The Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1834-184?, 1846-12-14

it imposes on Them Information has been re-
Gently received at the Department of State that
the Mexican government has sent to Havana,
blank commissions to priuateers and blank GER
tificates of naturalization signed by Gen. Salas
the present head of the Mexican government
There is also reason to apprehend that simll ar
documents have been transmitted TO other parts
70 the world. Copies of these papers in trans
lation' are herewith transmitted.
A the preIlminaries required by the practice
fo civilized nations for commissioning prIava-
teers and regulating their conduct appear not
to have been observed, and as these commissions
are in blank, TO be filled up with :he names Of
the citizens and subject to all nations who may
be willing TO purchase them, the whole proceed
ing can only be construed as an invitation to
all the freebooters on the earth, who are will
ing to pay for the privilege, to cruze against
American commerce. It will be for our courts
OF justice to decide whether, under such cir
cumstances these Mexican letters of marque
and reprisal shall protect those who accept them
and commit robberies upon the high under
their authority, from the pains and penalties OF
piracy. II the certificates OF naturalization thus
granted be intended by Mexico to shield Sp an
sh subjects from the guilt and PUNISHMENT of
pirates, under our treaty with Spain they will
certainly prove unavailing. Such a subterfuge
would be but weak device to defeat tn e the
provisions of solemn treaty.
| recommend that Congress should lmmedl
ately provided by law for the trial and punish =
ment as pirates of Spanish subjects who, escap
ing the vigilance of their government, shall be
found guilty of privateering against the U. S.
dc not apprehend serious danger from these
privateers. Our navy will be constantly on the
alert TO protect our commerce. Besides in case
prizes shoGld be made of American vessels, the
utmost vigilance will be exerted by our blocka
ding squadron to prev ent the captors from TAX
ing them into Mexican ports, and it is not ap
pretended that any nation will violate It's neu
traity by suffering such prizes to be condemned
and sold within its jurisdiction.
1 recommend that Congress should INN ed ate
ly provide by law for granting letters OF marque
and reprisal against vessels under the Mexican
flag. Ii is true that there are but few if any
commercial vessels of Mexico upon the high
seas; and it is therefore notprobabe that many
American privateers would be fitted out, in case
law should pass authorizing this mode OF war
fare Ii is, Notwithstanding, certain that such
privateers may render good service to the COM
mercial interests of the country, by recapturn g
our merchant ships, should any be taken by
armed vessels under the M exican flag, well as
by capturing these vessels themselves. Every
means Within our power should be rendered a.
valuable for the protection of our commerce.
The annual report of the Secretary OF the
Treasury will exhibit detailed statement of the
condition of the finances. The imports for tn e
fiscal year ending on the Both ofJune last, were
OF the value OF Sl2I,69l 1877; of which the
amount exported Sll.346: 628; leaving the
amount IethlHeu III the COuuli1 lOI AOlHbStlC
consumption $ll0, 535, IVA.
The value OF the exports for the same period
was SI13, 488, SO; Of which SI02, 14I 1893 con-
sisted of domestic productions, and ST., 346,
6z3 OF foreign articles.
The receipts into the treasury for the ga
year were $50 ,409, PAT 06. of which there wa:
derived from customs geo, 7l2, 667 81; from sales
of public lands So. 694,4 48, and from Incl
dental and miscellaneous sources S92,l26 II
The expenditures for the same period were
G28, 1901, ia 20, and the balance in the treasury
on the first day Of July last, was SO, l26,439 08
The amount of pu bile debt including treasury
notes, on this present month, S24 ,246, 494
60; of which the sum OF Sl7, 738, 799 81 was
outstanding the 4th of March, 1915, leaving
the amount incurred since that time, S6,477, 691
So
In order to prosecute the war with Mexic O
with vigor and energy, the best means oil
bringing ii to speedy and honorable termlna
ton, further loan will be necessary, to NEE
the expenditures oil the present aHd next MS cal
year. If the war should be continued until th'
Both OF June, lS40-being the end of the mex
fiscal Year-it is estimated that addtona
loan S23,000O00 will be required This estim
ate is made upon The assumption that 1t Will bt
necessary to retain constantly in the treas ury
four millions OF dollars, TO guard against contn
geneies. If such surplus were not required tC
be retained then loan of nineteen millions o
dollars would be sufficient. 1t, however, Con
greSs should. at the present session. impose
revenue duty on the principal articles now EN-
braced in the free list. il is estimated that ad
ditonal revenue of about two millions and
half amounting, 1t Is estimated. on the 3Oth o
June, 1913, to tour millions of dollars, would b.
derived from that source; and the loan requires
would be reduced by that amount.
1t is estimated, also, that should Congress
graduate and reduce the price of such oil tn
public lands have been long in the market
the additional revenue derived from that source
would be annually. for several years to come
between half million and million of dollars
and the loan required may be reduced by tina
amount also. Should these measures be adopt
ed, the loan required would not probably ex
coed eighteen nineteen millions OF dollar
leaving in the Treasury constant surplus o
four millions of dol ars. The loan proposed,
is estimated, will be sufficient to cover the e
ceGsary expenditures, both for the war and TO
all other purposes. up to the 3Oth OF June, lS4o
and al amount OF this loan, not exceeding on
half, may be required during the present hsca
year, and the grea part OF the remainder, du
ring the first half OF the fiscal year succeedin g
In order that timely notice may be given,an
proper measures taken to effect the loan,or sue
portion of it as may be required, II is lmporIan
that the auth oriIy of congress TO make II be CIV
en- at early period of your session. 1t is sug
gested that the loan should be contracted tor
period of twenty years, with authority TO pun
chase the stock and pay ii off at an earlier per
cd, al it's market value, out OF any surplus who
may at any time be in the treasury apple abl
to that purpose. Alter the establishment
peace with Mexico, it is supposed that con
siderable surplus will exist, and that the de-
nav be extinguished in much shorter perlo
thun that for which it mey be contracted TIL
period Of twenty years. til at for which tn
proposed loan may be contracted, in preference
TO a shorter period, is suggested. because all e.
perience. both at home and abroad, has show
that our loans effected upon much bette
terms upon long time, than when they are lin
bursed at short dates.