Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1847-01-09
CONGRESS.
WAsHrNeToN. Dec. 50 1916,
ONITEp STATEs SENATE,

pealing the power TO declare void acts OF
the state, because in violation OF the U. 5.
Constitution, or any constitution OF any
state, which on his motion was laid on the
table.
Mr.. Barrow's resolution OF inquiry rela-
tive to the return OF Santa Anna to Mexico,
and as to the terms on which his return
was allowed, coming up, was. on motion OF
Mr.. Sewer. postponed until Tuesday week.
The House bill for the admission of Iowa
into the Union, was read and referred to the
Committee on the Judiciary.
The House bill granting pension 10 Pat.
rick Kelly, was read and referred to the
Committee on Pensions, and
The Senate went into executive session.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Mr.. Martin, Of Ky. made an Intellectual
effort to present resolution, to the effect
that hereafter all letters and newspapers for
the officers and soldiers engaged in the war
in Mexico, and who are beyo the limits
Of the United States, shall be transmitted
free of postage.
resolutions Of Mr.. Broadhead, to refer the
several topics embraced in the Presidents
message to the appropriate committees.
Messrs. Morse, OF Louisiana, and Martin,
Of Tennessee, made speeches on the side Of
the admins ration, and Mr.. Davis, of Ken.
lucky, in opposition.
When the committees rose, the Speaker
laid before the House Message from the
President of the United States, in relation
to the civil governments established over
The conquered Mexican Territory, and
transmitting all orders and instructions to
our military and naval commanders.
The Speaker then announced the follow.
ing Message from the President:
ToMe House Of Representatives. IF The u States.
In compliance with the request contain.
ed in the resolution of the ISL inst. com.
municate herewith reports from the Score.
tary of War and Secretary Of the Navy
with the documents which accompany
them. These documents contain all the
orders or instructions ''to any officer OF the
Government in relation 10 the establishment
or organization OF Civil Government in any
one portion OF the territory OF Mexico.
which has or might be taken possession Of
by the army or navy Of the U. States"
These orders and instructions were given
10 regulate the exercise Of the beigeIents
engaged in actual war over such portions Of
the territory Of our enemy as by military
conquest "might be taken possession OF
and be occupied by our armed forces, rights
necessarily resulting from state OF war
and clearly recognized by the law of
nations. This was all the authority which
could be delegated to our military and ma.
val commanders, and its exercise was indis.
pensable to the secure occupation and pos
session Of territory Of the enemy which
might be conquered. The regulations au.
thorzed were temporary and dependent on
the rights acquired by conquest.
They were authorized as bellgerent rights,
and were TO be carried into effect by mill.
tary and naval officers. They were but
the ameliora,ion of martial law which mod
ern civilization required, and were due as
well TO the conquest as TO the inhabitants
Of the conquered territory.
The documents communicated also con.
tain the reports OF several highly meritori.
Gus officers OF our army and navy who have
conquered and taken possession Of portions
Of the enemy's territory.
Among the documents accompanying
The report Of the Secretary OF War, will be-
found ga form of government" establish.
ed and organised" BY the military com.
mander who conquered and occupied with
his forces the territory Of New Mexico.
This document was received at the War
Department in the latter part OF the last
month, and, as will be perceived by the re.
port of the Secretary Of War, was not, for
the reasons stated by that officer, brought
to my notice until after my annual message
of.he 9TH inst. was communicated to Con.
gress.
1t is declared on its face to be "tempo.
rary government Of the said territory" but
there are portions OF it which purport to
establish and organize" perma nent terri.
torial government of the U. States over the
territory, and impart TO its inhabitants DO.
litical rights which under the constitution of
the U. States, can be enjoyed permanently
only by citizens Of the U. States. These
have not been approved and recognized by
me.
Such organized relations as have been es.
tablished in any OF the conquered territories
for the security Of our conquest, for the
preservation OF order, for the protection of
the rights OF the inhabitants, and for depriy.
ing the enemy OF the advantages of these
territories, while the military possession Of
them by the forces OF the U. States contin.
ue, will be recognized and approved.
II will be apparent from the reports OF
the officers who have been required by the
success which has crowned their arms to
exercise the power Of temporary govern.
ment over the conquered territories, that il
any excess OF powers has been exercised
the departure has bean tho oH.nr;no of m