Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1846-12-14


IN whole par 1t will he united Tor as other pub
lesNrcudltuns
Immediately after Congress had recognized the exist
encc ot the with Mexico my attention was directed
10 the danger that prsaecs might be fitted in the
ports oi tuha and Porto Rico 10 pnN upon the commerce
II the United States; and invited The special attention IT
the Spanish government 10 the fourteenth article oi
treaty with that lawer &C the twentieth October l1o5.
under which the citizens and subjects Of either na,ien
Who shall take commissions letters OF marque 10 act
aS prvaeotS against the other. 'shall he punished pi
rates. y
1t affords me pleasure 10 YOU that have rcceiv
I'd assurances irom the Spanish government shat this
tee ct ttc treaty shall he faithful, Observed its part.
ord.Is ior tins purpose were immediately Transmitted
from that government to the authorities Of Cuha and
Porto Rico IL e>ett their utmost vigilance in preventing
any acmptsto tit cut prvatecrs in those islands against
the ni,ed States. From the good faith Of Spain | am
FULLY satisfied that this will he executed spirit
as well AS lis letter whilst the United States will. ON
Their part. faithfully perform all the Obligations which il
nmp,s, on them.
Information has lately been received at the Depart
men # State that the Nj, xican Government has
laNanna blank commissions Ia privateers and blank Ger
tf ats OF naturalization, sgned b, General Salas. the
present head otthr Mexican government There H. also.
reason 10 appr'h bend that similar documents have been
transmitted 10 oh,r parts Of the world Copies Of these
lal"rS. IN translaon are herewith transmitted
As the prcmnaries required b, the practice of civil
'zed nations r commissioning privaeers and regulating
their conduct appear not To have been Observed and
these commissions are IN blank Ia he filled up with the
names OF citizens and SUBJECTS of all nations ho he
willing 10 purchase them, the whole proceeding only
be construed as invitation 10 all the irccboocrs upon
earth, who are Wiling topay tr the privilege Ia CRUISE
against American comn twill lr ipr al
justice 10 decide whether under such circumstances these
Mexican letters oi narqur and rrprsal shall protect those
who accept them, aud commit ruhhelIcs upon the hgh
seas under then authority, from the pains and pcnasol
p racy
II the cert fcates of naturalization thus granted bc in
hN M4< L., ir,n,
guilt and punishment Of pirates. under treaty Will
SPAN, they viii certainly prove nnavamg. such sub
eliuge would be hut weak device to defeat the prov
sions of s.lcin treaty.
recommend that Congress should Immediately pr
vide by law Tor the trial and punishment pirates o
Spanish subjects. who. escaping the vgllincc OF their
government shall be found guilty ii rrvatccrlng against
the United States. do not apprehend serious dancer
rom these prvateers. Our navy will be constantly on
the art to protect our commerce. Besides IN
should In made OF American vessels, the utmost vigl
lance will be yerted by blockadng squadron to pre-
vent the capors tfo.n taking them into Mexican ports,
nnd is not apprehend that any nation Will violate It's
neutrality by suffering such ,rlzs 10 be Condemned and
sold within its jurisdiction.
| recommend that Congress should immediately pro.
vide by law for granting letters OF marquc anu 'prish
against vessels under the Mexican ag II is true tat
there are but few. il any, commercial vessels of Mexico
upon the high seas and it is therefore not probable that
many American priyaerrs would he fitted out, III
Ia" should pass authorizing tins mode OF warfare. II Is.
moi" outstanding. certain that such prlsaieers may render
good service 10 the commercial interests OF the country.
by recapturing merchant SHIPS should any bc takon
by armed vessels under the Mexican flag well AS L,
capturing these vessels themselves. Every means within
our power should be rendered available for the pr1tee
ton of our commerce.
The annual report Of the Secretary of the Trcasnr,
will exhi5;' detailed statement OF the condition oi the
finances The ...poris for the fiscal year ending the
thrtcth Of June last VI he value o one hundred
and twenty one million six hundred al ninety on' thou
sand seven hundred and ninety seven dol.'s OF which
the amount exported eleven million three i.a'rrd
and forty SIN thousand hundred and twenty three dol
lars leaving the retained In the country for do
nestle cpnsump. II one hundred and ten million three
hundred and forty five thousand hundred and
tyipur dollars. The value Of the exports for the
period hundred and thirteen million fur hun
dred and eighty eight thousand five hundred and
dollars of which enc hundred and million hun
dred and forty one thousand eight hundred and ninety
three dollars consisted Of domestic productions and eie
ven million three hundred and forty thousand SIN hun
dred and twenty three dollars of foreign articles.
The receipts into the treasury for the year
twenty nine million four hundred and ninety thou
snd Two hundred and forty dcIars and six
OF which there derived from customs twenty sin mil
lion seven hundred and twelve tn usnd SIN hundr'd and
sNy seven dollars and eighty cents; from sales OF
public lands Two million SIN hundred and ninety four
thousand four hundred and fy.wo dollars and forty
eight cents, and from incidental and miscellaneous
ninety two thousand one hundred and twenty SIX dollars
and seventy one cents. The expenditures for the
period twenty eight million thirty thousand
hundred and fourteen dollars and twenty aud the
balance IN the treasury the first day of July last
nine million one hundred and twenty SIN thousand four
hundred and thirty nine doarsand eight cents.
The amount Of the public debit including treasury
notes, the first Of the present month"; twenty four
million two hundred and fifty SIX Thousand four hundred
and ninety four dollars and sixty cents Of which the
OF seventeen million hundred and eighty eight
thousand seven hundred and ninety dollars and
ty two cents WAS outstanding the fourth OF March,
So leaving the amount incurred since that time mil
lions four hundred and SIXTY Thousand hundred
and ninety four dollars and ninety eight cents.
In order to Prosecute the war with Mexico with vgor
and energy as the best Il bringing TO speedy
and honorable ,ernnaou further loan VIII he neces-
sary To meet the expenditure for the pn sent and the next
fiscal years. II the should he continued until the
3Cth OF June. lSiS, being the end OF the next fiscal
yrar-ltls estimated that additional loan Of twenty
three million Of dollars will lc required. This estimate
is made upon the assumption that II will be- sry TO
retain constantly In the treasury four million of dollars.
10 guard against contn ycnces. If such surplus
required 10 be retained, then loan of nineteen million
odollars would be sufficient. IT, however. Congress
should. at the present session, impose revenue duty TN
the prime pa articles embraced in the free list 1t Is
estimated that additional annual of about two
millions and hall amounting il is estimated ON the tlr
teh O June. e4e, 10 four millions of dollars, would b.
derived from that source; and the loan required would
be reduced by that amount. Ii is estimated. also, that
should Congress graduate and reduce the price OF such
Of the public lands have teen long in the market, thu
additional revenue derived from that would be