Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1846-12-19

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Near the close Of your p<agion. Sr rsssons
soyamunicated 70 Congfess, deemed Il impof.
~ith Me&ico, that Z sun Of tl,cney shouM b
appscprissed aud piseed in the power Of the
Executive, simlar to that which had been made
upon too former occesiona during the adsnis-
Ssiation vf President jefferson. sss,,ns ,4e 4
% tho 26th Of February, 1903, On sppsopsa.
soa at &SOOO,O0O was made, and placed, at the
,i'eposal Of the President. IL cb3vct 10 well
known. II ives at thst time In contemp mpstiop
70 acquire Loaisisna from Ersnce. end u zee
tntentcd to b sppl,eJ a. part Of The coneidesa.
lion which might be paid for that Territory. ,l)n
the 18th Of February, 1865, the same sum wss
In like manner appropriated. with view to the
purchase Of the Ficridae from SPAN. These
appropriations were made to facilitate negotis.
,ions, snd 20 means to ecable the President to
acsompiish the important objects 10 view ).
Though Il did not become necessary for the
President to use the appropriations, yet state
,i things might have arisen IN which Il would
hsve ben highly impostant ior him to do - /;
the wisdom Of mixing them cannot b doabted.
II 10 believed that the measure Recommended
a. POUR last session met with the appropriation
of decided msjorties in both Houses Of Congress.
Indeed, 10 different forms, bill making an ap.
propriation ofe2000 900 passed each House, and
il h much to b regretted that il did not become
law. The reasons which induced me TO re.
Commend the measure az that time still exist
snd again submit the subject for your consi
Iteration. and suggest the importance Of early
set on upon II. Should the appropriation be
made, and be not neeccd, il will remain in the
treasury ry-should II be deemed proper to apply
II in whole o. in part. il will be accounted tor
Ike hoP nuhiir ovnandssnpaa 4.tt. i
Immediately sfter Congress had recognized
'he existence ofthe wsr with Mexico. my stten.
tion ives directed 10 the danger that privateers
might DO fitted out in the ports Of Cubs and Por-
~ Rico to prey upon the commerce Of the Uni.
ted States and invited the epecisl attention
of the Spanish government to tho l4th srticle
cf our treaty with that power ofthe Goth OF DC.
r.bef, l7vS. under which the citizens and sub
tacts Of either nation who shsll take commits.
sions or letters Of msrque TO oct ss privatcers
sgainet the o,hcr "shsll BE- punished - pirates."
II affords me pleasure TO inform you that
hive received assurances from the Spanish 60.
vsrnneut that thi. article Of the treaty shall be
faithfully observed on i's part Orders for this
purpose were Immediately transmitted from that
government to the authorities ofCuba and Porto
Rico TO exert their utmost vigilance IN prevent.
ing sny attempts to ht out privateers in theee
islands against the United States. From the
GOOD tai,h Of Spain an fully satisfied tins; this
Treaty will be executed in its spirit - well -
;ts letter whilst the United States will, on
their part. faithfully perfNm oil the obligations
which Il imposes on them.
Information has been recently received q
he Department Of State thst the Mexicsn 90.
-ernment has sent 10 Hsvsns blank commissions
10 privateers, and blank certihcates Of naturaii
cation, signed BY Gen. Sslss. the present hesd
Of the Mexican government. There 10, also.
reason to apprehend that similar documents
have been transmitted 10 other parts Of the
world. Copies Of shree pspers, In translation,
are herewith transmitted.
AZ tie preliminares required BY the practice
"f civilized nations for commissioning privatcers
and regulating their conduct appear not to hsvs
been observed. end 40 these commissions are in
blank. 10 be filled up with the names Of citizens
and subjects Of oil nations who may be willing
10 purchase them, The whole proceeding cen
only be construed a. an invitation to oil the
ireebooters upon earth, who are willing to pay
for the privilege. to cruise against Amer can
commerce.. 1t will be for our courts Of justice
~ decide whether, under such circumstances.
shese Mexican letters of marque anc reprisal
shall protect those who accept them. and com
nit robberies upon the high seas under their au
,horitY from the pains and penslties OF piracy.
1.-THE certificates of inrali ixsiion thus gran
ted be intended BY Mexico n shield Spanish
sabjects from the guilt and punishment of pi
rates. under our treaty with Spain. they will
certainly prove unsvsiliny Such subterfIes
would be but weak device to defect the provi
sions Of solemn teaW.
I recommend that Congress should immedi
stely provide by law for tho ,risl end punish
ment as pirates of Spanish subjects WIN. esca.
ping the vigilance oftheir government. shal bs
found gailty of pr'vsieerine sgsinst the United
S,ates. do not apprehend ser ions do ngev froIT
these privsteers. Our navy will he constantly
m the alert 10 protect cur commerce Besides
in css- PRICES should be- made of American ves
sele, the utmost vigilance will be exested by OBJ
bincksdinp squadron to prevent the sptovs from
:sknp them INTO Mpx'cso roris. and il 10 M
app-eheaded 'ha, any nation will violsts its ne,'
traliiy ny suffering such prises 70 be condemned
end sold within it, Jurisdiction.
I recommend tina, Congress should immedi
s'eiy provide by law ftr granting letters o.
nsrqns sad veprisa! against veeeels under ths
Mexican flag. II is true that there are bot few
" any, commercial vessels of Mexico upon th
high seal; and il 10 therefore not probsbls ths
many American privstcers would no fitted ou'
in case q law should pass suthoFisinR this mod
Of warfare. II is. notwit,sts nding. certain the
such privateers may render good service ~ tn
commercial Interests Of the country, BY reea ptu
ring our merchant ships should cry be ,she
~ armed vessels under the Mrxicsn hsg. .
well ~ by capturing these vessels Themselves
Every means within our power should bs rer
dered available for the protection Of our con
Trsrce. 1.7 si as 'eN tf
The annual report of the Secretsry Of III
Treasury will exhibit q detailed ssstsmsSt I
the condition Of the 6nanees. The iupsrts Il
a. linz 49, Nh Il y.xAA Lee