Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1846-12-29

from the necessity of the case, and ac-
cording to the laws of war, been estab
lished. II may be proper to provide for
the security of these important conquests
in making an adequate appropriation for
the purpose of erecting Notifications and
defraying the expenses necessarily incl
dent to the maintenance of comprehension
and authority over them, ~, 81 iifss.lp-
Near the close of your last session. for
reasons communicated to Congress,ql
deemed it important, as a measure of Sc.
curing speedy peace with Mexico, that
sum of money should be appropriated
and placed in the power Of the Executive,
similar TO that which had been made upon
two former occasions, during the admins
tration of President jefferson. lsr sgg,.n
s. On the Goth of February. 1903. an ap.
preparation oftwO millions of dollars was
made. and placed at the disposal of the
President. It's object is well known. 1t
was at that time in contemplation TO &C.
quire Louisiana from France, and il was
intended to be applied as, part of the
consideration which might be paid for that
territory. Onfhe l3thnf February, 1896,
the same sum was in like manner appro-
pfiated, with view to the purchase ofthe
Fioridas from Spain. - slft
These appropriations were made to ia
eilitate negotiations, and as a mpans to
enable the President TO accomplish the
object in view. Though il did not be.
come necessary tar the President to use
these appropriations, yet state of things
might have arisen in which 1, would have
been highly important for him to do so,
aud the wisdom of making them cannot
be doubted. II is believed that the meas.
tire recommended at your last session met
with the appreciation of decided m.iorities
in both Houses Of Congress Indeed, in
different forms, bill making an appro
pr;a'ion OF two millions of dollars passed
each House, and il is much TO be regret.
ted that it did not become a law. The
reasons which induced me to recommend
the measure at thai time, still exist; and
again submit the subject for considera-
ton. and suggest the Importance ofearly
action on it. Should the appropriation he
made, and he not needed, it will remain
in the treasury-shon!d it he deemed
proper to apply it in whole or in part, it
will he accounted for as other public ex-
penditures.
Immediately after Congress had rec
OgniZed the existence of the war with
Mexico, my attention was directed to the
danger that privateers might be fitted out
in the ports Of Cuba and Porto Rico to
prey upon the commerce of the Il. S.. and
linvited the special attention of the Span
ish government 10. the fourteenth article
of our treaty with that power of the S20th
of October, 1896, under which the citi.
zens and subjects of either nation who
shall take commissions or letters of mar.
que to act as priva,eers against the other
shall he punished as pirates. a5
1t affords ne pleasure to inform you
that | have received assurances from the
Spanish government that this, article Of
the treaty shall he faithfully observed on
itspart. Orders for this purpose were
Immediately transmitted from that govern
ment to the authorities of Cuba and Porto
Rico to exert their utmost vigilance in
preventing any attempts TO fit out priva-
teers in those isl ands against the United
States. From the good faith of Spain |
am fully satisfied that this treaty will he
executed in its spirit as we'll as its letter :;
whilst the United States will on their part
faithfully perform all the obligations which
it imposes on them. .sl.'t. s.e.,.....,..,.
Information has been recently received
at the Department Of the State that the
Mexican government has sent to Havana
blank commissions to privateers, & blank
certificates of, NATURALIZATION, signed by
Gen Salas, the present head of the Mex
lean government. There is also reason
to apprehend that similar documents have
been transmitted to. other parts Of the
weird. Copies ofthese papers, in. trans.
lation, are herewith transmitted. - s,..
AS the preliminaries required by the
practice eff civilized nations for commits
sioning privateers and regulating their
conduct, appears. MT to be observed. aud
as these commissions are in the blank tn
be filed up with The. names of. citizens
and subjects Of all nations who. may be
wiling to purchase, Them the whole pro,
ceed,Dg can only be construed as an inYi7
tatiqn TO all the freebooiers upon earth !;
who are willing to cruise against Amer
lean commerce. It viii be for our courts
of justice to decide, whether under such
circumstances, these Mexican letters of
narqle and reprisaI shall protect those
who accept them, and commit roberies on
the high seas under their authority. from
the pains and penalties of piracy, ~ s,
II the certificates of naturalization tins
granted. be intended by Mexico to shield
Spanish subjects from the guilt and pun,
ishment of pirates, under our treaty with
Spain, they will certainly prove ,unavail
ing, Such q subierfnge would be a weak
device 70 defeat the provisions Of q plain
treaty. ~ - -. -. IS