The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-12-26
The Condition OF Yucatnn.

| PRESIDENT POLK SECRETARY CAss, Xxx. SECRETARY
| DAVIS. SENATORS HANEEGAN, wEsTCOTT. HOUSTON
| AND OTHER DISTINGUISHED OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
| OF GREAT BRITAIN or THE PENINSULA, ETC. ETC.
| EDITOR
The value and importance Of Yucaan to the true into
rests Of the United States cannot be estimated in dollars
and cents II is ncomparaby more valuable to the real
interests and safety republic than Kansas Nebraska
New Mexico, AMI Utah all combined OF this there cannot
be reasonable doubt and will support position
by the views and opinions of some OF the most eminent
statesmen. The only time that Yucatan has been brough.
fairly before people and government in 1S4s when
she sent hther Commissioner solicit the nterpcsition
of government to that unfortunate State from
extinction. President Polk his special message OF April
% iSS communicating Congress the nature OF the ap
pcation from Yucaan, thus expressed himself 10 ree'
the Importance OF this provision to the
cal and political interests Of the United States
"0ur security requires that the established policy
thus announced (the Monroe doctrne should guide our
conduct and this applies with greal force to the pennsu
la of Yucaan II is situated in the Gulf Of Mexico the
North American continent and from its vicinity Cuba,
the capes Of Florida to New Orleans, and indeed to
whole southwestern coast it would be dangerous to
peace and security, II should become colony OF
any European nation" Such were the sentiments OF the
great statesman who controlled the destnies OF America
during the administration OF Prcsden, Polk These views
aud opinions re-echocd in the Senate chamber by
the greatest minds in that body Of distinguished patriots
and statesmen.
The present eminent head OF the Department OF State
thus his the subject Of the importance
Yucatan the interest Of the United States, the de-
/ bate on Hanncgans resolutions:
come, Mr. President to other and perhaps graver
considerations directly indirectly involved in this
ton Tie Gulf of Mexico the reservoir of the great liver
OF the North American continent, whose importance II is
difficult realize II Is the value Of the country which
must seek outlet to the ocean through ts waters That
country nearly equal TO all Europe in extent embracing
twenty degrees OF latitude and thirty Ave Of longitude
upon the great circles of the globe This vast basin
tends from the summit Of the Allegheny 10 the summit Of
the Rocky Mountains, and in population equals eight mil
lions. The man yet lives who Wa living when almost the
rst tree fell before the woodmans stroke IN this great
domain and the is living who will live To see IL
contain one hundred millions OF people. Already the
hardy Western pioneer has crossed the barrier Of the
Rocky Mountains and the forest IL giving way before hu
industry upon the very shores that look out upon
China Japan. The Mississippi IL the great artery Of
this region which, drawing its supplies from the fountains
of the north pours them into the ocean under tropical
and drains in its course and in the course OF s
mighty Observation-Disclosures in name, but equals and
rivals in isc,he most magnificent empire which God, In
his providence has ever given 70 man to reclaim and en-
Joy l have myself descended that great stream two
thousand miles in birch canoe, admrng the country
through which passes in state Of nature, and lost in
the contemplation Of what that country is TO be when sub
| dued by human industry II Eng and In the
pursu, 81 the same system (which has characterised her
movements regard TO the should acquire
similar commanding positions on the Gulf Of Mexico, that
great reservoir would become mare cidusum, and no
Keel wosd plough u, nor convass whten II 10 time OF
war but by her permission Now sir, looking TO the
tent of Ur coast that drccton-to the productions
which msst pass there seek marketo the nature OF
our popuhon-and 10 the effect upon nil these which
permanent naval superiority would producewhere Is the
American who not prepared TO adopt any to
avert such caamtous state Of thngsY Who fail TO
the nature OF the predatory warfare which England
would carry in all times Of hos'iies from her various
positions which would encirce the Guf from the BAHIA
Cuba and TO Yucatlng aud who also fail 10
thst time Of peace her many har5ors would be
places of refuge for certain class 81 our populi
ton and that perpetual collisions would occur involving
the peace the countrcsy The Gull Of Mexico, sir
must be practically American lake for the great pur
pose of scurynot exclude other nations from us
joymcnL but to prevent any dominant Power, with for.
cign nmoo interests, eom controlling ts navigation
II should be cardinal principle 10 our policy,
a be lost sight Of that the command ol the Gun Of
Mexico must never pass into foreign hands 1s great
geographical features indicate NJ safety and
danger From the southern point OF Florida TO Yucatan
the cbOr Of the does not probably exceed two hun
dred ana nfty mesa shorter distance than that from
Yucatan 70 Vera Cruz Prom the southern point Of Flo
rida Cuba il is more Than forty miles, aud from the
western extremity 81 Cuba 10 the peninsula Of Suctan
Il not re than sixty miles These two outetsthc lat
ter into Ibc Caribbean and the former INTO the Atlantic
occando not, therefore, exceed one hundred miles in
their united width, and together make the exit and
entrance Of the Gull Opposite the mouth Of the Mssis
sippi the noble harbor 81 Havana almost within sight
lard has already ro the bahama Islands With the port of
Nassau aud other positions 30 long A. Cuba and IucatD
held by their present posessors neither we nor the
COMMERCIAL world have anything 70 tear from Engnsh pro
jccs whatever they may be- But ct their dominion be
transferred 20 England and where WEI The mouth OF
our great river might at any time be hermctcay sealed
and tho most disastrous injuries inflicted upon One
important step the command Of the outlet Of the Gulf OF
Mcxco shc has already taken by the possession the
Bahamas she gets peaccablc possession 81 Yucatan,
BY rcmssness she will have taken the second Cuba
may be the last will ask the distinguished senator from
South Carolina he would advocate the Interference of
this country by force, H England attempting BY force
| 70 take possession Of Yucatany And u he would
As believe he wouldhoS can he consent 10 permit her
10 do peacefully what may peacefully prevent
These sterling and patriotic sentiments, worthy the dis
tugustcd Senator who cnuncaed them, found response
from many others IN the senate Mr. flanagan, Chair.
man The Committee on Foreign Relations, thus spike
"Look the position Of Ynoatan. Look upon the map
SEQ nov she stands almost uSsaposon with Cuba.
She shakes hands with Cuba The possession OF tucatan
by England would be followed by the possession Of
Cuba entertain doubt that II she secure fucatan
now i've years hence shall see her IN possession OF
/ Cuba doubt no more than do my own existence.
4 doub no more than doubt that the trees will put
forth their leaves and that the grass will renew itself
next s1rng II is inevitable Every Indication points TO
i \ TIE conduct Of England tends directly To H. We
have may say, authentic Information that At this very
hour she taking steps TO accomplish that object Give
her and Cuba, aud what will be the result That
II becomes mare cousB The whole coast of the United
states Cape Sable 20 the mouth Of the Rio Bavoa
coast with all iss sinuostcs, nearly two thousand miles
in exn,-is a. locked in A. il possibly could be by FORT
ned positions Cuba has bon called the key OF the Gull.
them ia the hands Of Engand and she controls the mouth
Of the Thames We shall IN be able 70 20 in or out With
/ all tie maritime power Of the north Atlantic
! coastS l. II not sufficient that she hold Halifax,
standing out as does-that mighty observatory, aho
mos, prominent feature Of the COAST Shall We stand STILL
quietly folding arms While she : proceeding thus 20
hem US In ana encrcle US with her possessions Shall
| We BY rejecting this bill show that willing 10 &C.
auiesce her ageressiousf Sir will the American go
yernmcn stand quietly by and England taking posses
sion Of Yucatau-and II refuse 20 act she Will do So
for she acting Ia adyanCeshe has taken the nrs step
the Of Jamaica has been already appealed TO-
ana he win probably respond to that appca-beiore
aciY fold and refuse TO render assistance
drive hack the and protect Yucaan the probs
bty s--nay u Us ccrtainy-that England viii seize
upnn Yuraian and afterwards upon Cuba. There ono
feature in this correspondence TO which specially desire
10 call the attention OF the senate 10 show the design 81
England The aus0n in Of the letters 81 Mr. sierra
the Commissioner OF Yucatan, 50 broad as not 10 he
msundersood-that England absolutely, through her
agents furnishing these Indians With arms and munitions
OF war 10 enable them 10 pursue this horrible
The Indians who driving the inhabitants 70 the sa
armed with British muskets bearing the mark
OF the Tower Of London II is than suspected that
they are supplied through the instrumcnalty @ Mr..
Patrick Walker, the British agent al the Balye, where
England has established depot o. arms, Where else DO