Indiana State sentinel., 1847-12-10


biating foEbesance, The Mexican people ganealy
hostile the United States and avaled themselves of
troops Large dumbeIs Of the population up arms
and engaging in guerrilla warfare, robbed and murdered IN
this most cruel manner individual soldiers small paes
whom accident other separated from the body
Of the Bands Of the gueas ard robbers infested
the roads, haTassed trains, aBd whenever within
their power, cut off supplies.
The Mexicans having themselves 10 be wholly
incapable OF approaching foIbearance and beialy,
was deemed proper change the Of conducting
making Them feel its pressure according TO the usages
observed under similar circumstances TO all other civilized
nations.
Accordingly early 22d September 1885, instructions
given by the Secretary OF War Major
draw supplies for army fIom The enemy paying fo them
and to require contributions fol support In that way he
satisfied he could get supplies for hi, forces
In directing execution M Instructions much was
necessarily left the commanding officer who was best ac
quanted with the circumstances which he surround
ed, the of the army aud the praccabty enforc
| ing the
Gen. Taylor, the 26h of October 1876. replied from
Monterey that would have been impossible hitherto and
so now, 10 sustain the army by forced contributions for
supplies For the assigned by him. he did adopt
the policy of his instructions but declared his readiness
So should the army IN its future operations reach portion
OF the country which may be made 10 supply the troops
advantage He continued 10 pay for the articles of supply
which were drawn from the enemy's country.
Similar instructions issued 10 Major General
Scott the Sd of April, lS47 who replied from jail
aPa on the 2Oh of May 1S47 that, if it be expected
that the army is to support itself by forced contrbu-
ton, levied the country, may ruin and exasper-
ate the inhabitants and ourselves. The same
direction was given TO him that had been TO General
Taylor. In this report. General Scott for the rea-
assigned by him. still continued pay for arti-
cles Of supply for the army which were drawn from
| the enemy.
AfteI the army had reached the heart of the most
wealthy portion of Mexico il was supposed that the
obstacles, which had before that time prevented
would not be such TO render mpracticable the
levy of forced contributions for its support On the
LIST of September and the 9th of October 1S47 the
order was repeated in dispatches addressed by the
Secretary OF War TO Gen. Scott; and his attention
again called to the Importance of making the
enemy bear the burdens of the by requiring them
TO furnish the means Of supporting army; and
he directed TO adopt this policy unless by doing
so there danger of deprivng the army of the ne
cessary supplies. Copies Of these dispatches were
forwarded TO Gen. Taylor for his government.
On the 3lst of March last | caused an order to be
issued to military and naval commanders to levy
and collect military contribution upon all vessel.
and merchandise which gbt enter any of the ports
= of Mexico in military occupation, and to apply
such contributions towards defrayng the expenses
the By virtue of the right of conquest and the
laws of war, the conqueror, consulting his safe
u ty or convenience, may either exclude foreign com
merce altogether from all such ports permit it upor
: such terms and conditions he may prescribe.-Be
fore the principal ports of Mexico blocka6ed by
our navy the revenues derived from import duties un
der the laws of Mexico were paid into the Mexican
If treasury After their ports had fallen our hands
d and military possession the blockade was raised anC
commerce with them permitted upon prescribed terms
= and conditions. They open to the trade of al
nations upon tie payment of duties moderate ii
o their amount than those which had been previously
Is levied by Mexico; and the revenue which was for
ID mery paid into the Mexican treasury directed t
l. be collected by military and naval officers ant
1t applied TO the Of the army and the navy. Carr
q q taken that the officers, soldiers, and sailors 0
= army and navy should be exempted from the ope
4 rations of the ORDER and as the merchandise import
i ed upon which the order operated must be consume,
o by Mexican citizens, the contributions in efec
the seizure of the public revenues of Mexico and th
application Of them to our own use. In directing
this the object to compel the enemy t.
contribute for practicable towards the expenses
: : of the
For the amount of contributions which have beer
l. levied in this form refer you TO the accompanying
reports of the Secretary of War and the Secretary
the Navy by which II appears that exceeding
l. half million Of dollars has been collected.
N This amount would undoubtedly have been mucf
larger but for the difficulty of keeping open commu
nicaon between the and Interior so as to ena
bic the of the merchandise imported to trans
port and vend it to the inhabitants of the country
ID 1t is confidently expected that this will, grea
st extent, be removed by increased force:
is which have been sent to the field.
l. Measures have recently been adopted by which in
ernal as well as external revenues IN all places II
VI our military possession will be received and appro
g prated to the of our army and navy. The policy
of the evying upon the enemy contributions, in
lie ry form consistently with laws of nations which i
may be practicable for military commanders tC
re adopt, should be rgdly enforced and orders to t:
y effect have accordingly been given By such a poll
- cy, at the time that treasury will bC
: delivered from heavy drain, the Mexican people
will be made to feel the burdens of the war; and con
" sutng their interests, may be induced the more
r readily to require their rulers to accede TO jus
N peace.
adjournment of the session Congress-
transped the prosecution Of the which judgment
required greater number Of troops in the field than had been
by accepting services auhoed b.
the act Of lh May o4S without PGtg construction % Sa tina
in the field with those which had been accept
discharged the end of their
service fifty by
Had been clear that proper construction OF the act waane
the additional number they would have been ca
and doubts existed upon this point The power
D. not exercised.
their confer authority raise additional
the with Mexico, and be discharged upon
Congress the views presented by the Secretary Of War hi
report upon this subject that authority be given E
exercised at such time and to such an extent as the emergency
In prosecuting the war Mexico, whilst
been taken avoid just of complaint the
neutral naons and has been given liberal privileges av
Guilty with the Brazilian which time threat
le wl trust speedily adjusted have information
that minister extraordinary and penpOenay has heen appoint
r. pared adjust
acceptable and honorable to both In the ime
every believe that nothing viii nerup
amieabe relations with Brazil has been constant efor
maintain cultivate the intimate relations friendship
with all the independent powers OF SCUM Americas ana TINS p
been attended with the applest results IL true thai th
have Ion % & pay d1IareS ~ % Ths ncur noon in which the,
have been placed and the desire on the part o. my