386 AMERICAN DIPLOMATIC QUESTIONS 



Yucatan, a considerable range of opinion concerning the 

 application of the doctrine was expressed. The speech of 

 John C. Calhoun,*made at that time, is an especially valuable 

 contribution to the literature of the subject. 



In this message the President submitted to the considera- 

 tion of Congress certain communications from the governor 

 of Yucatan, setting forth the unfortunate condition to which 

 the country had been reduced by an uprising of the native 

 Indians. The Indians were represented as carrying on a 

 war of extermination against the whites, and the latter, 

 " panic-stricken and destitute of arms," had been brought to 

 a deplorable condition of suffering and misery. In despera- 

 tion they had appealed to the United States for protection, 

 and offered in return the " dominion and sovereignty of the 

 peninsula." A similar appeal had been made, along with 

 the same offer of sovereignty, to the Spanish and English 

 governments. 



The President added: "Whilst it is not my purpose to 

 recommend the adoption of any measure with the view to the 

 acquisition of the * dominion and sovereignty ' over Yucatan, 

 yet, according to our established policy, we could not consent 

 to a transfer of this 'dominion and sovereignty,' either to 

 Spain, Great Britain, or any other European power." Quot- 

 ing from Monroe's and his own messages of 1823 and 1845, 

 he continues : " Our own security requires that the established 

 policy thus announced should guide our conduct, and this 

 applies with great force to the peninsula of Yucatan. ... I 

 submit to the wisdom of Congress to adopt such measures as 

 in their judgment may be expedient to prevent Yucatan 

 from becoming a colony of an} r European power, which in no 

 event could be permitted by the United States. ..." 



Yucatan was a state belonging to Mexico, but her inhabit- 

 ants remained neutral during the war between the United 

 States and Mexico, then in progress. A bill had been intro- 

 duced into the Senate to enable the President to order mili- 

 tary occupation of Yucatan, which furnished the subject of 

 debate already referred to. 



Aside from feelings of humanity, that naturally aroused 



