US Presidency
1848

The resolutions further request information whether any persons have been tried and condemned for treason against the United States in that part of New Mexico lying east of the Rio Grande since the same has been in the occupancy of our Army, and, if so, before what tribunal and by what authority of law such tribunal was established. It appears that after the territory in question was in the occupancy of our Army some of the conquered Mexican inhabitants, who had at first submitted to our authority, broke out in open insurrection, murdering our soldiers and citizens and committing other atrocious crimes. Some of the principal offenders who were apprehended were tried and condemned by a tribunal invested with civil and criminal jurisdiction, which had been established in the conquered country by the military officer in command. That the offenders deserved the punishment inflicted upon them there is no reason to doubt, and the error in the proceedings against them consisted in designating and describing their crimes as treason against the United States.