The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-05-11

feeble from the hands OF the murderer but we cannot
upon general principles, undertake the correction of these
excesses and the persecution of these savages by any
general systemof national policy. We cannot as ma
ton, adopt such course OF policy If we do, we bring
upon ourselves certain destruction, and do not
pllsh the object at which we aim
But Mr. President, there is, beyond all this, entire
want of The necessary information upon this subject that
will enable us to nterpose with justice. We hear but
one side upon this question. | without information
to the other side of the question. entirely with
out information TO the merits of this warfare which is
waged in Yucatan Its mode is said to be an unlawful
one-one OF lndscrmnate slaughter That is wrong in
itself, whatever may be the merits of the controversy
But, before we mterpose, we ought TO know something
OF the merits CT the controversy itself Who complain
Are they the majority OF the people OF the country! I'm
doubtedly they are the mere minority They must be in
minority, or how could they come here as men, and
seek suppants for the assistance of foreign nation
And are we, without examination, simply upon the cry
OF the minority to interfere, and take up arms, and un
would be in violation of the principle that recognise
as the foundation of government We presume, here,
that the majority is right and it seems 10 me but fair
that we should carry out the principle. The persons
against whom this complaint is made OF carrying on
nhuman warfare, are the aboriginal inhabitants of the
country What is their conditions am, for one, but
very imperfectly informed respecting II.
Mr. HhA a., N his seat) They are savagess
Mr. CRlTTENDEN. do not understand il Ii
so, what mighty eproach it must be TO the men who
are calling to us for assistance.
Mr. HANNEGAN. The whites muster but two thou
sand troops
Mr. CRlTTENDEN. For three hundred wears they
"S~i
llgon, and giving them knowledge and education, And
now they come and tell that these people still
direction for three hundred years They must have been
very badly governed, and the government must have
been very unjust one-a least very unparenal one-f
after three hundred years of subecon they still in
their savage state Now, apprehend my friend is
good deal mistaken They may be savages in point of
education and information, in comparison with what we
have called savages The relation which they sustain in
Yucatan, is not the relation which the savages of our
country have borne towards These people citi-
zens There is such thing slavery there, in the
Mr. CLAYTON-(in his seat) They have the right
v MIR. CRITTENDEN. They enjoy civil rights But
OF Spanish colonization have left to the conquered peo
pie of South America, state of subugation acknowl
edge but what are these people attempting TO do in Yu
catan, than has been done by these people in Qua
temaa, which we have considered government and
to which we send diplomatic agent? What are they
doing but what has been successfully done by the people
OF Guatemala about twenty years ago. when OF their
chiefs, at the head OF the Indian popuaion-who would
be better understood in this country we were to call
them native Mexlcans, or the aboriginal inhabitants of
the countryhrowng off the yoke OF the Spaniard es-
lablished government for themselves They have risen
up against the descendants of the Spaniars by whom
they first conquered, have overthrown them, and
have governed that country very well from that time
to the present. know of difference between these
Indians and those who termed savages in Yucca
tan but may be mistaken. wish great deal more
information than ! now have, before | can venture
10 vote for this bill If our humanity must inter
pose, would rather send umpire to examine into
the justice of the case, before should take part with
either side Let us be at least judges before become
executioners. 1t seems to me extremely unwise. and
manfesy UNJUST 10 enter into controversy in the char
racter of arbter and Judge without knowing anything
whatever OF its merits. While say all this, there is
nothing short of entangling ourselves with this principle
OF Intervention, presened-nOthng short of adopt
ing principle of policythatI would not be willing
to do, to the descendants of these Spaniardsthe
white possessors Of Yucatan-rom the cruees to which
have no doubt they are now exposed No doubt it is
cruel warfare We infer that. from the
gagged in it. Who are they' We all know. They
the aboriginal inhabitants OF the country, who for three
and cruelty for three hundred years they have suffered
the oppression Of the Spanish yoke They have it
upon their CALLED necks. That the warfare between
debt of vengeance should be exasperated and utterly
opposed to all the dictates of justice and humanity
will not be regarded as surprising, by any man who
if could prevent it, behold the accomplishment of
this work of vengeance would arrest it, if could
would negotiate between these parties; would put
them at peace with the Others and if could not
succeed and found that party was, without cause,
numbering their innocent neighbors, would not hesitate
for moment to arrest the blow But for banishing
army OF citizens to that territory there re-
main know not how long-that is another question al
together. How long they to remain there' Suppose
informed in these documents, there noursh the
vengeance which interposton has restricted will it
not be only to pounce upon their prey as soon as we
withdraw Does not my honorable friend from Indiana
perceive that occupation of the territory may be al
most nterminable' II our object be to protect the in
habitants must not remain there protect them until
the vengeance of the Indians be extinguished And
how long will it be till these fifty thousand of the white
shall become strong enough to protect themselves
Are TO stay there till that time shall arrive' To con-
sumae our act of humanity we are bound to do So We
not protect them for day. and have them slaughtered
on the morrow In order to make nerposon eectua
the army must remain there; and it is because want in
formation that cannot now act upon this bill assuring
the gentleman at the time that there is duty OF
humanity, none of its enderest obligations, which do
stand ready to perform far can do so consist
emily with the great national trust which is committed
me, as one of the senators of the United States.
Our first duty is to ourselves and our own fellow -c-
Our first duty is to country. That dis
charged all that do for the benefit OF mankind
all that do to raise up the fallen and relieve the
distressed am willing to do but when you demand of
me this particular act of interposton, want to know all
ment of the probable extent of that service which BY
my vote have committed my country. How many men
will be bound 10 furnish by this bill, How much
money will he called upon TO expendl How long
have you bound to this servce' All these questions
ought TO be prepared to for ourselves in order
ent can answer none. must, therefore, against
this bill
Mr., FOOTE do not propose to occupy much of the
time of the Senate. Indeed paused to if some other
gentleman would not proceed to address the body; but
discovering there is who seems disposed TO rise,
and having few remarks to make, may WELL per-
haps, proceed to reply to portion OF the speech of the
senator from Kentucky.
The chief Executive of this republic is the most unfor-
unate man in the world The senator from South Caro-
lima has objection at all to the proposition presented
us, except that the President did not confne himself
exclusively to the high ground of humanity; whilst
the other hand his placing the ground of humanity