Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1846-12-26

uoiis, OF The answer oil The Mexican Government,
and the reply thereto Of the Secretary Of State.
The war will be continued 10 be prosecuted
with vigor, ss the best means OF securing peace.
Ii is hoped that the decision Of the Mexican Con.
gress, 10 which our last overture has been refer.
red, may result in speedy and honorable peace.
With our experience, however, OF the unreason.
able course Of the Mexican authorities, il is the |
part OF wisdom not to relax in the energy Of our
military operations until the result is made
known. Ia this view it is deemed important TO
hold military possession Of all the provinces
which have been taken, until 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 Next
co, it has been carried into the enemies country,
and will be vigorously prosecuted there, with a
view to obtain an honorable peace, and thereby
secure ample indemnity for the expenses Of the
war, as well as 10 our much injured citizens who
hold large pecuniary demands against Mexico.
BY the laws OF nations, conquered territory
| is subject 10 be governed by the conqueror du.
ring his military possession, and until there is eli.
Their treaty Of peace, or he shall voluntarily
Withdraw from it. The old civil government
being necessarily superseded, it is the right and
duty Of the conquerot to secure his conquest and
provide for the maintenance OF civil order and
the rights OF the inhabitants. This right has
been exercised end this duty performed by our
military and naval commanders, by the esab
lishment OF temporary governments in some OF
the conquered provinces of New Mexico, assin,i.
a,ing them as far as practicable, 10 the free nsli.
lutons Of our country. IN the province Of New
Mexico and OF the CALIFORNIA;, little, If any fur
Their resistance is apprehended from the inhabi
tans 10 the temporary governments which have
thus, from the necessity Of the case, and accor
ding TO the laws of war been established. 1t may
be proper to provide for the security Of these inn
porant conquests by making an adequate appro
priaon for the purpose Of erecting Notifications
and delrsying the expenses necessarily incident
to the maintenance Of our possession and author
1 ty over them. q tl'a"- ...,-
Near the close OF your last session, for rea
sons communicated TO Congress, deemed it i'm
portsnt, as measure for securing speedy
peace with Mexico, a sum OF money be appro
prialed and placed in the power Of the Execu
tive, similar to that which had been made upon
two former occasions during the administration
Of President Jefferson. ... ..s....
On the 26th Of February. 1902, an appropr.
alton OF two million Of dollars was made, and
| placed at the disposal OF the President It's OBJ
ect is well known. 1t was at that time in con.
temptation 10 acquire Louisiana from France,
and it was intended 10 be applied os part Of The
consideration which might be paid for that terrific
ry. On The 18th February, 1906. the same sum
was in like manner appropriated, with view to
the purchase OF the Foridas from Spain. These
appropriations were made TO facilitate negotiations
and as means 10 enable the President to accom-.
pish the important objects in view. Though it
did not become necessary for the President to
use these appropriations, yet state OF things
might have arisen in which it would have been
highly important for him 10 do SO, end the wis
dom Of making them cannot be doubted. 1t is
believed that the measure recommended at your
last session, met with the appreciation OF decided
majorties in both Houses OF Congress. Indeed,
in different forms, bill making an appropr;a
ton OF two millions OF dollars passed each
House, and it is much 10 be regretted that il did
not become law. The reasons which induced
me 10 recommend the measure at that time, still
exist; and again submit the subject for your
consideration, and suggest the importance of ear.
ly action upon it. Should the appropriation be
, made, and be not needed, it will remain in the
treasury: should it be deemed proper to apply it
in whole or in part, it will be accounted 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 privateers might
be fitted out in the ports OF Cuba and Porto Rico
10 pray upon the commerce OF the United States;
and invited the special attention of the Spanish
government TO the 18th article OF our treaty with
that power OF the 2Olh October, 1895, under
which the citizens and subjects OF either nation
who shall take commissions or letters Of marque
TO act as priva,eers against tho other, "shall be
punished as pirates"
1t affords me pleasure to inform you that !
have received assurances from the Spanish gov.
eminent that this article OF the treaty shall be
faithfully observed on its part Orders for this
purpose were Immediately transmitted from that
government TO the authorities OF Cuba and Porto
Rico to exert their utmost vigilance in preventing
any attempts to fit out privaeers in those islands
against the United States. From, the good faith
Of Spain, am fully satisfied that this treaty will
be executed in its split as well as its letter;
whilst the United States will, on their part, faith
! fully perform all the obligations which it imposes
on them. Information has been recently rece
we'd at the Department Of Stale that the Mex
can government has sent to Havanua blank com.
missions TO prvaleers, and blank certificates Of
naturalization, signed by General Salas, the pre-.
sent head Of the Mexican government. There
is also, reason to appfehend that similar docu.
ments have been transmitted to other parts OF the
world. Copies OF these papers, in translation,
arc herewith transmitted
| As the preliminaries required by the practice
OF civilized nations for commissioning pivateers
ard regulating their conduct appear not to have
/ nhs uol nd has