Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1847-01-06
From the Charleston Mercury.

adopted Resolution, requesting the
President $50 communicate any and al
> orders or Instructions 10 General Taylor
f Gen. Wool, Gen. Kearney, Captain
Sloal, Captain Stockton, or any Other
offcet of the government, in relation 10
the establishment or organization OF
} civil government in any portion of the
territory Of Mexico which has or may
be taken possession of by the army, or
navy of the United States: also; what
forms of government each officers, or
either Of them, MAY have established
and organized; and whether the Presi-
dent has approved and recognized said
governments" the President on Tues
day communicated this Message.
To the H'use Of Representatives
oftie United STATES
In compliance with the request con
tanned in the resolution Of the House Of
Representatives Of the 18Th inst, |
communicate herewith reports from the
Secretary of War and Secretary of The
Navy, with the documents which ac.
company them.
These documents contain all the
"orders or Instructions to any military.
naval, or other officer ofthe government
''in rela lion to the establishment or
organization Of civil government in any
portion Of the territory of Mexico, which,
has or nigh, be taken possessionof BY
the army or navy oflhs United States"
These orders and Instructions were
give. 10 regulate the exercise of the
rights of beii,go.snt engaged in actual
war, over such portions Of the i'c"%
of our enemy as, by military conquest,
nigh he taken possession of, and be
occupied by our armed forccd-rigIls
necessarily resulting from state orwar
and clearly recognized by I'll" laws of
nations. This was all the authority
Which could BE- delegated 10 our military
ard naval commanders, and its exercise
was indispensable to The secure occu-
patton ard possession of territory ofthe
LenemYswhicll might be conquered, The,
regulations authorized were temporary,
and dependent ON the rights acquired by
CONQUEST. They were authorized as
beIligerent rights, andwcre 10 he carried
into effect by military or naval officers.
They were but the amcliora'lnn Of
maria! law, which modern civilization
requires, and were due as we'll 10 lhr
security Of The conquest, as to the in
habitanls ofthe conquered territory.
Tie documents communicated also
contain the reports of several highly
meritorious officers of our army and
navy, who have conquered and taken
possession Of portions oI the enemy's
territory.
Among the documents accompanying
the report Of the Secretary OF War,
will BIZ founda "iorm Of governmc Il"
established and organized by the militia
ry commander who conqured and occu-
pied with his furces the territory oI New
Mexico. This document was received
at the War Department, IN the latter
part OF last month, aHd (As will be per-
ceived by the report Of the Secretary
of War; was moi, for tue reason stated
by that officer, brought to my notice
until after my annual message Of the S'l
inst, was communicated 10 Congress.
Ii is declared on It's face to be a
+ temporary government of said territory
but there are portions Oft which purpor
to establish and organize a permanen
territorial government OF the Unnet
, States over the territory, and TO impair
! to the inhabitants political rights which
under the constitution Of the Unile'
States, can be enjoyed permanent.
only by citizens of the United States
! These have no, been "appr"ved ant
d recognized by me. Such organize'
;. regulations as have been established il
), amy ofthe conquered territories for tn
8 s.cutity of our conqeusl, for the preser
!. va,ion of order, for the protection Q
j. The rights of the Inhabitants and for DE-
y ! priving the enemy Of the adv ntages G
= these territories while the military pos
= session of them by the forces OF III
> United States continue, will be recog
e nizedand approved
d I, will be apparent, from the report
IS of the officers who have been require
'i by the success which has crowned thei
J. arms to exercise the powers OF tempors
~ ~ ry government over the conquered tel
10 h ritories, that if any excess Of power hi
!. been exercised, The departure has bee
e the offspring Of a patriotic desire to q,
TX to the inhabitants the privileges an
immunlies So cherished by the peep
Al.