The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-04-03
CITY OF WASHINGTON.
SATURDAY NIGHT, APRIL 3, Is47
MILITARY CONTRIBUTIONS.
Levyng duties In the Ports Of Mexico white in our
Possession

Levying duties In the Ports of Mexico white
Military Possession.
So long as the plan of collecting military contributions
out of the public property of Mexico to deiray in part
the expenses of the war; and in the shape of duties TO
be levied upon imports into those ports of Mexico which
we may hold in military possesson-so long as this plan
could claim be OF 'Whig" origin so long as General
Waddy Thompson deemed to be its author and so
long it merely proposed and acted upon prac
tically any such extent considerably 10 relieve
own Treasury, cripple the of Mexico-just
long the plan appeared to receive the cordial commen-
dation of the National lntelgencer. As we said day
before yesterday, agreeaby surprised find the
Federal organ endorsing SO fully scheme of operations
which the Administration had early considered and
determined to adopt We knew, indeed, that when some
months ago the same mode of procedure, as applied TO
the Ports OF California, then in possession laid
before Congress and the country the National Intelligent
cer like the othereading Federal papers, had taken no
exception to it whatsoever.
But il appears that we overestmated the consistency
of the Inelgencer and allowed too little for It's well
known sympathy with our enemies No sooner does the
plan take practical form in the announcement by the
President OF his purpose, TO carry into execution than
the Federal organ-with political morality which will
face, "A dramatic parsonage TO whom its character has
been many times before compared, both by ourselves
and -hastens back out from all its previous
commentator, and now finds the very scheme, which
was so commendable in the letter of Mr. Waddy Thomp
son, altogether questionable and odious in the official
statement OF President Polk Here is the Intelligencers
language of recantation embodyng its opinion of To-
day;
$50 far therefore, from approving, sin advance the
system OF military contributions proposed to be levied by
the President we had not right conception of what the
systom was TO be. And, now we know what sort OF
thing is 80 FAR from approving we do not like either It's
ss,rhe first thing that strikes us as we suppose it must
every reader that the President having in his letter
the Secretary of the Treasury, enumerated the powers
ISSUE his authority, orders Tor the execution OF
such powers This clearly assumes that M tue President
dent othese United States has the authority tie
King of England Tor any other king has over conquered
proceedings may be mantanabe. But i the contrary,
his power be- in this respect limited by the constitution
absolute monarcbcal power-hen there is, according to
present impressions no color for the authority here
erted by TIE President.
All this is strikngly in character. The Intellgencer,
jostled for a from its proprety by the unucky
accident OF Mr. Waddy Thompsons letter, now swings
heavily back its ancient moorngs and takes up its
tabished position, as the Mexican organ at Washington,
seuuOuS 10 Clai every poSsipie duVde ioi our cue
my in the war, and willing pervert, by all manner of
erroneous statement and inference the proceedings
own government in prosecution If the administration
gives directions to levy military contributions the pub
lie property of Mexico by military authority, and to sus-
tain the war, is accused by this patriotic journal of
violating the constitution and exercising absolute mo-
narchical power This is just the old story, only with
less plausby in it in the present instance than ever be-
fore.
The right of every begerent nation to collect by its
military authority and by the hands OF It's military agents,
imposts and duties upon such merchandise may ad
NIT into those enemy ports which it holds in military pos
session. principle of International law, established be-
yond all possibility of dispute. 1t has been repeatedly
affirmed in series of decisions by the Supreme Court of
the United States and in at least dhe of
the United States VS. Rice, which is found in Whea-
toms Reports, page 254) it unanimously affirmed By
the court as against government, and in favor
of the military authorities of Great Britain In that CASE
the court say
"By the conquest and military occupation Of Cq&iine, The
acquired TINT firm possession ttich enabled hiW 10 car
the fullest rights of Sovereignty taatptace The
sovereignty of the United States over the territory was OF
course suspended and the laws of the United States could
longer be ghuly enforced there or be obligatory upon
the inhabitants who remained and submitted to me conquer
by the surrender the inhabitants passed under tempo
ary allegiance the British government, and Were bound
by such laws and such only chose recognise and
impose From the OF the case, no other laws could
be obligatory upon them, for where there is no protection
allegiance sovereignty there be no claim to ODE
dience Castine was, therefore, during this period far
respected laws. to be deemed foreign port
and goods imported into it by the inhabitants sub
ect such duties only the British government chose
require. Such goods in correct sense imported
into the United States"
1t will be perceived that the right of the British author
tiles to collect revenue goods imported into Castine,
as here affirmed by Supreme Court, is right
deemed BY the court to arise exclusively out of the
military occupation" of that place by British military
and naval forces It recognised belligerent right,
incident to military operations depending upon military
occupation, and to be exercised by military authority.
That our government has the military right
against Mexico, is questioned But says the lntegen
GER the exercise OF this right by The President is the
sumption of absolute monarchca powers and is in viola
ton OF the constitution Upon what solitary preextcan this
allegation stand BY the constitution of the United States
the President is made commandernchef of the military
and naval forces OF the country In this character, and
as the chief Executive of the nation, it is his duty TO
carry on the war which Congress declares In him
vested the military rights of the government against
the enemy pending the war. He may upon his const-
utiona responsibility, direct the army abstain from
evying contributions upon the enemy. By the same au
horiy and upon the same responsibility, he may in the
exercise of the military rights of the government direct
the evyng Of such contributions by military and
val forces If the chest of Santa Anna be seized by
our general after battle, it is seized by virtue of
military authority vested in that officer by the President