Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1846-12-11

tlons, and as means to enable the President
to accomplish the important objects in view.
Though it did not become necessary for the
PRESIDENT to use these appropriations, yet a
state OF things might have arisen in which il
would have been highly important for him to
DO so, and the wisdom OF making them cannot
be doubted. 1t IS believed that the measure re-
commended at your last session met with the
appreciation OF decided maiorities in both hou-
ses OF Congress. Indeed, in different forms, a
bill making an appropriation of two millions
OF dollars passed each House, and it IS much
to be regretted that it did not become law
The reasons which induced me to recommend
the measure at that time still exist; and l a.
gain submit the sub lect for your consideration
and suggest the importance OF early action up
on 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 recognized
the existence OF the war with Mexico, nv at
tention was directed to the danger that priva.
teers might be fitted out in the ports Of Cuba
and Porto Rico to prey upon the commerce OF
the United States; and invited the special at.
tention of the Spanish government to the four.
teenth article OF our treaty with that Power oil
the twentieth of October, 1895, under which
the citizens and subjects of either nation who
shall take commissions or letters OF marque &c
act as privateers against the other, sc shall be
punished as pirates.''
1t affords me pleasure to inform you that
have received assurances from the Spanish go.
vernment that this article of the treaty shallb
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 privateers
in those islands against the United States
From the good faith of Spain am fully salts
fed that this treaty will be executed in its spi-
rit as well as its letter; whilst the United
States will, on their part, faithfully perform
ali the obligations which it imposes on them.
Information has been recently received at
the Department of State that the Mexican gov
eminent has sent to Havana blank commits
sions to priyateers, and blank certificates of
naturalization, signed by General Salas, the
present head of the Mexican government
There is, also, reason to apprehend that SINH
lar documents have been transmitted to other
parts of the world Copies of these papers, in
translation, are herewith transmitted.
AS the preliminaries required by the practice
of civilized nations for commissioning priva-
teers and regulating their conduct, appear not
10 have been observed, and as these commits
sions are in blank, to be filled up with the
names Of citizens and subjects of all nations
who may be willing TO purchase them, the
whole proceeding can only be construed as
an invitation to al! the freebooters upon earth,
who are willing to pay for the privilege, to
cruise against American commerce. 1t will
be for our courts Of justice to decide whether.
under such circumstances, these Mexican let
ters Of marque and reprisal shall protect those
who accept them, and who Commit Tobberes
upon the high seas under their authority, from
the pains and penalties Of piracy.
If the certificates of naturalization thus
granted be intended by Mexico to shield
Spanish subjects from the guilt and punish
ment Of pirates. under our treaty with Spain,
they will certainly prove uRavalling. Such
subterfuge would be but weak device TO
defeat the provisions of a solemn treaty.
recommend that Congress should imme-
dlately provide by law for the trial and pun
ishment as pirates Of Spanish subjects who,
escaping the vigilance of their government,
shall be found guilty of prlvateerlng against
the United States. do not apprehend Sc
rious danger from these privateers. Our ma
Wy will be constantly on the alert to protect
our commerce. Besides, in case prizes should
be made Of American vessels, the utmost Wig
lance will be exerted by our blockading 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 jurisdiction.
recommend that Congress should inmedi-
ately provide by law for granting letters of
marque and reprlsai against vessels under the
Mexican flag. 1t is true that there are but
feW,.f any, commercial vessels of Mexico
upon the high seas; and it is, therefore, not
probable that many American pflvateers would
be fitted out, in case law should pass author
izing this mode of warfare. 1t is. nothwi!h.
standing, certain that such prvateers may rem
der good service to the commercial interests
of the country by recaptuung our merchant
ships, should any be taken by armed vessels
under the Mexican flag, as we'll as by captur-
| ing these vessels themselves. Every means
| within our power should be rendered avalla'
bic for the protection of our commerce.
The annual report Of The Secretary of the
! Treasury will exhibit detailed statement o.
the condition of the finances. The imports
| for the fscal year ending on the thirteenth o.
| June last were of the value of one hundred
and twenty one million six hundred and nine
| ty -one thousand seven hundred and ninety Sc
| ven 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 hundred
and ten million three hundred and fofty-hve
thousand one hundred and seventy-four dol
lars The value of the exports for the SINE
period was one hundred and thirteen milloT
four hundred and lightweight thousand five
hundred and sixteen dollars; Of which one
hundred and two million ono hundred ane
forty.one thousand eight hundred and nine
ty-:hree dollars consisted Of domestic pro-
ductione, and eleven million three hundred
and forsy-six thousand six hundred and TWEEN
yt-three dollars Of foreign articles.
The receipts into the treasury for the SAINT
year were twenty-nine millions four hundred
and ninety-nine thousand two hundred ant
forty-seven dollars and six cents; OF which
there was derived from customs twenty-sl!
millions seven hundred and twelve thousan'
six hundred and sixty-seven dollars and eigh
ty-seven cents, from sales of public lands tw
million six hundred and ninety FIVE Thousand
four hundred and ifiy-two dollars and forty
eight cents, and from incidental and mIscella
neons sources ninety two thousand one hund
red s. twenty-six LoIIars IL seventy-one cents
The expenditures for the same period wer
twenty-eigh million thir.y-one thousapd on
hundred and fourteen dollars & twenty cents