The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1848-05-13
Affairs in Yueatan- Message Of
the President Action Of Con-

SICnns N M
BY reference to our Telegraphic re-
ports, il will be seen that Mr.. Hanne-
gan, the Chairman of the Committee on
Foreign Affairs in the Senate, has re-
ported bill, to enable the President to
take military possession Of the province
of Yucalan.
The scenes Of suffering, occasioped
by the inrpads Of the savages, daily
witnessed in Yucatan, are heart-fends;
ing in the extreme. On Saturday, the
President communicated Message to
Congress, transmitting the application
of the Commissioners Of Yucatan, for
protection. 1t is MS follows: asf' 2te
MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT.
To the Senate and House Of Representatives.;
submit for the consideration OF Con-
gress, several communications received
at the Department Of State from Mr..
Justo Sierra, commissioner Of Yucatan;
and also communication from the gov
ernment of that State, representing the
condition o! extreme suffering TO which
their country has been reduced by IN
insurrection Of the Indians within its
limits, and asking the aid Of the United
States. These communications pre-.
sent case Of human suffering and mis-.
ery which cannot fail 10 excite the SYM
pathics Of all civilized nations. From
these and other sources Of information,
it appears that the Indians of Yucatan
are waging war of extermlnation
against the white race. In this civil
war they spare neither age nor sex, but
put to death indiscriminatelv, all who
fall within their power. The inhabi.
tants, panic stricken, and destitute Of
arms, are flying before their enemy, and
their determination would seem TO be
inevitable unless they can obtain assis
tance. In this condition they have
through their constituted authorities.
implored the aid Of this government to
save them from destruction; offering, in
case this should be granted, to transfer
the dominion and sovereignty Of the
Peninsula to the United States. SINH
lar appeals for aid and protection have
been made to the Spanish and English
governments. Whilst it is not my pur-
pose TO recommend the ad option Of any
measure with view to the acquisition
of dominion and sovereignty over va
catan, yet, according to our established
policy. we would not consent To n
transfer of this dominion and sovereign
ty either t. Spain, Great Britain, or
anv other European power.
In the language Of President Monroe.
in his anual Message Of December lsl l3,
we should consider any attempt on
their part to extend their system to any
portion Of this hemisphere, as danger
Gus TO our peace and safety. In my
Annual Message OF December, ls45. ]
declared that nearly quarter Of a cen
tury ago the principle was distinctly an.
nounced to the world in the annual
message Of one Of my predecessors.
that the American continent, by the
free and independent condition which
it has assumed and maintained, is hence.
forth not to be considered subject fer
future colonization by any European
power. This principle will apply with
greatly increased force should any Eu-
ropeon power attempt to establish
any new colony in North America.
In these existing circumstances of the
world, the present is deemed proper
occasion 10 reiterate and re.affirm the
principle avowed by Mr.. Monroe, and
TO state my cordial concurrence in its
wisdom and policy. "
The re.assertlon of this principle es
pecally in reference TO Moth America
is, at this day, but the PRONUNCIATION oI
policy which no European power
should cherish the disposition to resist
The existing rights Of every European
nation should be respected; but it is due
alike to our safety and our interest that
the efficient protection of our laws
should be extended over our whole ter.
ritorial limits; and it should be dis.
tinctly announced to the world as our
settled policy, that no future European
colony or dominion shall, with our con.
sent. be planted or established on any
part Of the American continent. Our
own security requires that the esiab:
lished policy thus announced should
guide our conduct, and this applies with
great force to the Peninsula Of Yuca
tan. II is situated in the Gulf Of Mex
leo, the North American continent; and
from its vicinity to Cuba, to the Capes
Of Florida, to New Orleans, and, in
deed 10 our whole southwestern coast
| it would be dangerous to our peace anc
security if 1t should become a colony
of any European nation. We have
now authentic information that faihs
aid asked from the United States b.
not granted, such aid will probably b.
obtained from some European power
| ,yh;cb NAV hereafter assert n tclain, st(