The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 24, July 1920 - April, 1921 Page: 198
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The Southwestern Historical Quarterly
The most successful of these liberal movements broke out in
Yucatan in May, 1839. The weakness of the Government of Mex-
ico, and the remoteness of Yucatan from the capital, made it im-
possible to take adequate steps to reduce her to submission. By
the beginning of the following year the revolutionists were in com-
plete control of Yucatan, and the movement had spread into To-
basco and Campeche. Treat kept his Government informed of
the developments there as he learned of them, suggesting the pos-
sibility of joint action by Texas and Yucatan in case of the failure
of his mission. In June, 1840, Commodore Moore was sent with
the fleet to carry dispatches to Treat. While he was to be careful
to observe strict neutrality and not to attack any Mexican vessel
unless he learned that Treat's mission had failed, he was to "en-
deavour to ascertain the condition of the State of Yucatan, and
the disposition of those functionaries administering their Govern-
ment, whether friendly or otherwise to us, any manifestation of
friendship from them you will reciprocate."7'
Moore left Galveston in June, immediately after receiving his
orders, and considering the most important of his instructions the
discovery of the attitude of Yucatan, he dispatched the letters for
Treat and Pakenham in the schooner San Jacinto, while he con-
tinued direct to Yucatan, arriving at Sisal on July 31. He was
received with every favor by the authorities. After a short time
at Sisal he sailed to Campeche, where he found General Anaya
and had a friendly conference with him. He returned to Sisal
shortly after, and had an interview with the governor-elect, San
tiago Mendez, who informed him that "he was anxious that the
most friendly relations should be established at an early period,
and assured me that the ports of the State of Yucatan were open
to any Texan vessel. . . ."7 On the same day that he reported
these movements to the secretary of the navy, August 28, 1840,
Moore addressed a letter to President Lamar in which he urged
the policy of active warfare. He wrote in part as follows:
By reference to my report you will see the disposition of the
Federalists of Yucatan towards the Government of Texas and
their anxiety for the cooperation of our Naval force; the weight
71Lamar to Moore, June 20, 1840, Garrison, Dip. Cor. Tex., II, 652.
"'Moore to Secretary of the Navy, August 28, 1840, 5 Tex. Cong., 1 Sess.,
Appendix, 232-237, House Journal.198
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 24, July 1920 - April, 1921, periodical, 1921; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101078/m1/204/: accessed May 2, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.