The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-05-02

was OUT OF order Therefore the instructions moved By
The gentleman from Massachusetts, Were out OF order
Mr.. VlNTON, if it were not too long, would like II
have the reading of the letter OF the 9th OF December
referred Ter l,t to y ! The e message;
The SPEAKER decided that the precise amendment o
the gentleman from Massachusetts as much out Of
order as the speech.
lIr COBB then further explained the point of order
Mr. ROCKWELL gave way
Mr. j. K. lNGERSO1.L moved that the message and
correspondence be referred 10 the Committee OF the
Whole on the state of the Union He thought the sub
ject might be disposed of in this way more readily
than BY either of The references proposed; and, BY
general consent, he would propose that il be made
the special order for Tuesday. He. had seen with
Der OF Congress with him in that regret-that,
notwithstanding repeated applications for relief in
this case, which SO loudly bespeaks our sympathy,
and the sympathy of Observation-Disclosures these
applications had been made repeatedly to the proper
thories, i was not until at length appeal made
to the public that any action was taken He was not in
the habit OF complaining OF the OF any branch OF
the government Opposed as he to the present ad-
minstraon IN general political sentiments he was ever
ready to give them his hearty cooperation in all their lie.
climate purposes and plans for carrying on the affairs OF
government But he had published under the Of
Justo Sierra statement that as commissioner OF Yucca
tam he had been for nearly two months making his app
cations to the Department OF State in the hope of
ring the assistance Of the government OF the United States
the case of extreme peril and suffering to which his
government has been reduced and that deaf ear
turned toward him. This appeal came TO US almost
Il
and the case was much more urgent The Yucatanese
threatened with determination, and the whole Union
would agree that relief ought to be given to neighbor
instantly We involve ourselves with no question of
reference of international character by so doing 1t
is case wherein the barbarian cannibal, savage, is
hrstng for the blood of the white race, and threatening
their determination from the land; and should stand
BY and people destroyed upon this continent profess
ing the same religion and animated by the spirit of
liberty and humanity with ourselves Should stand by
and this now while have squadron in the gulf
flo ut 1Iy md IN
be employed in service like this If we would act eff
Gently in this matter, we must act promptly. We might
spare the necessary force that would overcome the diff
cues of approaching that coast with large vessels put
these savages to flight and strike them with such terror,
that hereafter they will be exceedingly careful how they
cut the throats Of the whites
from Georgia, [Nlr. STEPHENs] Though all
readiness to grant the relief, yet il expedient that
certain plan of proceeding should be fixed upon and
embodied IN bill JOINT resolution, before the subject
came before the Committee OF the Whole.
Mr. INGERSOI4L appreciated the suggestion, and con-
fessed that his mind wavered between the two courses
me o191L on Souh Carolina was for pomU,
ton and against the reference AS for the bare question
of relief, he SAID man hesates. The mode OF relief
the question TO be decided by the House. With ref
erence the reteraon in the message of the doctrine Of
Mr. Monroe in 1923, he said that time could be
inappropriate than the present for the assertion OF that
doctrine The peoples Yucatan tell us they about to
be extemiied and the first law of nature, beyond every
other consideration, ought to induce to throw the ban
ner of our protection over them Was this country pre-
pared in this enlightened day, when all Europe
sorting the principle that had the right select for
themselves their form of government, to interfere be-
tween these poor Yucaanese and any other nation pro-
posing 10 give them the necessary add Should we,
advance thus throw ourselves before other Nations and
say them, you do throw your agis that unhap
py and most unfortunate people, will meet you
conflict of arms Mr. II. showed that the declara
ton of Mr. Monroe applied to the times when the allied
soveregns of Europe were about to interfere in the affair
of the revolution OF South America.
Mr.. COBB of Georgia. For the sake OF prompt action,
he would most cheerully acquiesce in the motion to
fer to the Committee of the Whole on the state Of the
Union. But there was remark by the gentleman
from Pennsylvania Mr.. J. r. iNGERsoLLl which he
GREETED hear He regretted that that gentleman had
deemed proper to casa upon the State Depart
ment and the government, reference to the they
have pursued towards Yucatan. He had not examined
the documents sent n and could not say how far their
publication would relieve the administration from the
force of the gentemans He could not but think
it the better it was but justice in such
let the documents be printed and 60 before the
try, without Offering our censures in advance.
After some further conversation between these gentle
men
MIR. STEPHENS said, for himself, he was not at all
prepared to what OF action the House, the gov
eminent, ought TO take with reference to the subject of
this message. AT all events it necessary that we
should have we-dg ested plan upon which to pro-
coed, whether it be proposed assist these people with
or with money and in order that the House might
come to point OF acon-of right action-it would
be necessary that committee should it out
lie confessed, that unt ne become Detter
with the facts, he would be unprepared for
action. He not prepared to say that this country
should set out at once such crusade as thsto throw
9gs over neghborng State and proceed to estab
fish freedom in all the nations of the earth. He did not
feel himself commissioned by his constituents with any
such authority. He in favor of select committee,
aso because the matter involved new question in the
history of this countrya grave constitutional question
whether this government can or ought to render the
sisance such has been asked for Suppose 1t be true
that the Spanish population of Yucatan propose to trans
fer the sovereignty of their State if protect them
question, and question And it had been suggested
TO him, that the message amounts to this He did not
know for himself He knew only that it was a new
question: and appealed gentlemen, if it did not become
the House to pause before taking any decisive step in the
matter.
Further conversation followed between Mr. COBB, of
Georgia, and Mr. STEPHENS; when
Mr.. SMITH, of Illinois, stated with reference to the
charge of neglect this matter the part of the Execu
tive and the Secretary of State made by the gentleman
from Pennsylvania Mr. j. R. INoERsoLL,] that he
informed this morning by authority the most unqueston
The Secretary at the earliest proper moment.
Mr.. ROOT considered this to be but another case of
sympathy, but feared that il would result in the commit
of the government TO injurious OF policy
Without any other information than that derived from
hasy reading of the message, have had the gentle
man from Pennsylvania ashing the House into fever
Of sympathy for these Spaniards. What did we know
about them He believed we sympathsng on be-
hall of The arstocracy of Yucaan He believed it
OF the rising To assert their rights and that
we getting somehow utterly the wrong side with
our sympathes. What business have to interfere
there Let the people OF iucatan take care OF them
selves He did undertake pass defntvey upon the
state of things there, but he warned the House and the
country to pause before they acted 1t became first to
consider whether this E" aid and comfort" which the