Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1847-12-21

DC exempted from the operations of this
order, and as the merchandise imported.
upon which the order operated, must he
consumed by Mexican citizens, the contri-
buttons were, in effect, the seizure of the
public revenues of Mexico, and the appli-a
cation of them to our own use. In direc-
ting this measure, the object was to~com-
pei the enemy to contribute, as far as
practicable, towards the expense of the
war.
For the amount Of contributions which
have been levied in this form, refer you
to the accompanying Reports of the Sec
rotary of War, and the Secretary of the
Navy by which it appears that sum ex-
ceeding half million of dollars has been
collected. 1lr
This amount would undoubtedly have been
much larger but for the difficulty of keeping open
COMMUNICATION between the coast and the interior,
so at to enable the owners ofthe merchandise i'm
ported to transport and vend it to the inhabitants
if the country. So.
It is confidently expected that this difficulty
will, to great extent, be removed, By our in
creased forces which have been sent to the field.
/ Measures have recently been adopted BY which
internal well as external revenue in all placesi
proprated 10 the use ofour army and navy. Thep o-
icy Of the levying upon the enemy contributions
in every form consistent with the laws of nations,
which it may be practicable for our military COM
manders to adopt, should be rigidly enforced, and
orders to this effect have accordingly been given.
By such policy at the same time that our own
treasury will be relieved from heavy drain, the
Mexican people will be made to feel the burthcns
of the war; the readilyto require their rulers
i to accedc to lust peace. "
After the adjournment of the last session of
Congress- events transpired, in the prosecution of
the war, which in my judgment, required greater
number of troops in the field than had been antc-
ipated. The strength ofthe army was according
" increased, by accepting the services of all the
Volunteer forces authorized by the act of the 18th
of NAV, l847 without putting a construction on
act, the correction (which seriously question
ed. The volunteer forces now in the field, with
those which have been accepted, to serve twelve
months, and were discharged at the end of SER
vice, exhausts the fifty thousand men authorized
by that act. Had been clear that proper con-
struction of the act warranted the services of an
additional number they would have been called,
and accepted but doubts existing upon the point
tho power was not exercised.
1t is deemed important that Congress should,
at an early period of their session confer authority
to raise an additional regular force to serve during
the war with Mexico, and to be discharged upon
invite the attention OF Congress to the views
presented BY the Secretary of War his report up
on this subjects recommend that authority be
giveu by the law to call for and accept an addl-
tional number of volunteers, to be exercised at
such times and to such an extent, as the emer-
gency may require
In prosecuting the War with Mexico whilst
the utmost care has been taken to avoid every
Just cause of complain the part of neutral ma
| md hau haaO niCnn
leges have been granted to their commerce i'll the
ports or the enemy in our MILITARY occupapation
The difficulty with the Brazilian govern
ment, which, at that time, threatened to
Interrupt the friendly relationship existing
between the two countries, will, | trust
be speedily adjusted. have received in
formation that minister extraordinary
and plenipotentiary has been appointed by
his Imperial Majesty, and it is hoped he
will come prepared to adjust all. remain
ing differences between the two govern
ments in manner acceptable to BOTH
In the meantime, have every reason to
believe that nothing will occur to inter
rupt our amicable relations with Brazil.
| 1t has been my constant effort to main
tain and cultivate the most intimate rela-
tons of friendship with all the independ-
ent powers of South America; and this
policy has been attended with the happiest
results. 1t is true that the settlement and
payment Of many just claims against
these nations has long been delay ed
The peculiar position in which they have
been placed, and the desire on the
part Of my predecessor, as myself to
grant them the utmost indulgences, has
hitherto prevented these claims from be-
ing urged in q manner strict Justice de-
mands. The time has arrived when they
ought to be finally adjusted, liquidated,
and enforced, and efforts are now making
for that purpose.
1t is proper to inform you that the gov
eminent Of Peru has in good faith paid
the first instalments ofthe indemnity of
thirty thousand each, and the greater por-
ton of the interest due thereon, in execu-
ton of the Convention between that gov
eminent and the United States, the ratifi-
cations of which were exchanged at Lima,
on the 31st October, 1916. The Attor-
ney General Of the United States, early
in August, last, completed the adjudication
4 of the claims under this Convention, and
made his report thereon, in Pursuance to
the act of the 9th of August, 1916. The
sum to which the claimants are respective
I Iy entitled will be paid on demand at the
| Treasury.
| invite the early attention of Congress
to the present condition of our citizens in
China. Under our treaty with that pow.
err, American citizens are withdrawn from
the jurisdiction, whether civil or criminal,
of the Chinese government-and placed
under that of our public functionaries in
that country-for by these alone can our
citizens be tried and punished for the com.