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WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1858
REMARKS CONCERNING HIS RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A PROTECTORATE OVER CERTAIN LATIN-AMERICAN STATES, FEBRUARY 16, 1858 1 Mr. Houston. I ask that the resolution which I offered yester- day, in relation to the establishment of an efficient protectorate by the United States over the States of Mexico, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, and San Salvador, be now taken up, with a view to its reference to the Committee on Foreign Relations. The Vice-President. It will be referred if there be no objection. Mr. Wilson. I wish to hear the resolution read. The Secretary read it as follows : Whereas, the events connected with the numerous efforts of the people of Mexico, and of Central America, of this continent, to establish and maintain order and good government, since their separation from the mother country, have so far resulted in failure and consequent anarchy, and demonstrated to the world the inability of said people to effect an object alike so desirable and so indispensable to their welfare and prosperity: Therefore, Resolved, That the Committee on Foreign Relations be in- structed to inquire into and report . to the Senate upon the expediency of the Government of the United States declaring and maintaining an efficient protectorate over the States of Mexico, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, and San Salvador, in such form and to such extent as shall be necessary to secure to the people of said States the blessings of good and stable repub- lican government. Mr. Houston. I move that the resolution be taken up for con- sideration. The motion to take up the resolution was agreed to. [Houston answered queries.] Mr. Houston. Mr. President, as I have remarked, it is, I believe, unusual, at this stage of business, to object to a resolution of inquiry. This resolution lays down to the committee no course of conduct to pursue. In the first place, we are aware that the people of the regions referred to are not in a very settled and regulated condition; and supposing that the sources of information would be open to the committee, I have offered this resolution, instruct- ing them to inquire into the causes of the evils in those Govern- ments, and, if they thought proper, to suggest a remedy. With these views I have proposed to refer it to them; but they are not bound by it to recommend a remedy. They are simply instructed to ascertain the cause of the evils, and by their report impart to
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