Weekly national intelligencer., 1848-06-03


produced caIamtous which is yet ended, 1t
all certain when it will be- that ID wasting the
uabe lives of czens and loading US with an accumula
on of debt which will opprss for many years 1t is too
manifest admit of doubt, that if under existing circum
Yucatan settle domestic quaes, and for
the purpose of establishing authority there, shall be in
the greatest danger of nerupng the negotiations going
on and of perpeuaing the
But have thus far followed chiefly the views OF those
who profess to be influenced by humanity There how
ever other alleged for the adoption Of this
which throw all considerations of humanity into the shade.
Indeed cannot help thinking that humanity Is already sub
sanay laid out of the question, and medaiing in
its stead an ambitious aggressive policy Humanity, fear,
has become mere pretext to cover other designs
The Senator from Michigan hardly condescended to notice
the argument OF humanity, but placed himself on oher and,
IN my opinion, slarmng and dangerous ground what
did he undertake establish elaborate speech the doc
rne which ought prevail in this country Why, that
shall possess ourselves Of the whole along the Gulf of
Mexico do not know that he advised to direct interference
by violence but if did not misunderstood him altogether,
he thought wise and expedent that the policy Of this
try should be directed to that contingency with great earnest
Il may be very convenient for this country to possess
the Gulf of Mexico, and may have the greater security to
borders the result desirable object truly Blu, il
is worthy of the consideration of the Senate whether il is
peden to compromt the peace of this country and wade
through blood and desoaton To- the attainment of such
object Whether, in word it is desirable to provoke hos
les with countries capable of doing much greater mis-
chief than Mexico.
was not Mr. President quite able the force jus
ce the reasoning adopted by the Senator from Michigan
He sketched at much length the geographical position OF Mex
co also of Cuba and the breadth OF the channels leading into
and of the Gulf and enjoyed by the and nav
cation Of the world He proceeded to extend his IDEAS sir
proportion to the extent of his subject shadowing forth
views of our gory of brilliant destiny and of the
sy which existed order the continuance Of that glory
and prosperity of taking possession of the gulf to make
for the trade and population OF this country Did he
far enough sir IL the honorable gentleman could acquire
all he aims possess embracing the of the entire Gulf
hcuhax he shedt
and navigation then be out of the reach of English
power Look the track of trade and you will find that the
West India and Bahama Islands all in the way to
primary ownership There much and moe necessity for
possessing them for possessing either of the other points
alluded to- In channel the great highway of trade,
lie the Bahamas with every of annoyance good harbors
and abundant resources and in the other Jamaca equally
potential, and controlling from position Malta is in the
Mediterranean What will he do with another difficulty that
exists He proposes to possess himself of Yucaan Very
WELL where Belize and who possesses it This colony lies
the limits of Yucatan and possessed by the English
maruders has been thrown out, but under lawful title
They have undoubed possession of that country and that
possession is sanctioned by all the soemnes of treaty of
ancient date Who that has been attentive to the history Of
and navigation does not know that the English have
had establishments upon the waters of the Bay of Honduras
for centuries For period Of eighty years they held jurs
dcton considerable portion Of the Mosquito coast At
the time of the Treaty Of l7s3 which established the depen
dence of this country in the general settlement made only
between Great Britain and the United States but between
Great Britain, Spain and France treaty agreed upon
between Spain and Great Blain, which provision
inserted authorizing England occupy and enjoy forever this
country called Belize for the purpose Of cutting ogwood
That right they have enjoyed until the present time When
my learned friend proposes dspossess the Yucaanese OF
their country and it to the United States because
the safety of trade demands il desire to know whether
he Belize and if this is intended by the bill
Mr.. WESTCOTr. The honorable Senator from Massa-
chusets msundesands that treaty he spposes grants
Great Britain any Of the sovereignty of the country merely
giants her the right of cutting logwood
Mr.. DAVIS. am under misapprehenson with regard
that treaty stated that its such authorize
the English reside there and logwooda grant of the
right Of possession made to them forever without limitation
They authorized build and occupy exclusively
this territory designated in the treaty; but while authorized
do this, they required dcmolsh a Notifications.
know of nothing, however, in that treaty which obds their
maintaining navy large they please and anchorng IT
in tnc Belize otherwise using the waters for its convent
ence There nothing in the treaty which restraints Great
Britain from thus using the pors employing them for any
purposes navigation The Belize the best the
whole country IL them do not it, the Bahamas
JAMAICA &C. have got rid Of Great Britain any other
country that has possessions in the Gulf upon the highways
leading 10 il Have you warded of The dangers that the
honorable Senator spprehends Sir he will have gained
inch towards his object This treaty. be sure, did
grant the sovereignty Of the Belize TO the English, but gave
them the privilege Of maintaining their possessions there
which Just good grant, for all practical purposes
sovereignty ITSELF and any interference brings with just
serious consequences. difference whatever.
The Senator from Michigan dew very haering picture
future prosperity He spoke OF the being
alive that would behold in the valley Of the Mississippi
understood him. hundred millions Of inhabitants,
with all the wealth, grandeur, and commercial activity that
would grow OF that industrial people This he offer
ed a why should press forward by any means
that could Justify us and under the declaration Of Mr. Mon
roe If we can find better authority giving il inter
pretaon which nobody bat ourselves acquiesce in
possess ourselves Of this portion Of the country first to make
for growth aud, second, for fear Of being inter-
uped in trade and commerce by other trading
nu,h / The has
mistaken The design and popular spirit Of this Govern
men entirely. speak Of what ought to be, sir, and with
reference to the elements Of which tits composed We
responsible Government ruling under the authority Of the
people OF the country They appoint their agents
delegates 10 Congress- and invest whomsoever they think
proper with practical exercise of the constitutional prov
sons for legislation Now, sir, such Government tn
whren public opinion is supreme, demands slate OF peace
A sagacious, enlightened comprehensive public mind can
alone be its only safe guide il is the soul OF public liberty
its BREATH its vitality and this soul must be nused in the lap
Of peace II is not Government that Is TO flourish under
the old idea Of the monachca and depoc States Of Europe
that true fame in long and brilliant history Of mill
ay achievements They spread their principles both political
and religious by the sword, literally living and dying by IT,
Bat sir, what il such propagandsn worth What will il
come 10 We may, by unparalleled bravery and skill raise
our flag foreign countries, and like the Romans establish
what we call free governments but all seed thus by
violence and boodshed WILL fear fail produce the peace
ful fruits Of public liberty.
would ask, Mr.. President il Il is not infinitely better to
rely for success upon the convieions Of men, upon the dis
summation Of Just and equitable principles upon the doctrines
Of peace upon the practical ufment Of the doctrines Of equal
rights and equal privileges These not the doctrines Of