Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-12-11

r;,b Nioy;co that sum oi money s"o ~
"rnn,ia,,d ind placed in The power oi me LAe
rn,,ye similar 10 that when haa oeen mau. ~
IN two former occasions, uui '"S '"S
ZION OF President Jefferson: ,eoo
''on ~ Tho ,wenrysixlh Of February, 1913, an ap-
,,;.,ion OF Two millions OF dollars was maze
md placed al the disposal oil Inc FIes'oenI' n'
h.c, il well known. II was al thai time IN con'
,..rnla,ion 10 ACQUIRE Louisiana IRON France,
and !, was intended 10 be applied as part Of Inc
consideration which nigh, be paid Tor MAJ teIf'-
r,rv ON he thirteenth oil February, leuo, .he
,arne sum was in like manner apProPli"'eu' WIN
view 10 the purchase oil Inc fiorloas i'o.i
Spain. These appropriations were maue ~ "a
cita,e negotiations, and as means 10 enaoie 'ne
President 10 accomplish The important oulec,' -.
view Though il did not become necessary lot
The President 10 use these appropriations, yet a
stale OF things might have arisen IN when u
would have been highly important Tor him 10 40
so and The wisdom oil making Them cannon De
donb,ed. II is believed that The measure fecoui
pended al your last session met WIN me appio.
ha,ion Of decided malorites in ooih fiouses oi
Conoress. Indeed. in different forms, 1,ii max
ING an appropriation of two millions OF oo'iais
passed each House, and il is much 10 DC regret
led that il did not become law. ne leasons
which induced me 10 recommend Inc nedsu'e a.
tina, lime still exist and again SUBMIT inc SUI
iecr Tor your consideration, and Suggest 'ne l'n-
purance Of early action upon H. onou; ~ WY
preparation be made, nd ne MOI heeaeu' Il WIZ ie-
main in The Treasu y: should il be deemed proper
10 apply it, in whole or IN pail, VIII oe oeeou''
cd for as other public expenditures. Tho
Immediately after Congress had Recognised me
existence Of The war with Mexico, my ateh!ioh
was directed 10 The danger mat prvaleers miSh'
be fitted out in The ports OF Cuba and Porio hlco
n nrev imam The commerce of the United States /;
and invited The special attention oil The Spaiiish
C;nvernmsn, IN The fourteenth article OF our treaty
with that mower OF the twentieth oil Ocloocr, 1879,
under which the citizens and subjects OF elmer
nation who shall lake commissions or letters Oh
marque 10 act as privateers, against the o'''e''
"sha be punished as pirates.
1t affords me pleasure 10 infofm you ,nae nase
received assurances from the Spanish Govern
nent that this article OF the treaty shall be ailh-
fully observed ON lis part Orders for This pun
pose were Immediately transmitted from maj
Government 10 The authorities OF Cuba and Porto
Rico 10 exer, their utmost vigilance in preventing
any attempts to fit out prvaeers in those ISLANDS
against the United States. From The good ia'lh
Of Spain | am fully satisfied that THIS treaty
will be executed in lis spirit as well as lis ieltel
whilst The United States will on their part, iallh
fully perform all the obligations which II imposes
on Them.
Information has been recently received al Inc
Department OFF Stale, that The Mexican Govern
,,enl has sen, 10 Havana blank commissions 10
priya,ecrs. and blank certificates OF nauTallza-
lion. signed BY General Salas The present head oil
the Mexican Government. There is, also, Iea-
son 10 apprehend, that similar documents nave
been transmitted 10 other paris OF Inc woria. 20
pies Of these papers, in translation, are herewi'h
transmitted.
As The preliminaries required by the practice
OF civilized nations for commissioning privaleerS
and regulating their conduct appear not 10 have
been observed, and ds these commissions are IN
blank, 10 be filled up with the names OF citizens
and subjects OF all nations who may be willing
10 purchase them, the whole proceeding can only
be construed as an invitation TO all the reeooot-
ers upon earth, who are willing TO pay for the
privilege, 10 cruise against American commerce.
Il will be for our courts Of justice to decide wne-
Their, under such circumstances, these Mexican
letters OF marque and reprlsal shall project those
who accep, them, and commit robberies upon the
high seas under their authority, from the pains
and penalties Of piracy.
Ii the certificates OF naturalization thus granted
be intended by Mexico 10 shield Spanish subjects
from The guilt and punishment OF pirates unoei
our treaty with Spain, they will certainly prove
unavailing. Such subteriuee would be but
oS'>.
treaty.
recommend that Congress should immediate
~ provide by law for the trial and punishment as
pirates OF Spanish subjects who, escaping The Vi
Stance uf their government, shall be found gull
" Ut privaleering against The United States. l
60 not apprehend serious danger from these pri-
vaeers. Our navy will be constantly on Inc
alert 10 project our commerce. Besides, IN case
prizes shoud be made of American vessels, The
utmost vigilance will be exerled by orr blockad-
ing squadron 10 prevent The caplors from taking
them into Mexican ports, and il is not apprehend-
ed that any nation will violate its neutrality by
suffering such prizes 10 be condemned and sold
within its jurisdiction.
recommend that Congress should immediate
ly provide by law for granting letters OF marque
and reprisal apains, vessels under The Mexican
flag. Il is true that there are but lew, IL any,
commercial vessels OF Mexico upon the high
seas; and il is therefore not probable that many
American privateers would be fitted out, IN case
a law should pass authorizing this mode oil war
fare. II is, Notwithstanding, certain that such
privateers may render good service 10 the com
mercial interests Of The country, by recapturlng
our merchant ships, should any be taken oy arm
ed vessels under the Mexican flag, as we'll as by
capturing these vessels themselves. Every
means within our power should be rendered
d
The annual reporl of the Secretary OF the Trea-
sury will exhibit detailed statement OF The Con
di,ion of the finances. The Imports Tor The flsca
year ending on the lairlielh Of June last, were Of
Inc value OF one hundred and tWenty-one million
six hundred and ninety -one thousand seven hun
dted and nlnety-seven dollars; OF which the amoun
exported was eleven million three hundred anc
forty-six thousand six hundred and tweniy-lhree
dollars; leaving the amount retained IN The coun
Try Tor domestic consumption one hundred and ter
million three hundred and iorty-ive thousand one
hundred and seventy-four dollars. The value o
the exports for the same period was one hundred
and thirteen million four hundred and eighty-eigh
thousand five hundred and sixteen dollars; O
which one hundred and two million one hundred
and iorty-one thousand eight hundred and ninety
| three dollars consisted OF domestic productions
and eleven million three hundred and torty-si'
| thousand six hundred and twenIy-lhree dollars o
foreign articles.
The receipts into the treasury for The same yea
were twenty million four hundred and nine
ty-nine thousand Two hundred and ioTty-sevel
dollars and six cents, Of which there was derived
from customs lwenty-six million seven hundred
and twelve thousand six hundred and sixty-seveI
dollars and eishly-seyen cents, from sales oil pub
lie lands TWO million six hundred and niney-fou
thousand four hundred and fity-two dollars ant
iurty-eight cents, ana fom incidental ana miscei
laneous sources ninety-,wo thousand one hundred
and twenty-six dollars and seventy.one cents
The expenditures for the same period were TWEEN
weight million lhir,y.one thousand one hundre
and fourteen dollars and twenty cents; and IN
balance In The treasury on the first day Of Jul
last was nine million one hundred and lwenty-si
thousand four hundred and ,hirty-nine dollars an
eight cents.
The amount Of the public debt includin
Treasury notes, on the first OF the present month
was iwen,y-iour million two hundred and fifty
six thousand four hundred and ninety-four dol
lars and sixty cents; Of which the sum OF seven
teen million seven hundred and eighty. eight thou
sand seven hundred and ninety-nine dollars ant
sixty-,wo cents was outstanding on the fourth'o
March, 1916, leaving the amount incurred sine,
that time six million four hundred and sixty
seven thousand six hundred and ninety-four dol
| lars and ninety-eight GEMS.
In order 10 prosecute the war with Mexico will
vigor and energy, as the best means OF bringing
il TO speedy and honorable termination, tut
iher loan will be necessary, 10 meet the expendi
ture. for the pre.en, and the next fiscal years. |
the war should be continued until the thir,ieth o
June, i6as-being the end OF the mex, fiscal yea