Mobile register and journal., 1846-12-16

he Niexicsn government declined io accepl this friendly oyerlure but referred Il 10 the decision of | Mexican congress. to be assembled in the early part of lhe present month. communicate to you, hereM th a cupy uf the letter of Ine Secretary of State proposing reopen negotiations. o' lhe an swer oI lhe Mexiran government. md ui the reply thereto of the Secretary Oi State.
 The WAT will continue to be prosecuted wilb ygor ss the best means of securing peaee H is hoped that he decision of the Mexican congress, 10 which our last overlule has been lelerfed may result in speedy and honorable peace Wilh our experience. however. ol the Unreasonable of the MeSican authorities il is the part oi wisdom not 10 relax Ia the energy of our military operations until the result
 is made known In this view, il is deemed import ant to hold niiIary possession of all the provineeh which have been taken, until dt6niIive treaty of peace shall have been concluded and ratified by the two countries,
 The AT has not been waged with view 10 con quest; but having been commenced by Mexico, has b+en carried into the enem, country, and will he vigorously prosecuted there, wIh EIew to ObIaIn an honorable peace, and thereby ure ample indemni. " for ihe expenses of the war, as we'll much
 injured citizens. who hold large pecuniary demands iagAInst Mexico
 B, The hws of nations conquered territory is subject 10 he governed by ile conquered during his military possess iOn and until there K eIlher tea- ty of peace, he shall voluntarily withdraw from i'. The old civil government being necessarily superce- ded, il the right and duly of Iie cnGquerur to se- his cOnquesl,and to provide ior the maintenance Oi CIVIL order and the rlgh'S Ol tue ihhanuahis - This ri2ht has been exercised. and this duty per- formed by our military and naval commanders, bv the establishment of temporary governments n some of the conquered provinces in Mexico. assimating them as far as practicable to tho free institutions ot our own country. In the provinces of New Mexico and of the Caurnias little if any further resistance
 ir.m the inhabitants io the te'"pora- curty of these important c0nquesls by making
 ddequsie appropriation for ihe purpose of erecting
 forIIfcatons and deaying the expenses necessarily
 incident 10 the maintenance of our possession and
 authority over them
 Near the close of your last session, for reasons
 communicated 10 congress-, deemed il important as
 a measure for securing speedy peace wilh Mexico,
 that sum of oney should be appropriated. and
 placed ihe power of the Executive, similar lhaf
 which had been made npoa former occasions,
 duriag the administration of President Jefferson.
 On ihe twenty sixth of February, 1908, an appro-
 Driat,on oi millions ol dollars was made. and
 placed at the disposal of the President It's object is
 well known. IL was at that time in contemplation
 tu acquire Louisiana from France. and il was Intea-
 ded io be applied part of the consideration
 which might De paid for the territory. On he thir-
 teenih oi February, 1906, the in like
 manner appropriated, with view 10 the purchase of
 the FloIidas from Spain These appropriations
 were made 10 facilitate negotiations, and as means 10 enable the President 10 accomplish lhe important
 objects m view. Though il did not become necessary
 for the President to these appropriations, yet
 state of things might have arisen in which it would
 have been highly important for him do so, and the
 wisdom of making them cannot be doubted. It s
 believed that the measure recommended at your las
 session mel with the appreciation of decided majori-
 ties oi both houses Of congress- Indeed. in different
 forms, bill making appropriation of two monr
 Of dollars passed each house, and il s to be much rec
 gretted that il did not becone law. The reasens which induced me to recommend the measure at that
 t,me still exists and again submit the aubiect for
 youI consideration, and suggest the importance of early action uron il. Should the appropriation be
 made, and be uOi needed II will remain in the trea-
 .u,y; should il be deemed proper 10 apply il in whole
 in par, it will be accounted for other public expenditures.
 Immediately aiier congress had recog gnsed the ex- is,ence of ihe wilh Mexico, my attention was directed 10 the danger that prvatecrs might be hl-
 ted in the ports of Cuba and Porto Rico prey upen ihe of the United States; aud 1 in-
 vited the specal attention of the Spanish government To the fourteenth article of treaty with that pow CT of, the twentieth of October, I795, under which the citizens and of either nation who sha l take commissions or letters of marque to pri- vaeers against the other shall be punished pi- ralss.''
 Il IL affords me pleasure to inform you that have received assurances from the Spanish government
 thai this article of treaty shall be aithfoly obsersed on it's part Orders for this purpose were immedia
 tely transmitted from that government to the auh0t : rites of Cuba and Porto Rico to exert their vigilance m preventing any attempts to t out prva- f tters in those islands aaanst the Uned States. .- From the good faith of Sps,n fully sati-ied
 that this treaty will he executed in spirit well
 as its letter; whs, the United States will. the ir d pat. faithfully perform all the obligations which il U imposes on them.
 Information has been recently received at the De- u pertinent of Stale that the Mexican government has
 sent 10 Havana blank commissions to privateers, ,and blank certificates of naturalization, signed by Gene
 ral Salas, the present head of the Mexican govern ment. There is also to apprehend that simi lar documents have been transmitted oiher narts u of the world Copies of these papers in ira nsl d are herewith transmitted.
 As he prelinnares required by the practics of cvi-
 ized nations for c0mmissionre privateers and regu- lang their conduct appear tohav. oeen obsefs- d ed, and as these comnss nc ar blank, to be V filled up with the names of Arns and subjects of
 all nations who may be willing 10 purchase them, ,the [. whole proceeding only be construed as an inyi- 'aion 10 all lhe lreebooters earth, who wiling l. to pay Tor the privilege. kto cruise against Amer can commerce IL will be for courts of justice
 to decide whether, under such circums ances these Mexican letters of marque and reprlsal shall protect those who accept them, and commit roEberies on the
 high seas under their authority, from the pains ant a penalties of piracy.
 II the certificates of naturalization thus granted b. ntendud by Mexico to shield Spanish subjects from
 the guilt and punishment of praies. under our treat, e with Spain, they will certainly prove uaavaiing = s Such suberuge would be but weak device to de. n feat ihe provisions oi a solemn treaty.
 IS recommend that congress should immedalol, V provide by law for the irIa and punishment as pi l. r,ies of Spanish subjects ~ho escaping the vigilance , of iheir government shall be found guilty of priva !. teerng against the United States. do not appre- l. lend serious danger from these privaeers. Our n navy will be constantly the aert to protect our Al s commerce. Resides, in przes should be made st of American vessels, the utmost vigilance w be j. cried by our blockadine squadron prevent the - captors from taking them Into Mexican ports, and Il Is apprehended that any nsiion will violate ita
 neutrality by suffering such prizes to be condemned e and sold within it's urIsdiction.
 l recommend that eonge ess should immediately + provide by law for granting lete,s of maiqe and
 reprisals against vessels under the Mexican flag. It if its true there but few, any, commercial vessels ,i Of Mexico upon the high seas; and t is therefore G. probable that many American privateers would l. be fitted oui, law should pass authorizing this mode Of warfare. IL is, nding, certain s that such prisaeers may render good servce the commercial interests of the country by recapturng ,r merchant ships should any be taken by armed vessels under she Mexican flag, as we'll as by cap turing these vessels themselves. Every within ' power should be rendered available for the pro- I, | lection of our commerce.
 The annual repoIt of ihe Secretary Of the Trea- IT sury will exhibit detailed statement o the coBdi- r. of the finances The imports for the fiscal year
 ending on the thirteenth of June last ol the val. {, of one hundred and twenty million six hundred II and ninety thousand seven hundred and ninety l. seven dollars; of which the amount exported was n eleven nlon. three hundred and foriysix thousand six hundred and twenty three dollars, leaving the ' amount retained in the country for domestic con- sumption. one hun fred and ten million thres hua- r dred and fory6ve thousand hundred end seven- ty four dollars. The value of Ihe exports fo ihe same period was'one hundred and thirteen million
 four hundred and eighty eight thousand five hundred s and sixteen d"ars; of which hundred and ivo