New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1846-12-24
NEW-YORK TRIBUNE.
Important from Washington!
The Pre-idcnt's Message in reply fo Hon. Gar.
ret DuvIs's Resolution.

ret DuvIs'- Resolution.
Correspondence of The Tribune.
WAsnSGroS Dec. D. loi6, 3 p. II.
The Senate was but short time in session TO-
day. There was nothing Of importance done
TIL they went into Executive session.
In the House the debate was continued On the
Mexican War, by Messrs. Mof;sK Of La MAEriN
Of Tennessee and DAVIS Of Kentucky. The
speech OF Mr.. DAVIS was clear and iurcb!c Illus
traon OF the Inconsistencies aud alschoods IN the
Presidents Message. lie proved by extracts from
the papers in the State Department that Mr.. Polk
was either IGNORANT or had wiflly falsiicd his,o.
~ When he came to speak of Mr. Folks permit
,ng Santa Anno TO pass our blockade, he SAID he
was clearly guilty Of treason,- and i! arraigned be
fore any Court in the United States, tic only plea
he could make in mitigation OF his treason was that
he knew not whatthc results ofthat treason would
be- His only plea must be TIE plea OF Ignorance.
But the great feature of the day was the recep
ton Of the Presidents reply to the Resolution ofer-
ed by GARRET DAVIS and passed by the House
Of Representatives.. AS this MessaSels of import
ance send you copy oft, and would have sent
you an abstract Of the accompanying Documents
but was unable to get at them. Before got the
Message finished the Documents were taken away
by the Public Printer. They are quito voluminous
The following is Mr.. Folks Message
ya,te toa,s of Rapresena,ires Of ,he Uai,od States
In compliance with the request contained IN the resc
lution of the House of Representatives OF tho 18th in7.
communicate herewith reports from the secretary u
War and the Secretary Of the Navy. with the documents
which accompany them. The documents contein all
the orders or Instructions TO any Naval Military or
other officer OF the Government in relation to the csta
blshnent or organization OF civil government IN any
portion of the territory OF Mexico which has or might
be taken possession OF by the Army or Navy OF the
United States.
These orders and instructions given t9.reeula,c
the exercise of the rights OF bccerent. engaged in
actual war such portions of the territory oil our
enemy by military conqueat might be taken posses
sion OF" and be occupied by armed forces rights
necessarily resulting from state oil war and clearlyre
coenised by the Laws Of Nations Ibis was all the author
inv which could be delegated To Military and Naval
Commanders and its exercise was indispensable TO the
secure occupation and possession OF territory oil the en-
envy which might be conquered. The regulations au'
thoIled temporary and dependent on the llghts
acquired by conquest
They were authorized as bclgerent rights and were
tcbc carried into effect by military naval officers
They were but the smelorat!on oil martial law, WDich
modern civilization requires and were due as well to
security OF the conquest to the inhabitants ct the
conquered territory.
ports of several highly mcrorous officers OF our Army
and Navy who have conquered and taken possession oil
portions OF the enemy's territory
Among the documents accompanying tue report oil the
Secretary OF War, will be found " form OF Govern
Tent" established md organized by the mtaTy
commander who conquered and occupied with his Tor.
COS the territory of New Mexico. This document was
received the War Department In the latter part Oh the
las month and will be perceived by the report OF The
Secretary of War not for tho reason stated by mat
officer brought my notice until alter my Annual Mes
sage of the sth inst communicated to Congress.
/, is declared on s face 10 be temporary govern
ent of the said territory but there portions OF it
which purport to establish and organize permanent
territorial government of the United States over the ter
rltcry and to impart to its inhabitants political rights
which under the Constitution of the United states can
b. enjoyed permanently only by citizens OF the United
States. These have not been approved and rccoe-
nzcd' by Such crgRuiZed regulations as nave
been established In any OF the conquered territories io
the security of our conquest for the preservation OF
order for the protection of the rights OF the inhabitants
and for dcprvns the enemy o the OF these
territories while the military possession oil them, by the
forces OF the United States, continue, Will be rccos'
nZod and approved
It will DO apparent from the reports OF the officers,
who have been required, by the success which has
crowned their arms to tho powers of temporal
ry government oyer the conquered that any
excess of power has been exercised the departure has
been the offspring OF patriotic desire 10 give IN the in
habans privileges and inmunities SO cherished by
the people of country, and which they believed
calculated improve their condition ana promote ther
prosperity. .,-,,.,.-.
but can and will be carly corrected in manner 10 alien
,,e as little possible the good feelings OF the nhaoi,
ants OF the conquered territory JAMES N foLn.
WrshiaS,oH, Dec. ~ lei6.
Now what pretty face this puts on the whole
preceding These documents should have al! been
communicated to Congress with the annual Mes
sage They were OF vastimportanco to the people.
twas the peoples right to have them, but now
they are reluctantly dragged from our rulers and'
oh yeStatcsmcn just see what an excuse IS made.
The Secretary of War in his letter says that he
was so busy that he had not time to look the long
document over Why were not the facts con-
nccted with tho case common talk i'll every cabin,
and yet the Secretary prctends he could not SO look
over it as to bring it before the President Then
ii he had not time why did not the President in.
form the Committee appointed u wait upon hin on
;ho hrs, day OF tho session that he had some mat
tiers not vet looked into. and he would delay the
delivery oths Message Tor a day Oriihc could not
do this WHY did he not, as he had time 10
lcck into tbs matter bring it before Congress
Was he who cannot Sign 3 Harbor bill for fear Of
infringing on the Constitution who is set to guard
the Constitution was he to raise no voice TO warn
she Nation against the violation OF the Constitu-
zion till Congress askedior Information and then to
retain tho information asked FOR, for seven or eight
DAYS after the Resolution passed But why dwell
upon this new feature OF Loco-Focosm with ITS
fimsy excuses and absurd contradictions. The
Administration are plotting .deceit-they viii not
even now tell the People all. They give them bat
extracts from oicssl letters. Yet this Administers
ton rotten with loathsome political corruption. and
exhibiting every day lis own utter iu.beciity has
and will have to the end OF its career minions to
defend il Surely the People Will lcok into these
things and mark for its future condemnation such
acts and such men. RIcRELIEu.
Iowa.
The first State Legislature o, Iowa convened at
lows City on the 3osh ult The Senate was organ