The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-12-22
PUBLIC DOCUMENTS.
,,..au. OF the PRECEDENT OF the United STATE.

In onsru TO the resolution of the House Of Representa-
hvss of The 18th instant concerning instructions 10 our
officers m California and the Pacific, &c.
To the House of Representatives.
of the United States!
In compliance with the request contained in the reso-
luton OF the House OF Representatives OF the 18th ns
communicate herewith reports from the Secretary OF
War and the Secretary OF the Navy, win the documents
which accompany them.
These documents contain all the "oIders or instruc-
tons" TO any military, naval or other officer OF the gov
eminent Sin relation TO the establishment or organization
of civil government in any portion OF the territory OF
Mexico which has might be taken possession OF by
the army or navy of the United States"
These orders and instructions were given to regulate
the exercise OF the rights OF begerent, engaged IN &C
a war; such portions OF the territory OF our enemy
as, by military conquest might be taken possession OIL
and be occupied BY, armed orces-rght5 necessarily
resulting from state OF and clearly recognised by the
laws OF nations Thus all the authority which could
be delegated to military and naval commanders and
its exercise was indispensable to the secure occupation
and possession of territory OF the enemy which might be
conquered The regulations authorized were temporary,
and dependent the rights acquired by conquest They
were authorized begerent rights, and to be car
red into effect by military or naval officers. They were
but the amelioraton Of martial law, which modern clyl-
zaon requires, and dueas well TO the security OF the
CONQUEST the inhabitants of the conquered territory.
The documents communicated also contain the reports
Of several highly mertorious officers OF our army and
navy who have conquered and taken possession OF Por
tons OF the enemy's territory
Among the documents accompanying the report OF the
Secretary OF War; will be found "fom of government"
established and orBanlZed by the military commander
who conquered and occupied with his forces the territory
OF New Mexico This document received at the
War Department in the latter part of the last month,
and las will be perceived by the report OF the Secretary OF
War not for the reasons stated by that officer brought
10 my until after my annual message OF the sth
instant was communicated to Congress.
II is declared its face TO be Temporary govern
ment OF the said territory" but there portions of II
which purpor to establish and organize" permanent
territorial government OF the United States the ter
rtory and TO impart to its inhabitants political rights
which under the constitution OF the United States, can be
enjoyed permanently only by citizens of the United States
These have not been approved and recognised" by me-
Such organized regulations have been established in
any of the conquered territories for the security of
conquest for the preservation of order, for the protec
ton of the rights of the inhabitants, and for deprvng the
enemy of the advantages OF these territories while the
military possession Of them by the forces OF the United
States continue, will be recognised and approved
will be apparent, from the reports OF the officers who
have been required by the which has crowned
their to exercise the powers of temporary govern.
the conquered territories, that il any excess OF
power has been exercised the departure has been the
offspring of a patriotic desire to give TO the inhabitants
the privileges and immunes cherished by the people
Of our own country, and which they believed calculated
improve their condition and promote their prosperity
Any such has resulted in practical injury, but
can and will be early corrected in a 10 ALLEVIATE
little possible the good feelings OF the inhabitants
Of the conquered territory.
JAMES X. POLK.
WASHINGTON, Dec. %, 1916.