The Mississippi Creole. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1841-1851, 1847-01-16
WASHINGTON. Dec, q, 1876.

TO he House Of Representatives Of the q s.;
In compliance with the request obtained 10
the resolution OF the House Of Representatives,
Of the 18th inst, | communicate herewith the
reports from the Secretary Of WOr and the
Secretary Of the Navy, with the documents
which accompa ~ them.
These documents contain all the "orders or
instructions TO any military, naval, or other
officer Of the Government in relation TO the es-
t%abIishmeRt or organization of civil govern
mentin any portion Of the territory of Mexico
which has ormight be taken possession Of by
the army ornavy of the United States,n
These orders and instructions were given TO
regulate the exercise of the rights Of the bell
hgerents engaged in actual war over such por-
tons of the territory Of our enemy as, by mill
,ary conquest, might 'be taken possession Of
and be occupied by our armed t~orcos-rights
necessarily resulting from a state Of war, and
clearly recognised by the laws of nations.--
This all the authority which could be dele
gated to our military and naval commanders,
and its exercise was Indispensable TO the se.
cure occupation and possession Of territory of
the enemy, which might be. conquered, The
regulations authorized were temporary and de-
pendant on the rights acquired BY conquest
They were authorized as belligerent rights,
and were to be carried into effect by military
or naval officers. They were but the ameliora-
ton of martial law, which modern civilization
requires, and were due as well to the security
Of the conquest as to the inhabitants Of the
conquered territory.
The documents communicated also contail
the reports Of several highly meritorious officer
Of our army and navy, who have conquered an
taken possession Of portions Of the enemy
territory.
Among tho documents accompanying III
report IF the Secretary Of War, will be loun
a "form of governments" Established and OF
!. ganixedn by the military commander who con
! quered and occupied, with his forces, the ter
= ritory of New Mexico. This document wa
- received at the War Department in the latte
part of the last month, and, as will be percei'
ed by the report of the Secretary Of War, WI
not, for the reasons stated by that officer, bio
to my notice until after my annual message
-" the 9th instant was communicated to Congress
- 1t is declared on its face to be a "tempOral
government Of the said territory" but the
are portions of it which purport to "establlf
and arr.ni1n11 n nuru,ononf IaPritOrjol nnvar
:, ment Of the United States over the territor
q and to impart to its inhabitants political RICH
which, under the constitution Of the Unite
States, can be enjoyed permanently only /
been "approved and recognised" by me. SUI
organized regulations as have been establish
T. in any of the conquered territories, for the
I'd curity of our conquests, for the preservation
order, for the protection Of the rights of
inhabitants, and for depriving the enemy
,nd the advantages of these territories while
-, military possession Of them by the forces
the United States continues, will be recogu
nm. ed and approved.
1t will be apparent from the reports Of
officers who have been required by the 81
-. cess which has crowned their r to exerc
the powers of temporary government over
conquered territories, that, if any excess
;.b- power has been exercised, the departure
nv been the offspring of a patriotic desire to G
to the inhabitants the privileges and lmmr
ties so cherished by the people of our o
country, and which they believe calculated
zon improve their condition and promote I'll
an prosperity, Any such excess has resulted
a. n no practical injury, but can and will be go
mn, corrected in a manner to ALLEVIATE as little
,ho possible the good feelings of the inhabitantI
lsd the conquered territory.
JAMES K. POLK
- ~. IA