Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-04-09

Aiedsuiy III lhis report, nave pten approved Dy
me-
You will after consulting with The Secretary OF
War, SO as 10 secure concert of action between
the War and Navy Departments, issue the neces-
sary orders 10 carry the measure proposed into
immediate effect. JAMES X. POLK.
WASHINGTON, March 81, lS47.
Navy DEPARTMENT April Sd, lS47.
Sir: have the honor 10 acknowledge the re-
| ceipi of Your communication OF The 3lst March,
u, with The papers which accompanied II; nd
respectfully inform you, thai, alter consultation
with The Secretary o. War, have addressed 10
the officers commanding The naval forces OF The
United Slales in The Pacific ocean and in the
Gulf OF Mexico respectively, letters OF instruction
conforming TO your directions, oi which here
with enclose copy.
have the honor 10 be, very respectfully, your
obedenl servant, ]. Y. MASON.
To the PREsIpENT.
Navy DEPARTMENT, April 3, ls47.
SIa: On the receipt Of intelligence of the mill
iary conquest and occupation OF California by
the forces of The United States, Commodore
Stockton, in command on that station, was IN
slrucled BY orders from this department under
date OF the 5h November last, 10 admit The COIN
merce oil our own ci,izsns and OF neurals, eX.
GLIDING conlraband, into such ports and places as
were in actual military occupation, on The pay
ment OF moderate duties, within the limits pre-
scrbcd bv The tariff laws Of the United States
After The occupation OF MaamoTas, and subse-
quenuy of Tampico, instructions were given in
regard 10 The import and export trade Of those
places. By those instructions, the import trade
was confined 10 carsoes in American bottoms,
which had paid duties in cusIonl-house OF The
United States and which, without drawback,
we're cleared or lranshipped to one OF the ports
so occupied by our forces Mexico still obsIi-
naiely refuses 10 negotiate for The restoration oil
peace. The President has determined 10 place
the trade Of all such porls and places oil The enc
nv in the Pacific ocean and The Gulf OF Mexi-
CO, AS are or MAY be in our actual military occu.
paion, on footing mole favorable TO neutral
commerce and better calculated 10 secure con-
ribulion 10 be used in carrying on the war, and
in relief OF our own treasury. The consldera-
lions which have induced the President 10 direct
this order in the exercise OF bellieerent right,
are fully stated in the papers, copies OF which are
| herewith enclosed. lie has awaited himself OF
Inc commercial knowledge and practical ac-
| enainiancc with The subject OF trade 81 me sec
retary OF The Treasury, and the officers attached
10 the Treasury Department, for the details oil
his orders through The War and Navy Depart
menis, for military duty, under an acknowledged
army and navy, he has approved The schedule,
and makes il obligatory on you in carrying his
orders into effect. They derive no authority
| from the Treasury Department, which has no
control over The snhecr, but having been exan'-
ined and adopted b. the President; he has deter
mined 10 cause Them 10 Re carried into effect by
the officers OF The army and navy, in The occupa-
lion oil spch portions Of the enemys territory
Thus adopted and made public our own citizens
and neutras have full notice Of The terms on
which their trade will be admitted, and our Off
GERS furnished with safe guide, 10 protect them
agains, the consequences oil want OF practical
knowledge and the confusion incident 10 want
OF uniformity and system.
In conformity 10 his directions, now instruct
you 10 cause the system IL De carried into eHect,
with due observance OF the schsduleof aTiiclesto
be admitted, oil the rates oidny prescribed and OF
| the regulations prepared Al the Treasury Depart
panmenl, which have received the Presidents ap-
p.oya In regard 10 the regulations, deem II
necessary only 10 add TO This general reference,
that You will give 10 The thirteenth liberal inter
probation. TIE policy Of the whole system is 10
obtain contribution from the people OF Mexico,
BY The imposition OF an indirect cxaction from
them and il is desired that our own brave otfi
GERS soldiers. sailors and marines, shall bear no
part Of this burden. The article has been care
fully prepared 10 protect these mertorious men
from any increase Of price ny reason OF The duty,
and you WILL in its execution So construe II as TO
accomplish this result, without giving TO The suit
lers The actual benefit Of drawback on articles not
sold 10 our own officers and men for their USE
Where a port or place is in our possession,
and is earrisoned by land force, the command
ing officer of which is not below the rank OF colo
mel, The duty Of collecting and accounting tor the
duties will be performed under bis authority and
direction, the naval force present afordng Ill The
aid in lis power TO enforce The collection OF the
duties Al all other porls where naval force is
present, The duty will be performed by the senior
naval officer present, under your direction; but il
in your operations against the enemy, or by stress
OF weather or other accident, The naval force is
Withdrawn, The performance OF this duty will de-
volye on the highest army officer on duty whatev-
er may be his rank. When you have reason 10
believe that the public service will be best sub
served by such course at any particular porl
where, under these instructions, The naval officer
| present would be authorized to act you will, by
orders 10 such naval officer, direct that he shall
leave the performance OF The duty in the hands o.
The army officer in command OF such port or place.
You will use the most diligent care 10 see that
the moneys collected by officers under your com
mand are accounted Tor and paid over al short
intervals according TO The regulations for public
USE 10 the pursers, or discussing officer OF The
terest BY paying over 10 one or The other. You
will require that lie receipts OF The officer 10
whom such payment shall be made are properly
| atesIed as vouchers. You will cause separate
weekly accounts in detail 10 be returned 10 you,
showing The receipts, from whom and for what,
| and The payments Of money by the officers under
your command respectively charged with III. col
lection OF duties, and transmit 10 this department,
after your approval, such accounts, with gene
raj statement, al least once month.
The disbursins officers 10 whom the moneys
collected may be paid will be required 10 settle
separate accounts, and be held 10 strict account
ability for the same. The money so collected
and paid over, will be subject 10 disbursement on
public account Tor The army or navy, in the pro-
secu,ion Of the war, under the direction OF the Of
6cer OF The army or navy, under whose orders The
di.bnrsing officer may be acting.
Il is possible, that in the practical execution OF
these orders, notwithstanding The care with which
they have been prepared, you may find that mod
| ifcaions may be judicious in attaining The great
objects in view; if SO, you will suggest them for
consideration by The department.
| The President directs me 10 impress on you,
and the officers under your command, his earnest
desire thai the duties now imposed shall be per.
formed by the officers OF The army and navy in a
spiri, of cordial cooperation and good will, that
all collision may be avoided, and tina, The utmost
care be observed to prevent confusion in the &C.
counts,
Il is obviously necessary means Of giving full
effect 10 this system, that The ports OF the enemy
through which supplies may enter for their cons
sumption, must, as far as practicable, be seized
and held by US. Alter the anticipated success OF
the Joint altacl, on Vera Cruz, il is expected that
you will employ the forces under your command
in accomplishing these objects.
You will vigorously blockade such ports asyou
may mol deem il besllo capture and hold that, ex-
cluded from them, lawful foreign commerce seek
ing ingress into Mexico may readily find admis-
sion through these ports held by Us, on the mod
crate and reasonable conditions imposed.
Thus, by holding those which can be most az
vaniaseousy occupied, and blockading the other
ports on the Mexican coast, The whole commerce
for The supply OF Mexico must pass through our
lines, and pay 10 us The contributions which it is
the purpose of the President 10 exact from The