Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1847-01-08
To the House of Representatives. Of the Q. S.

To the House Of RePreSentdhreS of the I. y.
In compliance with the request contained in
the Resolution Of the 18Th inst. ! communicate
herewith reports from the Secretary Of War and
Secretary of the Navy with the documents which
accompany them. These documents contain
all orders or instructions "to any officer OF the
Government in relation 10 the establishment or
organization Of Civil Government in any portion
of the territory Of Mexico which has or might be
taken possession Of by the Army or Navy Of the
United States"
These orders and Instructions were given TO
regulate the exercise ofthc rights Of the belIiger.
ents engaged in actual war over such portions of
The territory ofour enemy as by military con.
quest might be taken possession Of ard be &C.
cuped by our armed crccs-riehs necessarily
resulting from a state Of war and clearly recog-
missed by the laws of nations. This was all the
authority VIII ch could be delegated to our militia
ry and naval commanders, and It's exercise was
indispensable 10 the secure occupation and pos
session ofterri'ory of the enemy which might be
conquered. The regulations authorized were
temporary AMI dependent on lha rights acqur-
| cd by conquest.
! They were authorized as baligcrcrt rights, and
were 10 BE- carried into eff, ct by Military or Ma.
val officers. They wsr, but tha amelioralion OF
Of Martial law which modern civilization reGui,
| red, and were due rs we'll to the security Of tho
conquest as TO the inhabitants of the conquered
TERRITORY.
! The documents communicated also contain
the reports orseveral highly mcrilorious officers
ofou Army and Navy who have conquered and
taken possession ofporons Of the encmy's terri,
tory.
| Among the documents accompanying the Re.
port of the Secretary Of War, will be found ga
form ofgovernment," "established and organi.
zpd" by The military commander who conquer
ed and occupied with his forces the territory OF
new Mexico. This document was received al
the War Department in the latter part Of the last
month, and, as will be perceived by the report Of
the Secretary Of War, was not, for the reasons
stated by that officer, brought 10 my notice until
after my annual message Of the 9TH inst. was
Communicated 10 Congress.
1t is declared on its face to be Temporary
government of the said territory" but there are
portions Oft which purporl 10 establish and or.
ganize" permanent territorial government o
the United States over the territory and to i'm.
part to its inhabitants political right which under
the Constitution of the United States can be en-.
IJO(Nu PCiIhdlCH'l) On'J Wy NlhGGlo W 'hC OullCu
States. These have not been approved and re.
cognized by nc.
Such organized relations as have been estab'
lished in any ofthe conquered territories for the
security Of our conquest, for the preservation o.
order, for The protection Of the rights Of the in
habilants, and for depriving the enemy Of the ad
vantages Of these territories, while the military
possession of them by the forces of the United
States continue, will be recognized and appro'
we'd.
twill he apparent from the reports of the Off
GERS who have been required by The success
which has crowned their arms 10 exercise The
powers oftemporary Government over the con
querad territories, that funy excess of power
has been the offspring of a patriotic desire tC
give to the inhabitants the privileges and immuin
ties so cherished by the people Of our own coun
try, and which they believed calculated TO i'm
prove their condition and promote their Prosperi
Ity.
Any such excess has resulted in no practical in
jury, but can and will be early corrected in
manner to ALLEVIATE as little as possible the goo
feelings of the inhabitants orihe conquered terri
tories. JAMES II. POLh.
Washington, 22d Dec. 1916.