Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1847-12-10

This amount would undoubtedly have been much
larger bat 90 the d~iniralty Of keeping open coinmu.
|~nicndont htlwccn the coasf and the Interior SO az
10 enable nc owners OF the merchandise imported
10 frah1pofi ind vcnd Il 10 The inllnhifanis Of TIC
cosmifk u \ confidently cxpccied that ihis din
Guilty win, iva great extern, be soon removed ~ orr
increased forces, which have been sent to the tlcid.
Measures have recently been adopted, ~ which
the internal as well as external revenues Of Mexico
In vii piaces In our military occupations VIII leseik-
cd and appropriated to the use Of orr army and navy.
The policy Of leyying upon che enemy coniribu-
tons in every form consistent with the laws % ma
tons, which Il may be practicable for our military
commanders % adopt, should, in my Judgment, be
dgidiy enforced, and orders to this effect have ae-
c~ordingly been given. BY such a policy, at the same
time that our own treasury will be relieved from q
heavy drain, the Mexicnn people will be made 10
feel the burdens Of the war, and consulting their
own Interests, may be induced the more readily 70
require their rulers to accede 10 n just peace.
Afer the adjournment Of the last session q Con
gross, events trnnspired in the prosecution o. NC war
which, in my Judgment, required a gfeafer nnmber
OF troops IN the field than had been anticipated.
The strength Of The army was accordingly incfeas-
forces authorized by the act Of the 18th Maj, le4s,
without putting a construction on that act, the ccr-
rectncss Of which was seriously questioned. The
volunteer forces now in the field, with those which
had been = accepted 10 serve Tor Twelve months
and were discharged at the end Of their term Of SER
vice, exhaust the fifty thousand men authorized by
that act. Had Is been clear that a proper construc.
ton Of the act warranted il, the services Of an addi'
tiUnal number would have been called Tor and &C
cepicd; but doubts existing upon this point the
power was not exercised,
n i deemed important that Congress should, at
an carly period Of their session, confer the authority
10 naisc an additional regular force 70 serve during
dc war with Mexico, and 20 Be discharged upon tie
conclusion and ratification q a irerfy Of peace, |
invite .he attention q SeeSsess 70 Ae view. Pre-
recommend, also, that authority be given By law
10 call for and accept the services OF an aaaiuonai
number OF volunteers, TO be exercised NJ such time
and to such extent a the emergencies Of the service
may require
In prosecuting the war with Mexico, whilst the
utmost care has been taken TO avoid every just cause
Of complaint on the part Of neutral nations, and none
has been given, liberal privileges have been granted
10 their In the ports Of the enemy in our
military occupation.
NJ one time threatened 10 interrupt the friendly re
lnfions between the two countries, viii, j trust, be
speedily adjusted. / have received inf0rnation that
an envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary
to the United States will shortly be appointed BY
his Imperial Majesty; and IL Is hoped that he will
come instructed and prepared to adjust all remain
ing differences between the two governments in a
manner acceptable and honorable 70 both. In the
meantime, l have every reason 20 believe that mo-
thing viii occur 10 interrupt our amicable relations
with Brazil.
II has been NV constant effort TO maintain and
cultivate the most intimate relations Of ifiendEhip
with all the independent powers Of South America;
and this policy has been attended with the happiest
results. II is true, that The settlement and payment
Of many just claims Of American citizens against
these nations have been long delayed The peculiar
position IN which they have been placed, and the de-
sire on the part OF nay predecessors, as well rs my
self. to grant them the utmost indulgence, have hiih-
erfo prevented these claims from being urged IN
manner demanded by strict Justice. The time has
srrived when they ought 20 be finally ABUSED and
liquidated, and efforts are now making for that pur-
IL d proper 10 iuIcrm you si,as the government Of
Peru has in good faith paid the first two infiments
Of the indemnify Of thirty thousand dollars each,
and shs g5ss'ss portion Of nc interest due due, theron,
ment and the United States, the Publications Of
which were exchanged at Lima on the sist October,
1876. The Attorney General Of the United States,
early in August last, completed the adjudication Of
the claims under this convention, and made bis re-
port thereon. IN pursuance Of the aef Of The Sth An
gust, 1886. The sums to which the claimants are
respectively entitled win be paid on demand at the
1 invite the early attention Of Congress to the pre-
sent condition OF our citizens in China. Under our
treaty with that power, American citizens are with
drawn from the jurisdiction, whether civil or crimi-
nal, OF the Chinese government and placed nnder
that OF our public funcfionaries in that country.
BY these alone can our citizens be uied and punish.
ed for the eommission Of any crime; BY the$e alone
can questions be decided between them, involving
the rights Of persons and property; and by these
alone can contracts be enforced, into which they
may have entered with the citizens or subjects cf
foreign powers The merchant vessels Of dc Uni.
ted States lying IN the waters Of the Ave ports az
China open 10 foreign ommerc are under he ex.
elusive Jurisdiction Of officers Of their own govern.
ment. Until Congress shall establish comnetept
tribunals to Try and punish crimes, and to exercise
jurisdiction in civil cases in China, American citi-
zens there are subject 70 no law whatever. Crimes
may Be committed with impunity, and debts may
be eontracted without any means 70 enforce their
payment Inconvenience have already resulted
from the omission Of Congress 10 ~legislate upon
ms sgtject and still greater are unprecedented. The
onush authorities In Chins have already complain
ed that this government has not provided FOR the
punishment OF crimes, or the enforcement Of con-
tracts against American citizens in that eom,ry.
whilst their has established tribunal,
BY which an American citizen can recosfr debts
due from British subjects.
Accustomed as the Chinese are to summary ms.
nee they could not be made to comprehend shy
criminals who are citizens Of the United Stnfes
should escape with IMMUNITY, in violation OF treaty
obligations, whilst the punishmento Of a Chinese, who
mad mm,i any crime against an american eii-
zen, would be vigorously exacted. Indeed. the ron.
sequences might be fatal to American citizens in
China, should q hagrant crime be mmit nv nnv
one Of them upon a Chinese, and should triai and
punishment mot follow according to The requisitions
Of the treaty. This might disturb, II NOT destroy,
our friendly relations with that empire, and cause
an interruption Of our valuable commerce.
our treaties with the Sublime Porte, TripoE, Ta-
Morocco, and Musoat, also require the iegisla-
uon OF Congress to carry them into execution, al
tnough the necessity for Immediate action may not
SO urgent as in regard TO china.
The Secretary of State has submitfed an estimate
aeney the expense Of opening Diplomatic rels.
IONS with the Papal States. The interesting politj.
al events now in progress in these States as wei
y = JnkI rogard TO oax commercial interests. have
n my opinion, rendered such a measure highly ex'
pedient s"'
Estimates have also been submitted for The outst,
snd salaries OF charges d'afiaires to the republic Of
oohsia' 6aniemaias and Ecuador. The msnifest
mporisnee Of cniiynfing the most friendly mla-
ions with all the independent States npon his con.
lnenf has induced me 70 recommend appropriation
lecessary for the maintenance Of these missions.
recommend to Congress that an appropriation
2 made' 70 be pal to the Spanish government for
ne purpose Of distribution among ne claimants in
the Amistad case" / entertain the conviction that
ms Is due TO Spain under the treaty OF goth Octo-
er, 1873 and moreover, That from the earnest
hammer IN which the claim continues to be urged, so
ing as y SHALL remain unsettled, il will be a source
! Irritation and discord between the two countries,
hitch may prove highly Dreindicial N The ;n,era.ts