Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1846-12-24

Ivy my oircctoh, ON the twenty seventh OF Jul,
last, to terminate hostilites by peace Just and no
i August following, the Mexican Government dc
clned TO accept this friendly overture but referee
1t to the decision Of Mexican Congress, to be as
sembled in the early par, Of the present month
communicate To You. herewith, copy of the lettc
Oh the Secretary OF State proposing to reopen nego
tiaions. OF the answer of the Mexican Government
and OF the reply thereto Uf the Secretary o' State
The war will continue to be prosecuted with vi
gor, as the best means of securing peace 1t 4
i hoped that the decision OF the Mexican CONGRESS-
To winch our las, overture has been referred ma,
result IN speedy and honorable peace With o,I
experience, however, OF the unreasonable course q
the Mexican authorities, it is the part of wisdom
not !" relax IN the energy Of our military operations
| Until the result is made known In this view I;
is deemed important to hold military possession o
all the provinces which have been taken. until
deiintive treaty Of peace shall have been concluded
and ratified by the two countries.
\ The war has not been waged with view I,
conquest; but, having been commenced by Mexico
| 1t has been carried into the enemy's country. AND
VIII be vigorously prosecuted there, with view /,
obtain an honorable peace, and thereby secure am
pie indemnity for the expenses Of the war. as well
as TO our much injured citizens, who hold large ne
cuniary demands against Mexico
By the laws Of nations conquered Territory ;s
subject to be governed by the conqueror durin his
military PossesslOn and until there is either treaty
OF peace, or he shall voluntarily Withdraw from il;
ne old civll government being necessarily super-
seded II Is the right and duty of the conqneror 10
secure ms conquest, and to provide Gt the mante-
nance OF civil order and the rights of IN. ;nb,h;
tants. This right has been exercised. and ,b;s H.,
~ performed, by our military and naval cumm,nJ
ers, by The establishment Of Temporary yoyern
ments IN some of the conquered provinces in New.
CO. assmia,ing them, as far as practicable TO the
Tree institutions of our own country, in tho nro.
vinces OF New Mexico and of the Californias lii
, We u any lui'her resistance is apprehended from
the inhabitants to the temporary governments
winch have thus, from the necessity Of The case
and according to the laws Of war been established
II may be proper to provide for the Security M tbea
important conquesis. by making an ADEQUATE annrn.
prlation TOR the purpose of erecting tortcatons
deiiaying the expenses necessarily incident To The
maintenance of our possession and authority ovor
them. wv
Near the close of your last session, e,r re,sons
communicated to Congress, | deemed it important
as measure for securing a speedy peace with
Mexico, That sum OF money should be appropro
ted and placed in the power of the Executive. SINH.
lar to that which had been made upon two former
occasions, during the administration of President
Jefferson.
On the 26ih of February, 1903. an annr,nr;,,,or
OF two millions of dollars WIS made and placed n,
the disposal OF the President Its object is woll
KNOWN 1t was at that time i'm contemplation IN
acquire Louisiana from France, and it was intended
TO be applied as part of the consideration which
might be paid for that territory. On the 18th of
February, !eoo; the same sum was in like manner
appropriated with view to the purchase III m.
F1oridas from Spain. These appropriations werc
made to facilitate negotiations and as means IN
enable the PRESIDENT TO accomplish the importanr
Objects in view. Though il did not become neccs
sary for the President to use these appropriations
yet state of things might have arisen in which il
would have been highly important for him to do 50.
ana the wisdom OF making them cannot be doubted.
1t is believed that the nleasre Recommended NJ
your last session met with the appreciation of dcc;
ded majorities in both Houses of CONGRESS. JndcnI
III different forms. bill making an appropriation of
TWO millions OF dollars passed each House and il s
much to be regretted that it did iiot become law
The reasons which induced me to recommend the
measure at that time still exist and 1 again sub
mt Inc SUBJECT fcr yonr consideration and suggest
inc importance OF carly action upon it, Sbonld
the appropriation be made and be not needed. j,
VIII remain IN the Treasury should it be deemed
proper 10 apply 1t In whole i'm part ii will be oc
counted for as other public expenditures.
Immediately after Congress had recognised the
existence of the war with Mexico. my attention
was directed to the danger that prvateers might be
htcd out IN the ports of Cuba and Porto Rico TO
prey upon The commerce of the United States snd
invited the special attention of the Spanish Go
Vefnmcnt 10 the fourteenth Article Of our treaty
with that Power of the 10th Of October, 1906 I'm,
der which the citizens and subjects CT either nation
who shall take commissions or letters of maroue To
act as privateers against the other ''shall be pun
ished as pirates"
1t affords me pleasure to inform you that have
received assurances from the Spanish Government
that this article Of the treaty shall be faitbfv oh.
served ON its part. Orders for this PURPOSE were
transmitted from that Soyefntnefit to
the authorities of Cuba and Porto Rico TO exert
'hclr utmost vigilance in preventing any attempts
10 III Oft prvateers i'll those islands against the e.
States From the good faith of Spain am fully
SATISFIED That tins treaty will he executed in its |
spirit as well as its letter whilst the United States
Will, on their part. faithfully perform all the obpa
tons which 1t imposes on them.
lnforsnntQf has beetf RECENTLY received at the De-
partment OF State that the Mexican Government
mas sent to Havana blank commissions TO priyateers
ana blank certificates of Naturalization stoned by
General Salas, the present head of the Mexican Go
vornUent. fhete is also feason to apprel.end that
similar documents have been transmitted to Other
parts Of the world. Copies of these papers. in
translation, are herewith transmitted
AS the preminarlcs required by the practice of
'NiiiZcd nations for commissioning pr!vateers and
regulating thor conduct appear not to have been
observed and ~ these commissions are i'm blank
70 be hlled up with the names of citizens and sub
ects OF all nations who may be willing To purchase
them, the whole proceeding can only be construed
as an Invitation to all the freebotters upon earth.
who are willing to pay Hr the privilege, to cruise
against american commerce. 1t will be for our
courts OF justice TO decide whether under such cir
tlreee MeSicSn listers Of mara,,e and
rcprsai shall protect those who accept them, and
commit robberies upon the high seas under their
authority, from the pains and penalties of piracy.
u the certificates Of naturalization thus granted
be Intended by Mexico to shield Spanish subjects
from the guilt and punishment of pirates under our
treaty with Spain, they viii certainly prove una
yalling. Such subterfuge would be but weak |