Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1846-12-17

sions of Letters of Marque to act as pryateers a.
gainst the other shall be punished as pirates
1t affords me pleasure to inform you that nave
received assurances from the Spanish Government
that this article of the treaty shalfbe faithfully OBJ
served on its part. Orders for this purpose were
Immediately transmitted from that Government to
the authorities of Cuba and Porto Rico to exert
their utmost vigilance in preventing any attempts 70
fl ont nrvateers in those islands against the United
States From the GOOD faith OF SPAN am iuily
satisfied that this treaty will be executed III lIs 9-
it as well as its letter; while the United StaSS "i"'
on their part, faithfully perform all the Obligations
which it imposes on them.
Information has been recently received at the De-
partment of State that the Mexican Government
has sent to Havana blank commissioner prvateers,
and blank certificates of naturalization signed by
General Salas, the present head of the Mexican
government. There is, also, reason to apprenehu
that similar documents have been transmitted to
other parts Of the world. Copies OF these papers,
in translation, are herewith transmitted.
As the preliminaries required by the practice OF
civilized nations for commissioning prIIateers and
regulating their conduct appear not to nave oeeh
observed, and these commissions are IN blank, TO
be filled up with the names of citizens and SUBJECTS
of all nations who may be wiling to purchase them,
the whole proceeding can only be construed as an
invitation to all the frecbooters upon earth, who are
willing to pay for the privilege, to cruise against
American commerce. 1t will be for our courts OF
Justice to decide whether, under such clrcumstan-
ces, these Mexican letters Of marque and reprlsal
shall protect those who accept them, and commit
robberes upon the high seas under their authority
from the pains and penalties of piracy.
If the certificates of naturalization thus granted
be intended by Mexico to shield Spanish subjects
from the guilt and punishment Of prates under our
treaty with Spain, they will certainly prove una
vaing. Such subterfuge would be 5u weak
device to defeat the provisions of a solemn treaty.
recommend that Congress should Immediately
provide by law for the trial and punishment as p
rates of Spanish subjects who escaping the vigil
lance of their Government shall be found guilty OF
prvateering against the United States. do not
apprehend serious danger from these prlyateers.-
Our navy will be constantly on the alert to protect
our commerce. Besides, in case prizes should be
made of American vessels, the utmost vigilance
will be exerted by our blockadng squadron to pre-
vent the captors from taking them into Mexican
ports, and it is not apprehended that any nation
will violate its neutrality by suffering such prizes
to be condemned and sold within its jurisdiction.
I recommend that Congress should immediately
provide by law for granting letters of marquc and
feprsas against vessels under the Mexican flag
1t is true that there arc but few if any, commercial
vessels of Mexico upon the high seas; and 1t is,
therefore, not probable that many American prva-
authorizing this mode of warfare. 1t is, notwith-
standing, certain that such privateers may render
good service to the commercial interests OF the
country by recapturing our merchant ships, should
any be taken by armed vessels under the Mexican
flag, as well as by capturing these vessels them
selves Every means within our power should be
rendered available for the protection of our COM
merce.
The annual report of the Secretary of the Treas
ury will exhibit detailed statement of the condl-
ton of the finances. The imports for the fiscal
year ending the 18th of June last were of the val
ue of one hundred and twenty one million SIX hun
bred and ninety-one thousand seven hundred and
ninety seven dollars; of which the amount exported
was eleven millions three hundred and forty-slx
thousand six hundred and twenty three dollars, eav
ing the amount retained in the country for domcs-
tic consumption one hundred and ten million three
hundred and forty-fve thousand one hundred and
seventy -four dollars The value of the exports for
the same period was one hundred and thlr-
teen million four hundred and eighty eight thou
sand five hundred and sixteen dollars; OF which one
hundred end two million one hundred and forty lone
thousand eight hundred and ninety -three dollars
consisted of domestic productions, and eleven mill
ions three hundred and forry-siX thousand SIX hun
dred and twentv-three dollars of foreign articles.
The receipts into the Treasury for the same year
were twenty-nne millions four hundred and ninety
nine thousand two hundred and forty-seven dollars
and six cents; of which there was derived from
customs twenty-six millions seven hundred and
twelve thousand six hundred and sixty dol
lars and eghty-seven cents; from sales OF publlc
lands two millions six hundred and nlnety-tive
thousand four hundred and ht)y-two dollars and
forty eight cents and from Incidental and misceIIa
neous sources ninety-two thousand one hundred ant
twenty-sx dollars and seventy-one cents. The eX
penditures for the same period were twenty-elgh
million thirtY-one thousand one hundred and four
teen dollars and twenty cents, and the balance II
the Treasury on the lst day of July last was nine
million one hundred and twenty-siX thousand tou
hundred and thirty-nne dollars and eight cents.
The amount of the Public Debt, including treas
ury notes, the LIST of the present month, was TWEEN
ty-four millions two hundred and fifty-slX Thousand
four hundred and nnety-four dollars and sixty cents
| of which the sum of seventeen million seven hun
dred and lightweight thousand seven hundred ant
ninety-nine dollars and sixty-two cents was out
standing on the 4th of March, 1845 leaving the
amount incurred since that time SIX million tou
hundred and sixty-seyen thousand six hundred ant
ninety-four dollars and ninety-eight cents.
In order to prosecute the with Mexico witt
vigor and energy, as the best means of bringing i
to speedy and honorable termination, turthe
loan will be necessary to meet the expenditures to-
the present and the next fiscal year. If the wal
| SHOULD De COnClUucu uHlll OOli vi june IOfC
being the end of the next fiscal year-it is estlma
ted that an additional loan of twentythree million;
of dollars will be required. This estimate is made
upon the assumption that it will be necessary to re
tain constantly in the treasury four millions of dol
lars to guard against contingencies. If such sur
plus were not required to be retained, then loan Of
nineteen millions of dollars would be sufficient
If however, Congress should 1.-THE present session
impose a revenue duty on the principal articles now
embraced in the free list, it is estimated that an ad
ditional annual revenue of about two millions ai,C
a half amountlng,i it is estimated, on the both Of
June, 1913, to four millions of dollars would be de
rived from that source; and the loan required would
be reduced by that amount is estimated, also
that should Congress graduate and red uce the price
of such of the public lands as have been long II
the market, the additional revenue derived from
that source would be annually, for several years tc
come, between half million and million of dol
lars and the loan required may be reduced by thai
amount also. Should these measures be adopted
the loan required would not probably exceed cigh
teen or nineteen millions of dollars-leavng in the
Treasury constant surplus of four millions of dol
lars. The loan proposed, it is estimated, will be
sufficient to cover the necessary expenditures botf