Ypsilanti sentinel. [volume] (Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co., Mich.) 1843-1900, 1846-12-16

use these appropriations, yet, a state of thingl
might have arisen in which it would have beer
highly important for him to do so, and the wis
, dom of making them cannot be doubted. 1t il
: believed that the measure recommended YOU
last session, met with the APPRECIATION of decided
majorities in both houses oil congress. indeed II
, different forms, bill making an appropriation o
g., 000, 600 passed each house and it is much Il
be regretted that it did not become law. The
reasons which induced me TO recommend the me;
sure at that time still exist and | again submit
: the subject for consideration, and suggest the
Importance Of early action upon it. Should the
, appropriation be made and not needed, it will re
main in the treasury-shoud it be deemed prCp
er to apply it in whole or in part, it will be re-
! counted for as other public expenditures.
Immediately after Congress had recogDsedthe
existence of the war with Mexico, my attention
was directed to the danger that privatcers might
be fitted out in the ports of Cuba and Porto RI
CO to prey upon the commerce of the u. 3, and
invited the special attention of the Spanish
government to the l4th article of our treaty with
that power of the 90 of October, 1879, under
which the citizens and subjects of either nation
who shall take commissions or letters of marque
to act as privateers against the others, {" shall
be punished as pirates"
4 1t affords me pleasure to inform you that I've
received assurance from the spanish government
that this article of the treaty shall be faithfully
observed on its part. Orders to this effect were
Immediately transmitted from that government
to the authorities of Cuba an Porto Rico to ex-
ert their utmost vigilance in preventing any
attemps TO fit out privateers in those islands a.
gainst the United States From the good faith
of Spain am fully satisfied that this treaty will
be executed in its spirit as well as its letter:
j whilst the United States will on their Part faith
perform all the obligations which it imposes ON
them.
/ Information has been recently received at the
Department of State that the Mexican govern
ment has sent to HAVANA blank commissions
to privateers, and blank certificates of natu-
ralization, signed by Gen Salas, the present
head of the Mexican government There is al
so reason to apprehend that similar document:
have been transmitted to other parts of the world
Copies OF these papers In translation, are here
with transmitted.
As the prelimlnarles required by the practical
of civilized nations for commissioning pryateer
and regulating their conduct appears not to
have been observed, and as the names of citi-
zens and subjects of all nations who may be
willing to purchase Them the whole proceed
ing can only be construed as an invitation to all
the freebooters upon earth, who are willing to
pay for the privilege, to cruise against Amer-
can commerce. 1t will be for our courts of
justice TO decide whether under such circun-
stances these Mexican letters of marque and
reprisal shall protect those who accept them.
and commit robbcries on the high seas under
authority from the pains aud penalties of pi-
racy.
! If thecertifcates of ns turalization thus gran
ted, be intended by Mexico to shield Spanish
subjects from the guilt and punishment ofpi-
| rifos ,lndar Our treaty. with Spoip tbo- mill
certainly prove unavailing. Such a subterfuge
would be weak device to defeat the proyis-
i ions of plain treaty.
| | recommend that Congress should imInedi-
ately provide by law for the trial and punish
ment as pirates of Spanish subjects, who, es-
Gaping the vigilence of their government, shall
be guilty of privateering against the United
States. do net apprehend serious danger from
these privateers. Our navy will be constantly
on the alert to protect our commerce. Besides
in case prizes should be made of American yes
sells, the utmost violence will be exerted by our
blockading squadron to prevent the captors from
taking them into Mexican Ports,andlt is not ap-
| pretended any nation will violate its neutral-
ty by suffering such prizes to be condemned and
| sold within its jurisdiction.
! | recommend that congress should immeIi-
ately provide by law for granting letters of
marque and reprisal againt vessels under the
Mexican flag. 1t is strue, there is but few if
any commercial vessels of Mexico upon the
high seas and it is therefore, not probable that
many Mexican privateerS would be fitted out,
case law should pass authorizing this mode of
warfare. 1t Isl Notwithstanding, certain that
such privateers may render good service to the |
commercial interests of the country, by recap |
turing our merchant ships: should any be taken |
| by armed vessels under the Mexican flag, as |
well as capturing the vessels themselves. Ev-
cry ueans within our power should be rendered |
available for the protection of our commerce.
The annual report of Secretary of the Treas. |
will exhibit in detail the condition of the finan-
ces. The imports for the fiscal year ending on |
the 30th of June last, were 1921, 691 1877; of |
which the amount exported was $ll,346,623; |
leaving the amount retained in the country for
domestic consumption Sll, 345,174. The val |
ue of the export for the same period wasSll3,- |
1885, SIG; of which 1852, I4l 1893 consisted of
domestic productions, and gil ,346,623 of for
eign articles.
The receipts into the Treasury for the same
year were $29, 1924 06; of which there was
derived from customs S26,7l2,667 81; from the
sales of public lands 1864, 452 4S; and from
incidental and miscellaneous sources $92, l26
The expenditures for the same period $2S ,031,-
ia 90, and the balance in the treasury on the |
LIST day of July, was So 439 0S.
The amount Of the public debt, including
treasury notes on the LIST of the present month
was S24, 256, 494 Of of which $l7,7SS,799 81
was outstanding on the 4th of March.lS45, lea
wing the amount incurred since that time $6,
1864 SO.
In order prosecute the war with Mexico with
vigor and energy,as the best means of bringing
it to speedy and honorable termination, a fur
Their loan will be necessary to meet the expen-
ditures for the present and next fiscal ar,and
if the war should be continued until the 30th of
June 7,befng the end of the next fiscal year
it is estimated that an additional loan of$23,
100000 will be required. This estimate is
made upon the assumption that it Unnecessary
to retain constantly in the treasury 100000