Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1846-12-16

and blank certificates of naturalization, signed b
General Salas, the present head of the Mexican
government. There is also reason to apprehen'
| that similar documents have been transmitted u
other paris of the world Copies of these papers
in traEslaiion, are herewith transmitted
As the preliminaries required by the practice o.
civilized nations for commissioning prvateers and
regulating their conduct appear not 10 have been
observed, and as these commissions in the blank
TO be filed up with the of citizens and sub
jects of all nations who may be willing to purchase
| them, the Whole proceeding can only be constrl,
ed as an invitation to all the freebooters upon earth
who are willing to pay for the privilege, to cruise
against American commerce, II will be for our
courts of justice to decide whether under such cir
cumstances, these Mexican letters of marque and
reprisal shall protect those who accept them and
commit robberes upon The high under their aa-
thority, from the pal and penalties of piracy.
II the certificate 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 win certainly prove
unavailing. Such subterfuge would be but IA weak
device to defeat The provisions of solemn treaty.
recommend that Congress sheuld Immediate
ly provide by law for the trial and punishment as
pirates of Spanish subjects who, escaping tho vi.
GLANCE of their government, shall be found gull.
ty of privateering against the United States.
w uOL dppTcuoHu ScTiOuS uuHBVT lTOtl tHeSo pTl-
waters. Onr navy will be constatly on tho alert to
protect commerce. Besides. in case prizes
should be made of American vessels, the utmost
vigilance will be exerted by our bIockadng squad
ron to prevent the captors from taking them into
Mexican ports, and it is not apprehended that any
nation will violate its neutrality by suffering such
prizes to be condemned and sold within its iuris-
dic.ion
recommed that Congress should Immediately
provide by law for granting letters Of marque and
reprisal against vessels under the Mexican flag
II is true that there are but few, if any CONNER
cial vessels of Mexico upon the high seas; and il is
therefore not probable that many Amin privateers
would be fitted but in a.law shd pass authori-
zing this mode of warfare. 1t is, notwthstand-
ing. certain that such privateers may render
good service to theiconlmercial interests of the
country by recapturing our merchant ships,
should any be taken by armed vessels under tho
Mexican flag, as woll by capturiag these vessels
themselves. Every means within our power
should be rendered available for the protection of
our commerce.
The annual report of the Secretary of the
Treasury will exhibit detailed statement of
the condition Of the finances. The imports
for the fiscal year ending on the thirteenth of
June last, were of the value of one hundred
and twenty-onc million six hundred and nine
ty one thousand seven hundred and ninety
seven dollars: of which the amount exported
was eleven million three hundred and forty
six thousand six hundred and twenty three
dollars, leaving the amount retained in the
country for domestic consumption one huns
dred and ten million three hundred and for
ty five thousand one hundred and seventy
four dollars. The value of the exports for
the same period was one hundred and thir-
teen million four hundred and eghty>eight
thousand five hundred and sixteen dollars: OF
which one hundred and two million one hun
dred and forty one thousand eight hundred
and nneIy-three dollars consisted of domes'
tic productions, and eleven million three hun
dred and forty six thousand six hundred ant
twenty three dollars of foreign articles.
The receipts into the treasury for the sam.
wear we're twenty nine million, four hundred
and ,ninety-nine thousand, two hundred and
forty. seven dollars, and six cents; of which
there was derived from customs, twenty.six
mi ilons, seven hundred and twelve thousand
SIX hundred and eixty-seven dollars and
eighty>seven cents; from sales of public lands
two millions, six huEdred and ninety five
thousand, four hundred and fifty two dollars
and forty y-eight cents, and from incidental
and miscellaneous sources, ninety-two thous.
and, one hundred and twenty. six dollars ant
seventy>one cents. The expenditures fol
the same period, were twenty eight million
thirty>one thousand, one hundred and four,
teen dollars.and twenty cents, and the bal
ance in the treasury on the first day of July
last, was nine million, one hundred ant
twenty six Thousand, -four hundred and thirty
nine dollars and eight cents.
The amount of the public debt, including
treasury notes, on the first of the presen
month, was twenty-four million two hundred
and ffty-sx thousand four hundred ant
ninei y-tour dollars and sixty cents; Of whicl
the sum of seventeen millions seven hundre.
and eighty-e'ght thousand seven hundred
and ninety-nine dollars and sixty-two cent
was outstanding on the 4th of March, lS45
leaving the amoua1 incurred since that tim
six million four hundred and sixty-sevel
thousand six hundred and ninety-four dollar
and ninety-eigbt cents.
Tn order to prosecute the war with MeXic
with vigor and energy, as the best means o
bringing it to speedy and honorable termin-
alton a further loan will be necessary, t.
NEE. the expenditures for the present an
the next u6Cul yCoi uuu IL LiC Wul OuOuiu "
continued until the thirtieth Of June, 1S4S-
being the end of 1.-The next fiscal year-, i
estimated that an additional loan; Of twenty
three millions of dollars will be required.-
This estimate is made upon the assunpto
that it will be necessary to retain CONSTANT
in the treasury four millions of dollars t
guard against contingencies. II such sur
plus were not required to be retained. then
loan of nineteen millions Of dollars would b
sufficient. If, however, Congress should,
the present session, impose revenue dut
ON the principal articles now embraced in tn
free list, it is estimated, that an additions
annual revenue of about two millions and
half, amounting,on the SOth Of June, la4'
Ito four millions of dollars. would be derive
from that source, and the loan require
would be reduced by that amount.
1t is estimated, also, that should Col
, gress graduate and reduce the price
such Of the public lands as have been ion
in the market, the additional revenue d
rived from that source would be annuall
L y. I..nIt