The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1846-12-10

WsN'c'n government. ana ot the reply thereto ut
the Secretary of State.
The war will continue To be- prosecuted with
yigor. as The hest means Of securing peace. II is
| hoped that the decision &c the Mexican Congress
Ia which our last overture has heen referred may
result in n speedy and honorable peace With
our experience. however, of the unreasonable
course of the Mexican authorities It is the part If
wisdom not Ia relax in the energy of our military
operations until the result is made known Ia
this view. II is deemed important To hold military
possessi"n of the provinces which have been TAX
en-, until definiiive treaty of peace shall have
| been concluded and ratified by the two countries
| The war has not been wagpd with view l."
conquest but having been commenced by Mckee,
/ Il has been carried into the enemy's country and
will be vigorously prosecuted there with view
to obtain honorable peace. and thereby secure
ample indemnity for the expenses Of the war, as
well as Ia our much injured citizens, who hold
large pecnniary demands against Mexico.
By the laws of na;ions a conquered territory is
subject TO be- governed by the conqueror during
his military possession. and until there is either
treaty ct peace. or he shall voluntarily withdraw
from IT, The old civil government being neces-
sarily superseded. il is the RICH, and duty Of the
conqueror tn secure his conquest. and To provide
fur the maintenance of civil order and the rights
OF the inhabitants. This right has been exercised
and this duty performed, by military and ma
val commanders hy the establishment of tempo
rary governments in some of the conquered prov
lnces in Mexico. assimiaing them as far as prac
ticabe to the free institutions of our avn country
In the provinces of New Mexico. and of the Cali
furnias, little if any further resistance is appre-
bended from the inhabitants to the Temporary
governments which have thus, from the necessity
ut the case, and according Ia the laws of war.
heen established. Il may he proper 10 T5..vide
fur The security of these important conqnesls by
making an adequate appropriation for the purpose
ct erecting Qualifications and defrayng the ex.
penses necessarily incident tn the ma maintenance of
our possessions and authority over them.
Near the close Of your last session. for reasons
communicated 10 Congress. deemed il impor
tant. as measure for securing a speedy peace
with Mexico, that sum of money should he ap.
propriated and placed in the power of the Expcn
tive, similar 10 that which had been made upon
two former occasions. during the administration
of President Jefferson.
On the twenty sixth of February, 1903. an
appropriation of two millions Of dullars was made
and placed at the disposal of the President. It's
object is well knnwn. II was at that time in
contemplation to acquire Louisiana from France
and it was intended To be applied as part of the
consideration which might be paid for that terri
tory. On the thireenth of February, 1906 the
same sum was ia like manner approprated with
view TO the purchase of the Flnridas from
SPain. These appropriations were made to ia
cilitaie Negotiations, and means To enable the
President to accomplish the important objects in
view. hough 1t did not become necessary for
the President To use these appropriations, vet a
state of things might have arisen in which il
would have been highly important for him To do
sn, and the wisdom of making them cannot he
doubted. II is believed that the measure recon.
mended at your last Session met with the appro-
hailon OF decided majorities in both houses o
Congress. Indeed, in different furms a bill ma.
king an appropriation of two millions OF dollars
passed each house, and it is much To be regretted
that IL did not become a law The reasons which
induced me TO recommend the measure at tina
Time still exist; and ! again submit the subject
for your consideration. and suggest the i'm portsnct
OF early action upon it. Should the appropriation
he made, and be not needed il will remain in Tho
treasury: should il he deemed proper to apply il
In whole or in part, il will be accounted for as
other public expenditures.
Immediately after Congress had recognised the
existence of the war with Mexico. my attention
was directed to the danger that privaieers mich
be fitted out in the ports of Cuba and Porto Rico
to prey upon the commerce of the United States
and invited the special attention of the Spanist
governmenistO the fourteenth article of our treaty
with that power Of the twentieth of October
l795, under which The citizens and subjects O
either nation " no shall take commissions or let
tiers OF mar4ne TO act as privaleers against The
other. "shall be punished pirates'
II affords me pleasure to inform You tina, ha y,
received assurances from The Spanish government
that This article of the treaty shall be faithful,
observed on lis part. Orders for this purpose were
Immediately transmitted from rha government Il
the authorities of Cuba and Porto Rico To exer
their utmost vigilance in preventing any attempts
to tit ont privateers in those islands against In,
United States. From the uord faith of Snait
am fully satisfied that this !.eaty " i'll be execn
led in its spirit as well as lis letter; whilst III;
United States Will, on their part. faithfully per
form all The obligations which it imposes on them
Information has been recently received at IN,
Department of State that the Mexican govern
ment has sent to Havana blank commissions. an,
blank certificates of naturalization, signed by Gen
eral Salas. the present head of The Mexican GOV
eminent. There is, also. reason to apprehend tba
similar documents have been transmitted to othe
parts of the world. Copies Of these papers, il
Translation, are herewith transmitted
As the prelmnares required by The practice o
civilized nations for commissioning prvaieers anc
regulating their conduct appear not To have beef
observed, and these commissions are in blank
TO be filled up with the names of czeus and sub
jecis of all nations who may be willing To- purcbas,
them, The whole proceeding can only he construed
as an invitation to all the freebooiers upjn earth
who are willing 10 pay 70. the privilege, 10 cruis,
against American commerce. II will be for on
courts Of justice to decide whether uDder such cir
rumslsnces, these Mexican letters of marnne anC
rePrIsal shall protect Those who accept them, anC
commit r0bberies upon the high seas under thei
authority, from the pains and penalties Of piracy.
II the certificates of naturalization thus granted
be intended by Mexico TO shield Spanish subjects
from the guilt and punishment of pirates. under
our treaty with Spain, they will certainly proye
unavalIin0. Such sublerfuge would be but >
weak device To defeat the provisions of solemn
treaty.
recommend that Congress should Immediately
provide by law for the trial and punishment as ri
rates of Spanish subjects y hu. escaping the vfgi
lance OF their government. shall he found guilty 81
prlyateerlng agansl the Uniied Siales / do moi