The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-12-08

|
be accounted for as other public expenditures
Immediately after Congress had recognised the exist
ence OF the war with Mexico, my attention directed
TO the danger thai pryateers might be fitted out in the
ports OF Cuba and Porto Rico to prey upon the
OF the United States and invited the special attention OF
the Spanish government TO the fourteenth article of
treaty with that power of the twentieth of October 1885,
under which the citizens and subjects OF either nation
who shall take commissions or letters OF marque 10 act
pnyaeers against the other "shall be punished as pa
rates"
II affords me pleasure TO inform you that have recev-
ed assurances from the spanish government that this
tce of the treaty shall be faithfully observed its part
| Orders for this purpose were Immediately transmitted
from that government 10 the authorities OF Cuba and
Porto Rico to exert their utmost vigilance IN preventing
any attempts TO tit prvaeers in those islands against
the United States From the good faith OF Spain am
fully satisfied that this treaty viii be executed in It's spirit
as well as its letter. whilst the United States will on
their part faithfully perform all the obligations which il
imposes them. -.. ....-.
Information has been recently received at the Depart
OF State that the Mexican government has sent TO
Havana blank commissions to pryateers and blank cer
hcaes of NATURALIZATION, signed by General Salas, the
present head of the Mexican government There is, ALSO
TO apprehend that similar documents have been
transmitted TO other parts OF the world Copies OF these
papers, in translation, are herewith transmitted.
As the prelmlnares required by the practice OF evil
lied nations for commissioning pryateers and regulating
their conduct appear have been observed and
these commissions IN blank, TO be hed up with the
names OF citizens and subjects OF all nations who may be
willing TO purchase them, the whole proceeding only
be construed an invitation to all the Teebooers upon
earth, who are willing to pay Tor the privilege, to cruise
American
justice decide whether under such circumstances, these
Mexican letters OF marque and reprsa shall protect those
who accept them, and commit robbenes upon the high
under their authority from the pains and penalties OF
piracy
tended by Mexico to shield Spanish subjects from the
guilt and punishment OF pirates, under our treaty with
Spain, they viii certainly prove unayang Such sub
tefuge would be but weak device 10 defeat the pro-
visions Of solemn treaty.
! ! recommend that Congress should Immediately pro-
vide By law for the trial and punishment pirates OF
Spanish subjects who escaping the vigilance Of their
government shall be found guilty OF Prvateering against
the United States do not apprehend serious danger
from .hese priyateers Our navy will be constantly on
the alert to protect Besides, in prizes
should be made OF American vessels, the utmost ygi-
lance will be eXered by bockadng squadron 10 pre-
vent the captors from taking them into Mexican ports,
and ii is not apprehended that any nation will violate its
neutrality by suffering such prizes 10 be condemned and
sold within Its jurisdiction.
i | recommend that Congress should Immediately pro-
vide by law for granting letters of maque and reprsal
against vessels under the Mexican flag II is true that
there are but few If any, commercial vessels of Mexico
upon the high seas and is therefore not probable that
many American pryaeers would be fitted out, in case a
law should pass authorizing this mode OF warfare Ii Is,
notw outstanding certain that such priyaeers may render
good service to the commercial interests of the country
by reeapturng merchant ships should any be taken
by armed vessels nnder the Mexican flag well as by
capturing these vessels themselves Every means within
power should be rendered available for the rotee-
ton of our commerce
The annual report of the Secretary of the Treasury
will exhibit detailed statement of the condition of the
finances. The imports for the fiscal year ending on the
hreh OF June last were OF the value of hundred
and twenty million six hundred and ninety thou
sand hundred and ninety dollars; OF which
the amount exported eleven million three hundred
and oTtysiX thousand hundred and wentythree dol
lars leaving the amount retained IN the country Tor do
nestle consumption hundred and ten million three
hundred and fortyfve thousand hundred and seven
tyour dollars The value OF the exports for the same
period hundred and thirteen million four hun
bred and lightweight thousand five hundred and sixteen
dollars OF which one hundred and two million one hun
1rad drpu
three dollars consisted Of domestic productions, and ee
ven million three hundred and fory-sx thousand SIX
hundred and twenty three dollars of foreign articles.
The receipts into the treasury for the year were
twenty nine million four hundred and ninety mine thou
sand two hundred and forty dollars and six cents;
of which there was derived from customs wentysx mil
lion seven hundred and twelve thousand hundred and
sixtyseven dollars and eghyseyen cents from sales of
public lands two million SIX hundred and ninety flour
thousand four hundred and ffy-two dollars and forty
eight cents and from incidental and miscellaneous sources
ninety thousand one hundred and twenty six dollars
and seyenone cents ne or e Sa anne
hundred and fourteen dollars and twenty cents and the
balance in the treasury the first day of July last was
nine million hundred and twentysiX thousand four
hundred and thirty mine dollars and eight cents
The amount of the public debt, including treasury
notes, the first OF the present month"; was twenty -four
million two hundred and fftyslx thousand four hundred
and ninety -four dollars and sixty cents Of which the sum
of seventeen million hundred and eighty Eight
thousand hundred and ninety nine dollars and SIX
ty-two cents outstanding the fourth OF March,
1915, leaving the amount incurred since that time SIX mil
lion four hundred and sxy-seven thousand hundred
and ninety -four dollars and nney-eight cents. =.
In order to prosecute the with Mexico witt vigor
and energy, the best OF bringing IT to speedy
and honorable termination, further loan will be neces-
sary to the expenditures for the present and the next
fiscal years If the should be continued until the
thirtieth of June, lS4sbeng the end of the next fiscal
year--t is estimated that additional loan OF twenty
three millions of dollars will be required This estimate
is made upon the assumption that 1t will be necessary TO
retain constantly in the treasury four millions of dollars
to guard against contingencies If such surplus not
required to be retained then loan OF nineteen millions
of dollars would be sufficient. II, however, Congress
the principal articles embraced in the free list, Is
estimated that additional annual revenue OF about two
millions and half amounting, 1t is estimated, on the thlr
teh of June, 1885, to four millions of dollars, would be
derived from that source; and the loan required would
be reduced by that amount. 1t is estimated, also
that should Congress graduate and reduce the price
of such Of the public lands have been long in the
market, the additional revenue derived from that
source wonld be annually for several years to come
> between half million and million of dollars
and the loan required may be reduced by that amount
also Should these measures be adopted, the loan
required would not probably exceed eighteen nineteen
millions of notwithstanding in the treasury constant
surplus of four millions of dollars. The loan proposed
is estimated will be sufficient 10 the necessary
expenditures, both for the and for all other purposes
up to the thrteth of June, 1885, and amount of this
present fiscal year, and the greater part of the remainder
during the first half of the iSGa year succeeding.
In order that timely no may be given, and proper
measures taken to effect the loan, such portion OF
as may be required, it is important that the authority OF
Congress to make it be given at early period OF your
present session 1t is suggested that the loan should be
contracted for period of twenty years. with authority
L. .xH, r,.I