Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1846-12-19

province of New Mexico, with Santa Fe, 1t:
capital, has been captured without bloodshed
The navy has co-operated with the army ant
rendered important services if not SO brilliant
1t IS because the enemy had no force to NEE
them on their own element, and because OF the
| defences which nature has interposed in thu
difficulties of the navigation on the Mexican
coast. Our squadron in the Pacific, with the
cooperation Of a gallant officer of the army
and small force hastily collected In that dis
| tant country, have acquired bloodless posses
sion of the CALIFORNIA;, and the American flag
has been raised at every important pointin thai
province.
congratulate you on the success which has
thus attended our military and naval operations
In less than seven months after Mexico com.
menced hostilities, at time selected by herseii
we have taken possession of many of her prin-
cpal ports, driven back and pursued her lnva-
ding army and acquired military possesslono'
the Mexican provinces of New Mexico, Ne"
Leon, Coahuila, Tamaulipas and the CALIFORNIA;
a territory larger in extent than that emu dceu
IN the original thirteen States OF the Ohloii' III
habted by a considerable population, ana much
of it more than thousand miles from 'ne points
at which we had to collect our forces anu CON
mence our movements. BY the blockade. the
import and export trade OF the enemy Ids oeeh
cut off.
Well NAV the American people be proud oil
the energy and gallantry OF our regular and vo-
pn'eer officers and soldiers. The events OF
these few months afford gratifying proof that
our gallant country can, under any emergency,
confidently rely for the maintenance OF her
honor, and the defence of her rights, on an eff
fectiye force, ready at all times voluntarily TO
relnquish the comforts of home for the perils
and the privations of the camp. And though
such force may be for the time expensive, it is
in the end economical, as the ability to COM
mand it removes the necessity of employing a
large standing army in time ofpeace, and proves
that our people love their institutions, and are
ever ready to defend and protect them.
| Whilst the war was in a course of vigorous
and successful prosecution, being still anxious
to arrest its evils, and considering that after
! brilliant victories Of our arms on the 9Th and
| 9th of May last, the national honor could not be
compromised by it, another overture was made
| to Mexico, by my direction, on the 9th OF July
last, to terminate hostilities by peace Just and
honorable to both countries. On the Slst OF
taA2gnst following, the Mexican Government
declined to accept this friendly overture, but
| referred it to the decision of a Mexican Con
gress to be assembled in the early part of the
present month. | communicate to you here
with a copy Of the letter Of the Secretary of
State, proposing to reopen negotiations, of the
answer of the Mexican Government, and the
| The war will be continued to be prosecuted
with vigor, as the best means Of securing peace.
| 1t is hoped that the decision of the Mexican
| Congress, to which our last overture has been
referred, may result in the speedy and honorable
peace. With our experience, however Of the
unreasonable course Of the Mexican authorities
1t is the part of wisdom not to relax in the ener-
gy of our military operations until the result is
made known. In this view it is deemed impor-
tant to hold military possession Of all the pro-
vlnces which have been taken, until a definite
treaty of peace shall have been concluded and
ratified by the two countries.
The war has not been waged with view to
conquest, but having been commenced by Mex
leo, 1t has been carried into the enemy's coun-
try, and will be vigorously prosecuted there,
with view to obtain an honorable pea :e, and
thereby secure ample indemnity for the expen-
ses OF the war, as well as to much injured citi-
zens who hold large pecuniary demands against
Mexico.
By the laws of nations, conquered territory
| is subject to be governed by the conqueror dur
ing his military possession, and until there is
either treaty of peace, or he shall voluntarily
WITHDRAW from it. The old civil government be-
| ing necessarily superseded, it is the right and
duty ofthe conqueror TO secure his conquest, and
provide for the maintenance of civil order an
the rights Of the inhabitants. This right has
been exercised and this duty performed by our
military and naval commanders, by the estab-
| llshment OF temporary governments in some OF
! the conquered provinces in Mexico, assimila-
ting them, as far as practicable, to the free in
stitutions of our country. In the province OF
New Mexico and ofthe CALIFORNIA;, little, fany
| further resistance is unprecedented from the in
habltants to the temporary governments which
have thus, from the necessity of the case, and
according to the laws of war been established.
1t may be proper to provide for the security oil
these important conquests by making an ade-
fquate appropriation for the purpose of erecting
Qualifications and defraying the expenses neces-
arily incident to the maintenance of our poses
sion and authority over them.
Near the close Of your last session, for sons
communicated to Congress, deemed it impor-
| tant, as measure for securing speedy peace
with Mexico, that sum Of money should be
appropriated and placed in the power of the Ex-
ecutive, similar to that which had been made
upon two former occasions during the admins
| tration of President Jefferson.
On the twenty-sixth of February, 1903, an ap.
preparation of two millions of dollars was made
and placed at the disposal of the President. Its
object is we'll known. It was at that time in
contemplation to acquire Louisiana from France
and it was intended to be applied as part oil the
consideration which might be paid for that ter
ritory. On the thirteenth of February, 1896
the same sum was in like manner appropriated
with view to the purchase ofthe Floridas from
Spain. Thee appropriations were made to Ia
ciitate negotiations, and as a means TO enable
the President to accomplish the important OBJ
iects nview. Though it did not become neces
sary for the President to use these appropria
lions, yet a state of things might have arisen il
which it would have been highly important fol
him to do so, and the wisdom of making them
cannot be doubted. 1t is believed that the mea
sure recommended at your last session etwitl
the appreciation of decided majorities in boil
Houses of Congress. Indeed, in different form
a bill making an appropriation OF two millions o
dollars passed each House, and it is much to b,
regretted that it did not become law. Thu
reasons which induced me to recommend thu
measure at that time, still exist: and l again
submit the subject for your consideration, anc
suggest the Importance ofearly action upon 1t
, Should the appropriation be made, and be no
needed. it will remain in the treasury; should /
$ be deemed proper to apply It in whole or impair
9 twill be accounted for as other expenditures
7 Immediately after Congress had recognise
e the existence of the war with Mexico, my at
1 tention was directed to the danger that prlva
teers might be fitted out in the ports OF Cuba an
! Forto Rico to prey upon the commerce oil Tn
r united States; and Invited the special atten
: ton OF the Spanish government tothe fourteenth
, article ofour treaty with that power OF the 20t
OF Oct. 1875, under which the citizens and sub
Jects of either nation who shall take commission
or letters of marque to act as privateers agalns
the other, "shall he nunished as pirates.3