The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1848-05-16
YUcATAN.

PREsrDENT's MEssAeE The following
Message sent 70 The Senate communicates
the application from the Government oi Yu,
catan, asking aid from the Uni,ed States for
their defence against the aggressions Of the
Indians, and offering, in the event Of such
aid being given, TO transfer the sovereignty
Of the county and its incidents 10 the Unis
TO the Senate s. House Of Representation
= | submit for the consideration OF Congress,
several communications received at the De-
partment OF State from MIR. Justo Sierra,
commissioner OF Yucatan; and also com
muncaiion from the government Of that
State, representing the condition of extreme
suffering to which their country has been re-
duced by an insurreciion Of the Indians with
in its limits, and asking the aid Of the Uni
led States. These communications present
a case of human suffering and misery which
cannot fail to excite the sympathies Of all
civilized uations. From these and other
sources of information, itappears that the In
dians of Yucaian are waging war of exier-
mination agains, the white race. In this
civil war they spare neither age nor sex, but
put to death, indscriminaiely, all who fall
within their power. The Inhabitants, panic
stricken, and destitute of arms. are flying
before their enemy. and their determination
would seem tn be inevitable unless they can
obtain assistance. &l 57ol3 aRao,hO
In this condition they have, through their
constituted authorities imploicd the aid Of
this government 10 save them from dis,ruc-
tion; offering in cuse this should be granted,
10 transfer the dominion and sovereignty Of
the Peninsula to the Uni'cd States. Simi.
lar appeals for aid and protection tavo been
made 10 the Spanish and English govern
nents. Whilst il is not my purpose TO re-
commend The adoption Of any measure with
a view to the acquisition Of dominion and
sovereignty over Yucatan, according, TO our
established policy, we would not consent 10
transfer of this dominion and sovereignty
either 10 Spain, Great B itain, or any otlet
European power. tn II e language Of Presi.
dent Monroe, in his Message of December,
1918. we should consider any attempt on
their part TO extend their sy stem 10 any por-
lions Of this hemisphere, as dangerous 10 our
peace and safety.
In my Annual Message of December,
1916, declared that nearly quarter Of
century ago. the principle was distinctly an
nounced TO the world in the annual Mess.
age Of one Of my predecessors, that the A.
merican continent, by the free and indepen-
dent cord ton which at has assumed g. main
tanned, is henceforh not be considered h
subject for future colonization by any Euro
pean power. This principle will apply
with greatly increased force should any Eu-
| ropean power attempt 10 establish any, new
colony in North America. In the existing
circumstances of the world, the present is
deemed proper occasion TO reiterate and re-
pffirm the principle avowed by Mr.. Monroe,
and to state my cordial concurrence in its
wisdom and policy. ass ".
The re-assertion ofthis principle, especial
ly in reference TO North America. is, at this
day, but the PRONUNCIATION of policy which
no European bower should cherish The dis.
position 10 resist. The existing fights of
every European nation should be respected, /,
but il is due alike to our safety and our in
terest that the efficient protection of our
laws should be extended over our whole ter
rilorial limits; and it should be distinctly an
nounced 10 the world as our settled policy,
that no future European colony or dominion
shall, with our consent, be planted or estab-
lished ON any part of the Amerc n continent.
Our own security requires that the csab-
lished policy thus announced should guide
our conduct, and this applies with great force
to the Peninsula of Yucatan. 1t IS situated
in the Gulf Of Mexico. on the North Amer
ican continent; and from its vicinity to Gu
ba, 10 the capes of Florida, TO New Orleans,
and, indeed to our lioie southwestern coast,
it would be dangerous to our peace and Sc
cunty if; should become colony of any
European naiion.
We have now authentic information that
if the aid asked from the United States be
not granted, shch aid will probably be OBJ
taihed from some European power, which
may hereafter assert a claim TO dominion and
sovereignty over Yucatan. Our existing re-
lations with Yucatan are OF peculiar char
acter, as will be perceived from The tioie of
the Secretary TO their commissioner, dated
on the 24th ofDecember last, a copy of which
is herewith transmitted, Yuca,an hus new
er declared her independence, and we have
treated her as state of The Mexican Repub-
lie. For this reason we have never officially
received her commissioner; but whilst this
is the case, we have 10 considerable extent
recognized her as neutral in our war with
Mexico.
/ Whilst still considering Yucatan as por-
| tion of Mexico, if we had troops 10 spare for
this purpose, | would deem il proper during
the continuance of The war With Mexico, 10