Ypsilanti sentinel. [volume] (Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co., Mich.) 1843-1900, 1847-05-12
'''-.----'-----'-F From the 3 ncinnatti Gazette.
The Presidents last UsurpatiOns.

act laws under the name of orders to regulate
imports into Mexico, to establish custom houses
there, and to disburse money so enacted, he
would have plainly and simply ordered the same
through his proper subordirates. Butconscience
makes towards Of us al, sand 20 with him in
this case; for he~sets about the thing in such
aythat be can receive no credit for sincerity of
purpose or for an honest compliance with the
law. He begins with letters addressed to his
Secretary of the Treasury and his Secretary of
the Navy, very much like messages to Legis-
latiye body, and his Departments, thus evoked,
duly enact their laws and orders for Mexico, ac-
companied with replies, by way of argument
and experiment, clearly for the use ofthe Pres
ident's party presses.
We concede to the President the possession
of remarkable courage if hardihood may deserve
that elveated name; for he had asserted in these
messages, for the third time, that Mexico is the
author of the present war. If he gets no one
else to believe this, he may at least succeed in
working his own credullty into comfortable
hallucination on the point. Minor illustrations
of the same trait are given in the contempt he
manifests for the opinion of all intelligent men,
now and hereafter, in the frequent exhibition of
purpose to conduct this war as kind of Pres
idential perquisite.
The state of our columns has prevented the
publication of the departmental manifestos coup
led with Mr.. Walkers Mexican tariff, and we
will only advert to some of the topics treated of
in them. The letter of Mr.. Walker is remark
able for tho ineideateI evidence II unconscious
ly gives of the Cabinet expectations as to the
duration of the war. The ostensible object of
thus levying contribution, as it Is Called is to
aid in defraying the expenses of the war. The
Secretary says that, in order to realize the lar
gest amount of revenue from this system, sit
would be necessary that our army and navy
should seize every important port and place up
on the Gulf of Mexico, or California, or the Pa
clfc, and open the aray through the interior for
the free transit of imports and exports, and es-
peeially that that the inferior passage through
the .Meaican isthmus should be secured from
ocean to ocean for the benefit Of our commerce
and that of the tcorld." This contemplates a
pretty extensive business certainly, and shows
a philanthropic regard to the commerce of 9th
er nations, which may be now set down as one
of the additional objects, if not cause, of the
war not previously made KNOWN
The Secretary goes on to depict the scope
of his measures, and leading object is the in
PRODUCTION, duty free, of quick silver, and OF
of machinery for working the mines of precious
metals So then that branch of business is to
be reformed and consttutionaly placed in a
more fourishing condition, by the incidental
protection thus afforded. 1t seems that mining
would require some time at least to yield any
considerable benefits, and a short war was not
at all in the contemplation of the Cabinet, nor
a speedy evacuation of the country. Clearly
not, for the Secretary expects his exchequer to
be so amply recruited from the exports of met
ais, and the s'freest scope to mining," thai 1t
will not only .arrest the expensive and ruinous
drain of specie to Mexico" but will cause it to
hat sau, nf of
millions year, its rate in 1885," before we
began to steal Texas, which it is well to re-
member cut off that supply, and in part contrib |
uted to the suspension of specie payments in
1887.
A last and browning reason for the "contribu-
tom is, that s.it is not just that Mexico, by
her obstinate persistence in this contest should
compel us to overthrow our financial policy"
This means that it might cause repeal of the
Walker tariff of 1916, an actual retrogression
of the old Wing platform projections thing |
of course too horrible for southern free-trade
patriotism to think of. 1t is quite clear that
this idea of an early peace was not present to
Mr.. Walkers mind; and from the great i'm
portance he attaches to this Mexican revenu e,
which he believes twill Ibe very large" and I
highly important ''to sustain the credit OF the
credit of the Government" and ''to save the
rred during the last year, including the inevita-
bic legacy to posterity Of large and enor-
nous taration," he will, perhaps, not deem
cessation of war as at all desirable.
This attempt of the President to seize upon
the commercial imposts of Mexico, under the
name of contributions, and by virtue of the
powers vested in him as cammander-in.chiefI
of the army, is clear usurpation of power:-l
and if it can be exercised at all, can be done by
the sovereign power only, which is enactment
of a la,c by Congress.
In the first place, it is mistake to call these
imposts contributions. One of the conceded
rights of bellgerent is that of booty, which is
the right of Selling all movable property for
the use of the conquerer, or perhaps of aban-
doning it to the use of his troops. Instead of /,
the custom of pillaging country, another and
more humane mode has been substituted by the
laws of war. which is that of contributions
This is a demand of a sum of money from
conquered town or district, sand the enemy's ;
subjects, by conserving to pay the sum deman-
ded, have their property secured from pillage, /,
and the country is preserved."-Vattel, book 3, !
sec. I65. The commander-in-chlef in Mexico
is the person to issue the orders for contribu-
lions, if any are made, and thePresident can on
" give him general rules of conducting the
war. IL
I'd. The collection of duties on imposts,an I
keeping custom-house, is not a military duty,
and military officers cannot be lawfully requlr-
ed to perform it. None else can be required to
perform this duty, for no law permits it, unless
perchance it be this ssOrder in Council"
Sd. The pretended contributions directed by h
the President are not paid by the enemy's sub
ects, as means to support tie army, but are
evies made upon all people and all nations for I
a privilege oftrode: and one OF the avowed OBJ.
ecis is not to support the credit OF the United I
States. s
4th. II the President may exercise this pow
Az What are the commencement He has in /,