The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-05-03
Mr.. Sierra to Mr.. Buchanan.
TRANSLATION

COMMISSION THE GOVERNMENT OF NUCATAN
AT WASHINGTON, Washington, April 3, lSls
SIR In compliance with the most special orders W hcf
have just received from my government and following
most minuely its instructions, have now the honor
once more to address the honorable Secretary of State
upon topic most important grave, delicate and admit
ting no delay; otherwise the most fatal consequences
may result to unfortunate Yucaan, so worthy OF better
fate will be brief-as much as can be, on matter
of such immense interest for my country
On former OCCASION and especially in my note of the
latter part of last March, invoked in favor OF my
try the sacred of humanity, liberty, and civza
onfeelngs all Of which characterize the people OF the
United States. again, sir, invoke those names, and
moreover, the name of justice
| solicit the formal intervention the active and eff
cient operation of the United States, in consequence
OF the bloody and most cruel war under which the PEG
pie of Yucatan now suffering. And If, conormably
with the constitution and laws of the republic its
tive power should not possess the authority requisite, Of
ITSELF to determine on this point formally ask that this
my note, together with those relating to it, and which
have already delivered to the Department of State be
submitted to either Of the two branches of the egsla-
ure, memorial addressed by the government of Yu-
caan, the name of the nation which 1t represents
The of the barbarians-that arocous and savage
war, in which neither age is spared by those
ends-s OF character truly formidable for Yucatan
The barbarans have destroyed with flames four towns
and more than fifty hamlets; they have swept away
about hundred farms, and many other cotton and SUI
gar plantations they have ravaged immense fields OF
grain they have murdered hundreds OF white families
and in fine. they masters Of the whole eastern and
nearly the whole western portions OF Yucatan. Works
which the civilization of three hundred years and the eff
forts of ancestors erected have disappeared wherever
the accursed race which repays with fire and blood
the immense benefits received by it from the people OF
Yucatan. has placed its impous feet
The numerous hordes of that fall with surprising
rapdity upon the defenceless villages, leaving them
duced to ashes, and then withdraw to the impenerable
forests of the country, setting our troops at defiance
wearing them out, dsheartening them and driving them
despair The fewness of the wants OF that race, the
facility with which they support all kinds OF prvatons,
the extraordinary rapdty OF their movementsall these
circumstances have given them superiority almost IRE
sisiibe Their numbers moreover, augmented ey-
raordnariIy and their of carrying instead
of diminishing actually increase. My government in
deed sent commissioner to that OF BalZe, entreat that
the sale of arms and munitions of those barbarans
should be and the latter government answered
that this should be done. But, sir, knowing do the
condition of the Indians of my country believe that no
sale is made to them there. The arms and munitions
which they have given to them, and will continue to
be given TO them gratutously. The British government
of Balize may act has promised, yet without dimn-
shng in any way the resources of the Indians Recol-
lect, sir, what is going on in Central America with
regard to the unworthy and ntoerabe farce OF the king
dom of the Mosquitoes
The result of all this has been to parayze all commu-
nlcaton throughout the country to destroy great por-
ton of the profits from the soil; 10 extinguish the
nues from the custom houses render impossible the
payment of the public Dues to annihilaie commerce
and industry; and in fine, to plunge the whole coun-
try into misery, prosraon, and despair The govern
ment, without resources of any kind, deprived of the
means of carrying the efficiently in order to
bring it to its termination, is now in the most en-
barassing and difficult position, notwithstanding the
active exertions OF all the citizens, who have placed
everything at its disposition, their persons well as