The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-11-25


In SENATE, MAY Is, ls4s, -...5 a', e
MIR MILLER said If this were simply a question
whether we should relieve the people Of Yncatan from
sudden and overwhelming calamity, 1t would receive my
dial and hearty support. Beside the high Chrisar
dutv of humanity, there to my mind moral subimity
in he aspect of great nation like ours stopping in its
m of power of and of conquest to listen to the cry
of suffering and helpless women and Children and perform
~ an act of pure disineres,ed benevoence. This hoped
would have been the position taken by government
towards Yucaan But in this l have been mistaken
s6sbpess has triumphed beneyoence, love of do
non has superseded the love Of peace and the
rpoed of all its high claims of humanity is presented
10 US as cold calculating project of national policy will
ndayor TO show that that is the character of the PROPOSE
inn submitted in the message the Executive of the
2h of April and embodied IN the bill now under consider
alton. a do.
On the 2lst of April last Santiago Mendez, then COVER
nor of one of the States of the republic of Mexico sends
communication Executive representing that that
State was suffering under the calamity of domestic
asking the aid of government and offering in case the
relief be granted transfer the dominion and sovereignty
of his country to the United States 2 .igHano
This is certainly very liberal and very singular propo
ston il mpores charity and at the time proers
most valuable donation to Ii is alike tempting to
humanity and sehshness 1t appeals at to
generosity Christian people, and to love of domn-
ion as an ambitious nation There is here such King
up motives for action that we accept the prop
oson it be doubtful whether moved by
feelings of humanity by the love of dominion whether
we Yucaan from the horrors of civil war for the
sake people, whether we save the people for the
sake of taking Yucatan to ourselves. Upon looking this
strange proposition the first inquiry 49, who and what he
who thus proposes deal with the caamies of his
try and poers her dominion and sovereignty for present
bep in time of need Who appears from his own
munieaon is going from to court and crying
like drowning in the poetic language of the Sena-
tor from Michigan, Mr.. Cass,I save and take me ~
Why sir it is certain Mr.. Santiago Mendez And who
is Santiago Mendez1 The documents your table give
you his official authority and character. He waa 1.-THE
date of his communication to our government 25h March,
1887 governor of Yucaan but do not find any
chnytn hat ha
clothed with authority to transfer the sovereignty of his State
upon any emergency Tho only authority pretended is the
following article contained in decree made by the Con-
gcss of Yucatan the 14th Of January, 1913: 1919 s
Art. |. "The government is empowered 10 take any mea-
sures legislative, which may judge
say for the restoration OF peace the consolidation or order
and the ameioatioh OF all the branches OF the public ad
mnisttation.' 81
By the third article of the decree, it declared
These powers shall the Ist OF September next,
when the Chambers the second constitutional pc
Rod" ,'ta t
There authority conferred by this decree for the
aoinary proposition to cede the sovereignty of the State
Of Yucaan But if he ever had any authority for that
purpose that authority had ceased before his communion
ton was presented our Executive, and that fact
known the President when he the proposition
by his message of the 18th of April As early the 4h
of April Commander Bgelow, then at Laguna, writes to
Commodore Perry: sinai d, rtgle . IT. tftt
ave have accounts from Yucatau which that the
stationed at Texas on learning of Barbachinos
having superseded Mendez in the presidency, Immediately
took up the line of march for Campeachy and abandoned
their position The parties appear to- be divided and
hostile each other or, perhaps the troops who
wished retreat advantage the change the gov
eminent to screen their cowurdcc
And on the 18th of April, Commodore Perry informs
the Navy Department, that
Governor Mendez has resigned in favor of his political
rival Senior Barbachno which measure has, it seems pro-
dnced increased dssensions the troops.
closed extract from the report of Commander Bigelow)
Thus it appears that before the 2st of April the day on
which this proposition presented to government
Governor Mendez had been superseded by his political
rival Birbachino, and appears that this change in the
Executive officer the of renewing party hostes
among the people of Yucatan and of producing dsseson
country and that the troops took advantage Of the
change the government to their cowardce ADAM
doned their position of defence against the Indians,
treated to Campeachy, and left the people of Yucatan
posed the very calamites from which asked
relieve them. But this is not all. These documents
show that the civil raging in Yucaan insti-
gated by the conduct of Mendez and his party that for
the purpose of advancing his ambitious views he FIRST
excited the Indians against his political rival by promises
of relief from odous and oppressive tax and them after
he had attained power by their aid, not only broke his
promises but cruelty inflicted other ourages upon their per-
sons Commodore Perry in his letter of the 10Th March,
says ...a5 -l s.I.t,t.I. H.lt.
"ln the removal of Miguel Barbachno from the govern
ment Of Yucatan about SIX months snce and the sasttn
ton of Santiago Mendez Indians engaged by the
Campeachenos in support of Mendez, with promises OF
remission Of the capitaon tax and other indn'gences but
when MeudeZ cleo tied The claimed the Indians
ourages also the families of some of the chiefs OF the
indians seem to have been perpetraed by some officers from
Oampeachy and hence the fears OF the Campeacheno
and the comparatively feelings of the inhabitants OF
Merida and its vicinity. ~
Among the gentlemen whom met at the commandants
was Don Pedro Camara said have been leading OF
the Babachno party before its expulsion from office This
gentleman spoke with great confidence of the ability of the
whites the Indians and seemed very confident and
much at his AL of which further inclined the
belief that the whole matter is party quarrel in which that
oBabachno has the ST. and that of Mendez the worst
though they may have put elements in agitation which
may overwhen them boh and hence wish for Spanish in
reference and assistance"
So fort p1 IL
,ago Mendez, who asks humanity in exchange
Tor the sovereignty of his country.
desire now to trace the history of this proposition the
causes that induced it, and the and motives
winch caused our Executive to entertain the
In November l647, Mr.. Justo Sierra, styling himself
Commission and Special Agent of the Government
Oh iucatan near that of the United States" opened
correspondence with our Secretary Of State In his
hrst letter. dated the Gath November I847 he relates the
grievances which Yucatan had sustained the hands of
exco and that in consequence Of these grievances, Yu
ca'an was taking measures which will probably end
special declaration of its absolute Independence - that Y-
caan had maintained the most rigid and honest neutrality
IN inc war now existing between Mexico and the United
'he' lie then presents two requests government
,nor ina. the duties now imposed Lagnna under the
nons Of fueetan, may be abolished, .U l-a--
That the naval forces of the United States NAV cease
" occupy The port OF Laguna and Island of Carmen"
Here would remark, in passing that as late as Nove-
oe INST iacaan asked protection from us; but the
contrary begged that would withdraw our naval forces
rom he ports and permit her enjoy the rights of neu-
''' M power Sn:,,n,o = =. 49,
'na' COMMUNICATION grants the first request and refuses
e second The for his refusal are stated by the
Secretary as follows =, - -
not ne position Of Yucatan peculiar. The President
She es hef as sovereign and independent State.
e must sti be considered portion OF the Mexican
rI c, YET as neutral in the existing Had she pre-.
nn,,t ~ ie utray from the commencement OF hostes
pt 'he present. PERIOD il is more than probable the avail
,on 80 ue United States never would have taken posses