Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1846-12-12

In the provinces OF new Mexico ana OF
the CALIFORNIA; little if any further resistance is appehended
from the inhabitants to the temporary governments which
thus from the necessity Of the and according the
Of war been established may be proper provide
for the security Of these important conquests by making
adequate appropriation for the purpose Of erecting fortified
lions and deyng the expenses necessarily incident to the
maintenance of possession and authority over them.
Near the close Of your last session, for commun
Gated to Congress- deemed important, for
curing speedy peace with Mexico, that Of money
should be appropriated and placed the power of the Execu
tive similar that which had been made upon former
casons during the adm nsraton Of President Jefferson.
On the Goth Of February, IS03 appropriation Of
millions dollars made and placed the disposal of
President Its object is well known II at that time in
contemplation acquire Louisiana from France, and it
intended to be applied part Of the consideration which
might be paid for that territory On the 18th Of February,
1906, the same in like appropriated with
view the purchase of the Fordas from Spain These APP
preparations made to facilitate negotiations, and
to enable the President accomplish the important OBJ
ects in view. Though did not become necessary for the
President these appropriations, yet state Of things
might have arisen in which would have been highly impor
for him do So and the wisdom of making them cannot
be doubted Il is believed that the measure recommended at
your last session met with the appreciation of decided mao
ties in both Houses of Congress- Indeed in different forms
bill making appropriation of two millions OF dollars pass
ed each House. and much TO be regretted that 1t did not
become law. The which induced to recommend
the that time still exist and again submit the
subject for your consideration and suggest the importance OF
early action upon it, Should the appropriation be made and
be needed it will remain in the Treasury should 1t be
deemed proper apply it in whole in part will be ac
counted for other public expenditures.
Immediately after Congress had recognised the existence OF
the with Mexico, my attention directed to the dam
ger that prvatees might be fitted in the ports of Cuba
and Porto Rico to prey upon the of the United
States and invited the special attention of the Spanish Co
to the fourteenth article of our treaty with that Pow
err of the twentieth of October l795, under which the c
and subjects of either nation who shall take commissions
letters of marque to act prvatees against the other
g shall be punished as pirates"
Ii affords pleasure inform you that have received
from the Spanish Government that this article of
the treaty shall be faithfully observed its part Orders for
this purpose Immediately transmitted from that Govern
the authorities of Cuba and Porto Rico their
utmost vigilance in preventing any attempts to fit out prva
in those islands against the United States From the
good faith of Spain fully satisfied that this treaty will be
executed in its spirit well its letter whilst the United
States will their part faithfully perform all the obligations
which II imposes on them.
Information has been recently received the Department
of State that the Mexican Government has Havana
blank prvateers and blank certificates of
tuazaon signed by General Saa the present head of the
Mexican Government. There is also to apprehend
that similar documents have been transmitted to other parts
the world Copies of these papers, in translation here
with transmitted.
As the peImnares required by the practice of civilized
nations for commissioning pvaeers and regulating their
duct appear not TO have been observed and these commits
sons blank, be filed up with the Of citizens
and subjects of all nations who may be willing purchase
them, the whole proceeding only be construed
eeDo0ers earth willing
for the privilege, to cruise against American
will be for of Justice decide whether under such
these Mexican letters of maque and repsal
shall protect those who accept them and commit obberes
upon the high under their authority from the pains and
penalties of piracy.
If the certificates naturalization thus granted be intended
by Mexico shield Spanish subjects from the guilt and pun
ishment of pirates under treaty with Span they will
certainly prove unavang Such suberfuge would be but
weak device defeat the provisions of solemn treaty
recommend that Congress should Immediately provide by
law for the trial and punishment pirates of Spanish sub
who escaping the vigilance of their Government shall
be found guilty of prvaeerng against the United States
do apprehend serious danger from these pvaeers Our
navy will be constantly the alert to protect
Besides in prizes should be made of American vessels
thpmost vigilance will be exerted by bockadng squad
prevent the captos from taking them into Mexican
ports and is not unprecedented that any nation will violate
lis neutrality by suffering such prizes to be condemned and
sold within its Jurisdiction
recommend that Congress should Immediately provide by
law for granting letters Of marque and repsa against vessels
under the Mexican flag 1t is that there but few,
any commercial vessels Of Mexico upon the high and
is therefore not probable that American privaeers
would be fitted law should pass authorizing this
mode Of warfare 1t is Notwithstanding certain that such
pvaees may render good service the commercial
OF the country by recapurng merchant ships should any
be taken by armed vessels under the Mexican ag well
by capturing these vessels themselves Every within
power should be rendered available for the protection of
our commerce.
The annual report Of the Secretary of the Treasury will
hbt detailed statement of the condition of the finances The
imports for the fiscal year ending the 30h of June last
were of the value of one hundred and twenty million six
hundred and ninety thousand hundred and ninety
dollars Of which the exported mill
lion three hundred and forysx thousand hundred and
twenty dollars leaving the retained in the
country for domestic consumption hundred and mil
lion three hundred and foyfve thousand hundred and
dollars The value Of the exports for the
period hundred and thirteen million four hundred and
eighty thousand five hundred and dollars Of
which hundred and million hundred and forty
thousand eight hundred and ninety dollars consist
ed OF domestic productions and eleven million three hundred
and foryx thousand six hundred and twenty dollars
OF foreign articles.
The receipts into the Treasury for the same year we've
twenty million four hundred and ninety nine thousand
two hundred and forty dollars and cents of which
there derived from twenty million seven hun
dred and twelve thousand hundred seven dollars
and eighty cents from sales of public lands million
six hundred and ninety thousand four hundred and fifty
two dollars and fortyeght cents and from incidental and
miscellaneous ninety thousand hundred and
twenysx dollars and sevenyone The expenditures
for the period twenty eight million thirty thou
sand hundred and fourteen dollars and twenty cents and
the balance in the Treasury the first day of July
nine million hundred and twenty thousand four hun
dred and thirty nine dollars and eight cents.
The Of the public debt including Treasury notes.
the first Of the present month twenty million
hundred and fysix thousand hour hundred and ninety -four
dollars and sixty cents of which The Of seventeen mil
lion seven hundred and eghyeght thousand hundred
and nnetynne dollars and sixytwo outstanding
the fourth Of March, lsd5 leaving the incurred
since that time million four hundred and thou
sand six hundred and nety dollars and EIGHT
In order prosecute the with Mexico with vgor and
energy, as the best means Of bringing speedy and hon