The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-12-29
The Eseeutive In.,rue,,on..

that this measure, which the moral sense OF the whole
nation has so long demanded, will be strictly enforced
The Executive Instructions.
The Opposition put themselves in bad plight by de-
nouneng the war as unjust and unnecessary, and so
aroused against themselves once the sense OF honor
and the patriotic feeling of the country Their attempt
now to shuttle out Of their late position, and to present
themselves as no longer opposed to the war, clearly
proves this But their last party to assal the Ad
mnsraon by calling for the Instructions issued to our
military and naval commanders, is if possible, even
more illjuiged and cborye The publication of these
documents which accompanied the Presidents last
sage to Congress- has been, thus far, everywhere
eeved as complete and conclusive justification of the
Administration 1t is everywhere and confessed
that in framing these Instructions the Executive kept
steadily in view the requirements OF the Laws of Nations
and the limitations upon Executive authority imposed
by the Federal Constitution The authority for the pros
eeuon OF the war; vested in the Executive by the war
act, has been wisely and prudenly exercised in is
suing Instructions designed TO secure the military
possession Of our eonquests during the war in as
mid and conciatory form the paramount duty of
their safekeeping would permit. The whole charge
therefore OF "usupel powers in this respect has fallen
the ground h is little better than mere matter of
ndcule From among many similar expressions of opn-
ion upon this subject, copy the following passage
which we find in the leading article of the PHILADELPHIA
edgera Neutral print, whose judgments can hardly be
suspected of any undue bias in favor of the Admnstra
lion:
THE Executive DrscLosUREs.The instructions to our
military commanders IN the enemy's country and ON the
enemy coast, which had been called Tor by Congress-
Elye been submitted 90 both houses And what do they
disclose Precisely what ntnlated that they would
We said that our government had, the laws OF ma
TONS the rghto conquest and the right of absolute gov
eminent during military occupation and that the laws of
nations were c9gnzabe by the federal constitution as paT
OF the laws OF the land And We took for granted that any
Instructions from our Executive military officers for
their guide IN the enemys country, would be strictly with
IN these landmarks SO they All the instructions TO
our generals and naval captains fully recognise the egis
i've authority OF Congress conquered territory and
till Congress inteIpose they were not nsiue1eJ az
has been ntimated, TO territories and 10 esab
hsh territorial governments them annerd They
were merely instructed SEIZE conquer TO hold i'm su
ecton TO establish necessary rules for such subecon no
govern Tor the benefit oil the United States and the
ed people during the Torisionai occupation And how
long was this provisional occupation endure Til the
conquered regions Were resolved upon treaty of peace
made by the P,vdent and Senate With the enemy or t
Congress could provide Tor their government after their
sion, By the enemy, TO the United States"
OF the soundness of the views contained in the above
extract there be reasonable question The Ledger
indeed, in the remainder OF its article, goes further and
uses all the measures adopted in the case by our naval
and military officers, far these measures have vet
been made known. We lay the views and reasonngs of
the Ledger upon this branch of the subject before our
readers without undertaking TO pass any judgment upon
them:
Butw are told that General kearny and CAPTAIN Stock
governments for it, aud thai the Executive have isayowed
or rather have not recognised those The general and
their authority and the Executive have dsavoyed nothing
because n3g was presented for their dsavowa by either
governments, snd appointed officers administer them
they have required such officers swear allegiance to The
Lhed saes HaVe they, In this, exceeded any authority
They had power hold the conquered regions under mar
uaI law TO suspend all civil jurisdiction % suspend all Off
the court martial IT, DESTROYS of conciliang the people
they lett them to govern themselves far as the safety of
the annexation OF these regions by Congress they endeay
%ea 70 prepare Their population for friendly relations have
Possessed If they had full power to hold these regions un
aef strict martial law they certainly had the power
temperng it, they did not change the tenure by which they
Professionally held the country from military to civil oc
power to convert the country camp and lis n6ab
tants into prisoners OF war They have attempted no an
nexaton but have merely provided for provisional military
occupation till Congress can interpose. " =. ~
The Proysoa OF the federal constitution which covers
the case Is found in article section g. defining the pow
ers OF Congress 1t says Congress Shall have
power to declare war; grant letters of marque and reprsa
raise and support anies provide and maintain navy;
make rules for the government of the land and naval
SonpIess nave made rules concerning captures
and rules govern the land and forces and Congress
nave declared that war existed And in whatever has been
Gne against the army none of those rules have been
hinged by the Executive, the military officers on land Or
sea- Again They have done nothing against the laws
nations Which are part OF the laws Of the land And the
laws Of nations made part the laws Of the land by
me federal constitution, which says, in article g. section
ne judicial power shall extend TO all law and
equity arising under this constitutions the laws OF the Uni
u States and treaties made which shall be made under
eT authority TO all eases affecting ambassadors, other
maritime jurisdiction As treaties assadors and other
pubic ministers and consuls, and admiralty and maritime
jurisdiction involve the rights onations other
y depend on International law, and therefore such
conscd by the federal constitution Besides, the govern
helt was established for the foreign, well domestic
relations OF the nation and therefore the constitution neces-
salY recognises International law. Now in what single
ep mas International law been violated in the cneny's
yT NJ ~ ' " '"
Federal SANDER ana Federal Patriotism