but put 10 death. indis.
criminately. all who fall within their pow.
er. The inhabitants, panic stricken, and
destitute Of arms. are fying before their
enemy, nId their determination would
seem to be Inevitable unless they can eb.
tain assistance. In This condition Afhey
have through their eonsttured authoritiss,
fmplored the mid of this government to save
them-from destruction; offering, In case
this should be granted. TO tranfer the do.
minion and sovereignty Of the Peninsulass
the United States. Similar appeals for
aid and protection have been made to the
Spanish and English. Whist it is not my
purpose to recommend the adoption Of any
measures with view to the acqnisition Of
dominion and sovereignty over Yucatan,
vet, according to our established policy, we
would not consent to transfer Of this do.
minion and sovereignty either to. Spain,
Great Britain, or any other European pow
er.
In the language Of President Monroe, in
his annual Message Of December, 1919, we
should consider any attempt on their part
to extend their system to any portion of this
hemisphere, as dangerous to our peace and
safety. In my Annual Message of Decem-
ber, 1916, declared that nearly q quarter
of century ago the principle was distinct
Ely announced to the world in the annual
| message of one of my predecessors, that the
| American continent, by the free and inde-
pendent condition which it has assumed and
maintained !, is henceforth not to be consider.
| ed subject for future colonization BY any
European power. This principle will apply
| with greatly increased force should any. En-
ropean power attempt toestablish any new
colony in North America. In the existing
! circumstances of the world, the present IL
deemed aproper occasion to reitsrafe and
re-afirm the principle axowed by Mr.
Monroe, and to state my cordial concur.
renee in its wisdom and policy. 4i-' fots s,'i
The reassertion Of this principle especial
ly in reference to North America, is,s sat this
day, but the promulgation of a policy which
no European power should cherish the dis
position to resist. The existing rights Of
every European nation should be respected;
but it is due alike. to our safety and our ia-
terest that the efficient protection Of euf
laws should be extended over our whole ter.
ritorial limits; and it should be distinctly
announcedto che world as our settled policy,
that no future European colony or domin-
ion shall, withour consent, be planted or
established on any. part of the American
continent. Our own security requires that
the established policy fhss announced should
guide our conduct, and this applies with
great force to the Peninsula of Yucatan. Il
is situated in the Gulf of Mexico, on the
North American continent; and from its
vicinity to Cuba, to the Capes Of Florida, ito
New Orleans, and, indeed to eur whole
southwestern coast, it would, be dangerous
to our peace and security if it should be-
come a colony of any European snation.--&
We have now authentic information tkat If
the aid asked from the United States be not
granted, such aid will probably be obtained
from some European power, which may
hereafter assert a claim to dominion and
sovereignty over Yucatan. Our existing
relations with Yucatan are of peculiar
character, as will be perceived from the note
of the Secretary totheir commissioner, dated
on the s24th of December last, copy Of
which is herewith transmitted. Yucatan
has never declared her independence, and
we have treated her as State of the Mexi-
can Republic. For this reason we have
never of6cially received her Commissioners
but whilst this is the case, we have to q
considerable extent, recognized her asa
neutral in our war with Mexico. Whilst
still considering Yucatan as n portion II