Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1846-12-22
ersIDENT'S MESSAGE
CONCLU DIED.

~ q
ianp",ditures become unavoidable. During the
49,. ~ the with Mexico, all resources should
- hn.bandcd and appropriations made except such
100. absolutely necessary for its vigorous prosecution
~ The due administration Of the government Objects
Transportation which in peace may be deemed useful
:, proper which not indispensable for the public
..,yce NAV when the country is engaged foreign
~ar be well postponed future period BY the Oh
eyrance of this policy al your present session. large a
limits NAV be saved the treasury and be applied to
hects OF pressing and urgent necessity and thus the
creation Of a corresponding amount OF public dept may
be avoided
his not rneantt to recommend that the ordinary and
necessary appropriations FOR the support OF government
should be withheld but i IS well known 'nat 7
session Of Congress appropriations are proposed 1or u
merous ccts which may may not be made without
materially affecting the public interests; ana these II -
recommended should not be granted
The passed last session, Producing the G"-
lies Imports having into operation until the
first Of the present there has not been time for IT'S
ryaccal effect upon the revenue and the business OF the
country, be developed 1T Is not doubted, however
Dr., tho INST poIicv which il adopts will largely
foreign trade, and promote the general prosperity AZ
though be certainly be forcscen what amount OF
revenue will yield, it is estimated that It VIII exceed
that produced by the of 1872, which it superseded
The leading principles established by are, TO levy tax
eswh view to raise revenue and TO impose 'hrin upon
the articles imported according their actual value
On the 18Th OF Fcbruary, 1903. an appropFla-
ton of two million Of dollars was made. and placed
at the disposal Of the president. lis object is well
known. 1t nj that tune IN contemplation 10 Il
quire Louisiana from France, and it was intend d
to be applied part OF the consideration winch
might be paid for that territory on tine l3ti oI
February, 1906, the SANE was in Ike mann7i
appropriated. with view TO the purchast of Flori
da from Spain.
These appropriations were made 20 facilitate ne
sDtiations. and means 10 enable the Prcsd mt
10 accomplish the object in view. Though II DID
not become necessary for The President TO Us;
these appropriations yet a state Of things might
have arisen in which it wonld have been highly inn
por,ant for him to do So and the wisdom drinking
them cannot be doubted 1t is believed that the
measure recommended your last on III t with
the decided ma lorites in both Houses OF Congress
Indeed in different torncs, bll making an appro-
priaton Of two millions OF dollirs passed cach
House. and it is much TO be regretted that IT did not
become a law These which induced me
to recommend the measure at that time still exist
and agar submit the subject for consideration,
and suggest the importance OF early action on 1t.
Should the Appropriation be made, and be not ncc-
dcd, it will rcman in the treasury should be deem
ed proper 10 apply il in whole or in part, IT viii be
accounted for Us other public expenditures.
immediately after Congros had RECON- zcd the
existence OF war with Mexico, my attention was
directed to the danger that privaecrs might be fit
ted ont i'll the ports of Cuba and Porto Rico TO
prey upon the commerce OF the United States.
and invited the special attention oil the Spanish
government to the fourteenth article of our treaty
with that power Of the 20ih of October. 1898, un-
der which the citizens and subjects of either nation
who shall take commissions or letters of marGuc to
act az privatccrs Against the other . shall be pam
shcd as p,ratCs
II affords me pleasure 10 inform YOU that have
received assurance from the Spanish government
that this article Of the treaty shall be faithfully OBJ
served on her part. Orders for ths purpose were
immediately transmitted from that government 10
the authorities Of Cuba and Porto REQ to exert
their utmost vigilcncc in preventing any attempts
10 fit out prvatccrs III these slnds against the
United States. From the good faith of Spaiu am
fully satisfied that this treaty will be xccuted in it's
spirit well az lis letter; whilst tho United States
will on their part. faithfully perform all the obi
cations which it imposes them.
lnormation has been recently received at the
Department of the State that the McNcan.Gcvcrn-
ment has sent TO Havana blank commissions 70
prvatecrs and blank certificates of naturalization.
signed bv General Salas. the present head OF the
Mexican government. There is also reason TO ap-
pre- bend that similar documents have been trans
mitted to other parts of the world. Copies these
papers. in translation. are herewith transmitted.
As the prelmnarics required by the practice OF
civilizen nations TO. commissioning prlvatcers and
regulating their conduct appears not 10 have been
observed. and these commiss.o ns in the
blank. 10 be filled mp with the names of citizens
and subjects OF all nations who NAV be willing 10
purchase them, the whole proceeding can only be
construed as an invitation to all the ireebooteTs
upon Garth; who are willing to paw for the privilege
TO cruise against American commerce. It will be
for our courts OF justice TO decide whether under
such circumstances. these Mexican letters OF mar
que and rcprsal shall protect those who accept
them. and commit robbcrics on the high seas under
their authority, from the pains and penalties of
piracy.
1t the certificates of naturalization thus granted
DC intended by Mexico 10 shield Spanish subjects
from the guilt and punishment OF pirates. under our
treaty with Spain. they will certainly prove unavail-
ing. Such subterfuge would be weak device
n ,.,,r.%s
recommend that Congress should Immediately
provide by law for the trial and punishment as
pirates OF Spanish subjects who. escaping vigilance
OF their government shall be found guilty of pri-
watering against the United States. l do not APP
Isehend serious danger from these pryatcers.
Our navy will be constantly the alert to protect
our commerce. Besides in prizes should be
made OF American vessels, the utmost vigilance