Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1847-12-11

object was to compel the enemy to contribute, as tar
as practicable towards the expenses of the war.
For the amount of contributions which have been
levied in this form, refer. you to the accompanying
the Navy by which it appears that sum exceeding
half n million of dollars has been collected.
This amount would undoubtedly have been much
larger, but for the difficulty OF keeping open comrn-
enable the owners OF the merchandise imported, to
transport and vend it to the inhabitants of the coun-
try 1t is confidently expected that this difficulty will
to great extent, be soon removed BY our increased
forces which have been sent to the field.
Measures have recently been adopted by which H.
internal as well as external revenues of Mexico, in Vi
places in our military occupation, will be seized aid
appropriated To the OF army and navy
The policy OF levying upon the enemy contributions
IN every form, consistently with the laws of nators,
which ii may be practicable for our military comman-
ders to adopt should, in my Judgment, be rigidy e.
forced and orders to this effect have accordingly been
given BY such policy, at the same time that our
own treasury will he relieved from heavy drain, the
Mexican people will be made TO feel the burdens of
the war, and consulting their own interests may be
induced the more readily to require their rulers to &C.
cede to n Just peace.
After the adjournment of the last session of Con-
gress events transpired in the prosecution of the
which, in my judgment, required greater number OF
troops in the field than had been anticipated. The
strength OF the army was accordingly increased by
accepting the services OF the volunteer forces ad-
thorzed by the act Of the thirteenth Of May 1916
without putting the construction on that act the cor
RICHNESS OF which was seriously questioned The vol
unteer forces now in the field, with those which had
been accepted" to serve the twelve MONTHS" and
were discharged at the end of their term of service
exhaust the fifty thousand authorized by that act
Had 1t been clear that proper construction of the
act warranted il, the service of additional number
would have been called for and accepted but doubts
existing upon this point the power exercised
1t is deemed important that Congress should, at an
early period OF their session. confer the authority to
raise an additional regular force during the war with
Mexico, and to be discharged upon the conclusion and
ratification Of treaty OF peace. invite the attention
OF Congress to the views presented by the Secretary OF
war IN his report upon the subject.
recommend also, that authority be given by law
to call tor and accept the services of an additional
number OF volunteers be exercised at such time and
to such extent as the emergencies OF the service may
require.
In prosecution of the war with Mexico, whilst the
utmost care has been to avoid every Just of COM
plant the part OF neutral nations and has beer
given, liberal privileges have been granted to ill.,
commerce in the port OF the enemy in our mi
cupation.
The difficulty with the Bn/
at one time threatened to
tons between the two cQu1i
lily adjusted IhaSslu
voy extraordinp1
United StatQl
Majesty a
ett mat n
relations wi
1t has beeIiy
tvate the most ifltll
the independent Powers 0i(
policy has been attended wi
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