The Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1846-1852, 1848-05-12
YucaIan- Message OF the PreSi--
dent--Interfercnce Of our Gov,
ernmeMt proposed.

H'tSHJ oAN0Cuf idot WCShs " 'HS SA't~"' N'N"e'"h
OF the white population in Yucatan, and their ap.
peal for help to this country. We expressed our
hope that our government would not interfere in
the quarrels Of other nations. But il seems that
we have not yet done with Foreign couutries.--
According 10 the President, we are bound to talk q
under our protection the whole American Cont
nent We are To become a ualiun of aggressors,
ready at all times TO snatch at any new territory,
snder the pretence that England will Il we wont.
This bngbear helped to frighten lis into the the
annexation of Texas--it was the original cause
Of the Mexican Warit will if sill used to fright.
en- us, cause an expenditure of millions upon mil
lions Of dollars to throw the 'egis of onr protec.
tion over the weak Republics of the South If
this is To be our policy, our destiny can be clear
ly traced by the experience of past ages.
Iu regard 10 English Interference we have only
to say that England viii have her hands full be-
fore she gets through with the Irish and Chartsts
These whites, who make this appeal To our pro-
teslion, have gone to iucatan and dspossesscd tue
Indians oil portion Of their lands. Ii appears
that some grounds Of offence have been given to
the Indians and that they have proven themselves
TO be the stronger party. In this state of the
case, the whites, to hold possessions they have
taken from the Indians, appeal 10 us for our asss-
tance The question is. are we bound by any
laws human or divine to nssist theml
But, aside from this we base our opposition to
the measure. upon the ground of nol-interference
in the affairs Of other nations. When we over
leap this we endangor our own existence.
The following is the Message of the President
To HE Senate and HoUse Of Representatives. Of
Of he United SidieS:
| submit, for the consideration of Con-
gress, several communications received
at the Department Of State from Mr..
.JuStO Sierra, commissioner Of Yucatan,
also communication from the Governor
Of that State, representing the condition
Of extreme suffering to which the country
had been reduced by an insurrection of
the Indians within its limits. and asking
HE aid of the United States.
The communications present case of
human suffering and misery which can
not fail to excite the SympalhieS of all
civilized nations. From these and other
sources of information, it appears that
tho Indians Of Yucatan are waging war
of determination against the white race.
In this cruel war, they spare neither age
nor sex. but put to death, ndiscriminale-
ly, all who fall within their power, The
inhabitants, panic stricken and destitute
Of arms, are flying before the savage pur-
surer towards the coast; and their expul-
sion from their country or their extermina.
alton, would seem to be inevitable, unless
they can obtain assistance from abroad.
In this condition they have, through
their constituted authorities, implored the
aid of this government IT, save them from
destruction, offering, in case this should
be granted. to transfer the "dominion aud
sovereignty Of the Peninsula" to the U.
States. Similar appeals for aid and pro-
lection have been made TO "the Spanish
and the English Governments.
Whilst it is not my purpose to recon.
mend the adoption Of the dominion of
sovereignty over Yucalan, yet, according
10 our established policy, we could not
consent to n transfer of this "dominion
and sovereignty" either to Spain, Great
Britain, or any other Europeon power.
10 the language Of president Monroe, in
his message of December. 1923, 1--WE
should consider any attempt on their part
TO extend their system to any portion OF
this hemisphere asdaugerousto to ourpcace
and safety" In my annual message of
December 1916, declared that "near a
quarter of century ago, the principle
was distinctly announced to the world, in
the annual message Of one of my prede.
ceGsors, that tho America continents, by
the free and independentcondition which
the have assumed and maintained are
hencef0rh not TO be considered as sub.
jects for future colonization by any Euro.
pean power" This principle will ap.
ply with greatly increased force, should
any European power attempt to estab.
ish any new colony in North Amorica.--
IN the existing circumstances of the world
tho present is deemed proper occasion
to reiterate and affirm the principle
avowed by Mr.. Monroe, and to state my
cordial concurrence in its wisdom and
sound policy. The re,assertlon of this
principle, especially in reierencet to North
America, is at this day but the promulga.
tion Of policy which no European pow.
or should cherish tho disposition to re-
sist. Exlstingrights Of every European
nation should be respected, but it is due
alike TO our safety and our interests, that
the efficient protection of our laws should
be extended over our whole territorial
limits, and il should DO distinctly announ.
cod to the world, as our settled policy,
that no future European colony or domin
ion shall with our consent, be planted or
established on any part Of the American
continent"
Our own security requires, that the es.
tablished policy thus announced should
guide our conduct, and this applies with
great force to the peninsula of Yucatan
II is situate in the Gulf of Mexico, on
the North American continent; and from
its vicinity to Cuba, To Capes Of Florida,
TO New Orleans, and indeed to our whole
southwestern coast; it would be danger.
Gus to our peace and security if it should
become a colony Of any European nation.
I'VE have no authentic information that
if the aid asked from the United States