resolution that no alteration is to be made, then the revision is at an end.

CXXVII. In case of a war or tumult the constitutional or legal enactments relating to legal jurisdiction, arrest, domiciliary visitation, the press, and the right of assembly may be temporarily suspended by the Senate. But this suspension requires the immediate concurrence of the corporation. If the corporation, upon being summoned, does not meet in sufficient numbers to pass a resolution, then the Senate has at once to obtain the concurrence of the Civic Committee.

CXXVIII. Such a suspension always expires after the lapse of 4 weeks from the day of passing the resolution. Any prolongation thereof can only be for 4 weeks, at the most, and can only be effected in the same way as the original resolution.

CORRESPONDENCE between The United States and Yucatan, relative to the Independence of Yucatan; the Neutrality of that State in the War between The United States and Mexico; and the Offer of the Sovereignty of Yucatan to The United States.-1847, 1848.

(1.)-The Executive Chief of Yucatan to the Secretary of State of The United States. (Translation.)

SIR,

Merida, July 27, 1847. In a note which I had the honour to address to you, dated the 28th of December last, I stated and showed, by the relation of facts, the political situation of this State, and its former and present relations with the Government of Mexico; in order to prove that, without taking part in the war in progress between the latter Republic and The United States, Yucatan observed a real and positive neutrality; and I at the same time commissioned Don Jose Resira to make to your Government, under the authorization and instructions which should be given to him, the proper explanations, to the effect that Yucatan might be considered as a neutral State, as you offered to the Commissioner to consider her according to his communications in giving an account of the result of his agency, when he returned to the Peninsula, supposing his commission to be terminated.

Under these circumstances, the neutrality promised has been observed and continues to be observed; but this Government, desiring and complying with the uniform desire of the most excellent Council of State, expressed on the 8th of April last, has appointed Don Justo Sierra, to proceed in the special character of a commissioner and agent from this State, to The United States and its Government, and to make the proper explanations, and promote,

agreeably to his instructions, whatever may be of reciprocal interest, placing in your hands the present communication, in order that you may, in virtue thereof, and of the credentials of his appointment, yield entire faith and credit to his representations, and to whatever he may offer and promise, in the name of the State and Government of this country; hoping that the Government of The United States will receive this agent with the consideration of which its enlightenment leaves no doubt. I have, &c.

The Hon. J. Buchanan.

DOMINGO BARRET.

(2.) The Commissioner of Yucatan to the Secretary of State of The (Translation.) United States.

MOST EXCELLENT SIR,

Washington, November 17, 1847. HAVING been commissioned by the Government of the State of Yucatan, near that of The United States, I arrived yesterday at this capital, bearing a despatch from my Government for your Excellency. I accordingly pray you, most respectfully, to be pleased to appoint a day and hour at which I may present myself in person. before your Excellency, to offer my respects, and to fulfil the special duty with which I am charged by the Government of Yucatan.

The Hon. J. Buchanan.

I have, &c.

JUSTO SIERRA.

(3.) The Secretary of State of The United States to the Commissioner of Yucatan.

SIR,

Washington, November 19, 1847. I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your note of the 17th instant, announcing your arrival in this city and requesting the appointment of a time for you to visit me. In reply, I have the honour to state, that I shall be happy to see you at this department at 12 o'clock on Monday next, the 22nd instant.

Señor Don Justo Sierra.

I have, &c.

JAMES BUCHANAN.

(4.) The Commissioner of Yucatan to the Secretary of State of The United States.

SIR,

(Translation.)

Washington, November 24, 1847. On the occasion of the reception which you were pleased to grant to me on Monday, the 22nd instant, I placed in your hands the credentials of my appointment as Commissioner and special Agent of the Government of Yucatan near that of The United States, which you designed to accept with your characteristic kindness and courtesy. In the short conference between us, you admitted, as most expeditious and simple, the plan, that I should present the points which the Government of Yucatan might have to expose to the just [1860-61. LI.] 4 G

consideration of the Government of The United States in a series of memorials, in order that you and the National Government being thus minutely informed with regard to them, such measures might be taken as should be considered most just and comfortable with the policy of The United States. According to this ageeement, I am about to present you the first memorial; before doing which, however, you will permit me to exhibit a slight sketch of the political situation of Yucatan, which is the more necessary, as I observe with regret in some newspapers of the Union, that an exact idea does not seem to prevail with regard to it, or at least that the dignity and good faith of the people have been forgotten, as well as the extent of the sacrifices which they have made, and will continue to make, in order to preserve their actual position, maintaining the most rigid and honest neutrality in the war now existing between Mexico and The United States.

Yucatan, Sir, has been an integrant part of the Mexican nation ever since the consummation, in 1821, of its political independence of Spain, of which it was, like the other provinces of New Spain, a colony. Being in full and absolute liberty to do whatsoever might seem most suitable for her interests and welfare, Yucatan incorporated herself spontaneously in the new nation, until the dissolution of the emphemeral empire founded by Don Augustin de Iturbide. Not knowing the course which the affairs of Mexico might take, she then remained independent, her internal administration being conducted in all respects agreeably to the Republican system, while awaiting with calmness and prudence the termination of the discussions of the constituent Mexican Congress, which was assembled in the latter part of the year 1823. The result of these discussions was the compact of October 4th, 1824, which founded the Confederacy of the Mexican United States; and this compact was deliberately accepted by Yucatan, which became incorporated in the new Republic. If by this act, immature indeed, she ceased to enjoy all the exceptions to which she might and should have aspired, from her geographical position, from her poverty, and from various other moral and material elements comprehended within herself, it was, nevertheless, believed that she might thus better develope the principles of that beautiful theory which has made the Republic founded by the immortal Washington a free, great, happy, and powerful nation, and that her social condition would continue improving. In this she was sadly decided. You Mr. Secretary, well know to what extreme the folly and the delinquencies of those who have been charged with the direction of the affairs of Mexico have brought the adjoining Republic. The fate of the Mexican people, worthy indeed of a better lot, has constantly depended on the military factions which have succeeded each other without inter

ruption, bearing down the Republic, pillaging it, and turning it to their own advantage in every way, until it has at length been left without blood and without life. One of these factions destroyed the Federal compact, and by the most base and unworthy abuse of force by the excesses of a brutal soldiery, misguided by a crowd of generals and other officers, brave men for most part when engaged in oppressing their fellow-citizens, the Mexican Republic fell prostrate and powerless. Yucatan underwent the same fate with the other States; but it was not without a powerful effort. In 1840, her people broke out in insurrection, beat the forces of Mexico, and proclaimed the Federal system compatible with union. In the meantime she separated herself from Mexico; she formed a Constitution worthy of the most civilized people, and proclaimed the most sane and clearly established principles, preferring to suffer all the acts of injustice of the Mexican Government, all the oppression and abuses of the faction in power; rather than desist fram one of its just pretensions. What did the Mexican Government or rather General Santa Anna, who had constituted himself the supreme dictator of the Republic, do under these circumstances? The whole world knows, The United States well know, as they unanimously applauded and bestowed the utmost encomiums on the honour, the valour, and the energetic constancy of the people of Yucatan in resisting an army of 11,000 men, and a squadron such as Mexico had never before possessed; nay, more than resisting them, as the enemy were met, and the conditions of peace were dictated to them.

This peace was based on the Convention of December 14, 1843, which secured to Yucatan the first and most essential exceptions to which she was rightfully entitled, and especially relieved her from the immediate influence of the military force, the only means employed by the Mexican Government for the oppression of the people. On these bases she accepted incorporation, consenting to follow the lot of Mexico; but General Santa Anna blindly and obstinately violated the Convention of December. On the first occasion, he caused the Order of February, 21, 1844, to be issued, closing the ports of the Republic against the principal productions of the soil and industry of Yucatan, and subjected the country to new and more unjust vexations. Yucatan remonstrated against these acts of violence. She protested in the most solemn manner, and would not engage in another war, because some hope was entertained that justice would be done to the country. Vain was the hope! Instead of obtaining what was so justly demanded, the people learned with indignation that the Convention of December,: though containing the express provision that it should not be subjected to alteration, had been discussed in the Chamber of Deputics, and that this body had gone so far as to declare it null and

void, and of no force. Yucatan then made a solemn declaration, of January 1, 1846, whereby she resumed her sovereinty, and convoked an extraordinary Congress, to fix definitively the destiny of the country.

The war now existing between Mexico and The United States then came on. The Mexican Government took some measures, and even sent Colonel Don Juan Cano to induce Yucatan to co-operate in the war. Yucatan openly resisted a pretension so absurd and untimely, and refused to make a sacrifice which, besides being entirely useless to Mexico, and immensely prejudicial to Yucatan, as she desired to preserve her commerce and friendly relations with The United States, offered no other result than the renewal of the war, so soon as Mexico should find herself in a situation to attack Yucatan; as it was clearly seen and proved that, only in consequence of the critical position which the Mexican Government had placed itself towards The United States, did it endeavour to draw Yucatan and compromise her in this unfortunate struggle. Don Juan Cano, returned to Mexico, bearing the decided negative of the Government of Yucatan.

At that time, unhappily for my poor country, the fatal man who has caused the misfortunes of Mexico was in exile in the neighbouring island of Cuba. General Santa Anna, by intigues and management, induced some influential persons in Yucatan to believe that some moral force, and the support of the public opinion of the country, was necessary to overthrow General Paredes, who was labouring for the establishment of a foreign Monarch, and to make an honourable peace with The United States, which he was certain to be enabled to effect. The men in power believed him in good faith, and caused the extraordinary Congress to issue the Decree of the 25th August, 1846, by which Santa Anna was proclaimed President of the Mexican Republic. The people of Yutacan, however, resisted such a declaration, which would involve them again in the disturbances of Mexico. They arose and proclaimed the Programme of the 8th of December last, declaring that it was not their desire to follow the lot of Mexico in the present war. The existing Government was then organized which sent Justice Don Jose Robira, and then me, to repeat these sentiments to the Government of The United States; for though one or another insignificant and senseless faction may have endeavoured to oppose the progress of the legitimate Government of Yucatan, they have been immediately and energetically repressed, without effecting anything else by their plans to excite some barbarous tribes to make a savage war on the white race. I have in my possession despatches from my Government, dated 26th of October last, fully sustaining this assertion.

You have thus, Sir, presented to you a slight but exact sketch of