The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-12-22
NAVY DEPARTMENT,


SIR: In obedience to the direction with which you
transmitted copy of the resolution OF the House of
Representatives OF the 18th instant requesting the Pres
dent to communicate any and all orders instructions
to General Taylor General Wool, General Kearny, Cap
tain Soat Captain Stockton or any other officer OF the
government, in relation to the establishment organl
cation OF civil government in any portion OF the territory
of Mexico which has may be taken of by the
army navy of the United States; also, what forms of
government such officers either OF them, may have es-
tabshed and organized; and whether the President has
approved and recognised said governments, have the
honor transmit herewith copies of the dispatches from
this department the commanding officers of the United
States naval forces in the Pacific ocean, and in the gulf
of Mexico, enumerated in the subioned schedule;
with copies OF communications from those officers.
These documents contain all the information IN the de-
pament on the subject embraced in the resolution OF
the House.
1t will be perceived that the only subject which the
commander OF the naval forces in the gulf has been in
structed, which appears to be within the range of the
resolution is the of the import and export trade Of
the ports of which he held temporary military posses
sion. .
The last official despatch received from the Pacific
squadron is dated the 2Sth OF August last AT that
date the dispatches from the department OF the 18th OF
May had Just arrived and those of subsequent dates APP
pear to have been received The operations of the
squadron conducted under the order OF June 24th
1915 which required the commander of the naval forces
to exercise all the beigeren rights which belonged TO
him. the declaration OF war, the commencement of
hostilites by Mexico against the United States.
In my despatch of November 9Th last, Commodore
Stockton required to renqulsh the conduct of ope
raons land, and the control of such measures OF civil
government as the military occupation OF the country
conquered might devolve the conqueror until deini-
tive treaty of peace should settle the right Of possession
the officer in command of the land forces of the United
States who company with the bearer of my despatch,
proceeded to the west coast to assume the command
There has been approval recognition OF any or
gained or established form OF civil government for the
Califoras, any other Mexican territory in the occu-
patton Of the naval forces, through this department The
instructions have been confined to the acknowledged
rights, under the laws OF nations, resulting from conquest
and occupations and the corresponding duties which the
conqueror owed temporarily TO the inhabitants have been
performed in spirit of Kindness and Cancellation, and, in
the only particulars embraced by the instructions from
this department, OF liberaly to the commercial interests
of citizens of the United States and of neurals
1t may be supposed that the documents transmitted en-
brace matters not within the call But as the principal
purpose of the dispatches has been the direction OF
val operations against the enemy, have found difficult
to make extracts which would be Ineligible. | have,
therefore, deemed it most satisfactory to transmit the en-
tire documents with two exceptions; and in these the
whole despatch is not sent because the parts withheld re-
late to other subjects which the interests of the govern
ment would not permit to be made public.
have the honor to be- very respectfully your obeden
servant, D. \, MASON.
To the PRESIDENT.