43
WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON~ 1848
leave the country in the enjoyment of liberty, after making such arrangements as will reimburse the United States for the aid rendered. This I understand to be the object of the President; and whether it be his meaning or not, it is the design which I would entertain myself. Are the evidences before us sufficient to induce a belief that the people of Yucatan are borne down by superior numbers, by a "majority," as the gentleman from Kentucky [Mr. Crittenden] has said? "Are the savages the majority?" Yes; perhaps ten to one. And is that any reason why the white inhabitants, "who have occupied the country for three hundred years," should be given up to slaughter and indiscriminate butchery? No, sir. It js a reason why they should be assisted. It is a reason why those savages should have their bloody hands stayed from slaughter. It is a reason why we should interpose in defence of the whites, who bear upon them the impress of civilization and brotherhood with ourselves. Because their number is small in comparison with that of their destroyers, is a potent reason why I would sustain them. If they outnumbered their enemies, they would not imploringly beseech your support. It is because they are in a minority, feeble, defenceless, oppressed, and hunted down by barbarians, that we should not hesitate in the course suggested; and our humanity is appealed to in behalf of age and sex; nor is even helpless infancy spared from the massacre; neither is there hope but in our protection. It is said by gentlemen that "we do .not know what will be the end of it; that it cannot be seen." No, ·sir, it cannot be seen. Are we to await the catastrophe before we act? Suppose the question had been asked of the British Government, who planted the first colony upon this continent, when the difficulties first arose between the colonies and the savages of the forest, and when assistance was demanded in behalf of the Pilgrims, "Do the Indians form a majority?" and they had postponed all action upon the appeal until that fact was ascertained, or had refused all aid to their necessities, what would have been the estimate of its character? What would have been the decision of the civilized world upon its character'? Suppose the colonies had applied to France or Spain, or some other friendly Power, for protection, would they have stopped to ask, are the savages a majority? When answered affirma- tively, and they had been surrendered to their fate, and ex- termination had been the consequence, what would the fiat of history have been upon such delinquency? vVould it not have
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