The Arkansas banner., 1847-12-20


 Fer the ssssua, oF eeasrihutsOns which have been levied ia this torm rsseF you to the aeeomPaayIax reports of ths Seerelaty q waF aud the SeeretarS of the Navy, by wtieh it appears that . sun ex- eeeag half milliDh d aoliAss has been collected
 This amount wssiti ursioabsedly have beea much larger but toF ihs d,fleaiIy of keeping open eom- Bsaeleaian between the coast and ihseror sa us to enable the owners of the merchandise imported to traaspoSt aad vend Il tO the inhabitants of the country
 IT Is confidently expected thAt this wSii, to a great extent. b. s0on removed by our iKerras- et forces which have been sent te the 6eld
 MessaFss have beea Fsesatly been sdopsea by which internal as well external revenues in al places in our miitta1y possession wisl be received and appropriated ,e ths use of cur army and navy. The policy of the levyiag upoa tbs ene,ay toatri- batioas, iR every foFm consistestly with tvs of linas which 1t may bs practicable iev orr miissry eommand4fs to adept. should be Iis idiy ,nfoseeS' and orders 10 this effect have accordingly ueen giv en. By such . policy, al the same time that our own treasury will b. delivered from heavy drain. the Mexican people will bc male to feel the hafdens of the war, and. consulting their interests, may be induced tn more readily to require ihsif rulers to aeeede to peace.
 After the adjournment of the last session of Con- gress events ranspired. in the prosecution of the war, which. n my judgment. required a greater number of troops in the field than had been antie pated. The strength of the army was accordingly increased, by accepting the servcees of ell the vol unteer forces authorized by the act of the 9th oe May, l5]6.; without putting construction on that act, the correctness of which was seriously ques- toned. The volunteer forces now in the 6eld. with those which had been accepted, to serve twelve moaths, and were discharged at the end of their teims of service, exhaasts the hfty thousand men authoSixed by that act. Had it been clear that a proper construction of the act warranted the ser. vices of. an additional number, they would have been called and accepted; but doubts existing up- on this point the power was not exercised.
 It Is deemed important that Congress should. at an early period of their session. confer authority to raise an additional regular force to serve during the war with Mexico, and to be discharged upon the conclusion and ratification Of treaty of peace. ! invite the attention of Congress to the views pre- scnted by the Secretary of war, in his report upon this subject l recommend that authority be given by law to call for and accept additional number of volunteers to be exercised at such times, and to such an extent. as the emergency may require.
 In prosecuting the war with Mexico, whilst the utmost has been taken to avoid every just eas of complaint, on the part of neutral nations, and none has been given, liberal pr yiiiges have been granted 10 thetr commerce in the ports of the enc my in our military occupation
 The difficulty with the Brazilian government, which, at that time, threatened to interrupt the friendly relations between tue two countries, will, trust, be speedily adjusted have received infoF- nation that minister extraordinary and pienipo- tentiary has been appointed by his Imperial Ma lesty and it IS hoped he will come prepared to ad just all remaining differences between the two gov eTnnehts, ia a manner acceptable and honorable to both. In the mean time have every reason to be- lieye that aothing will 10 interrupt our amica ble relations with Brazil.
 It has been my constant effort to maintain and cultivate the most intimate relations of friendship with all inc independent powers of South America; and this policy has been attended with the happiest results. IL is true that the settiem mt and payment Of many just claims against these nations has long been delayed The peculiar position in which they have been placed, and the desire the part of my predecessor. myself to grant them the utrnast in dulgence, has hitherto prevented these claims from being urged in manner strict justice demands. The time has arrived when they ought to be finally ad. iusted liqudated. and enforced; and ei forts now making for that purpose.
 IL is proper to iaform yon that the government of Peru has in good faith paid the first instaments of the indemnity Of thirty thousand dollars each, and the greater portion of the interest due thereon in execution of the convention between that govern. ment and the United States; the ratihcatons of which were exchanged at Lima, on the 3Ist of Oc- tober, ts46. The Attorney General Of the [. s.. early Tn August last, completed the adjudication of the claims under this convention, and made his port thereon in pursuance of the act of sth August lSl6. The sums to which the claimants are res- pectively entitled will be paid. on demand, at the Treasury
 1 invite the early attention of Congress to the present condition of our citizens Tn China Under our treaty with that power. American citizens are withdrawn from the jurisdiction, whe, her civil or criminal, of the Chinese Government--and placed under thst of publlc function aries in that coun- ty-tor by these alone citizens be tried and punished for the commission of any crime. By these alone questions be decided between them, involving the rights of persons and property-and an fa he enf nfn seh they may have entered with the citizens or subjects of foreign powers. The merchant vessels of the United States, lying in the waters of the five ports O! China open to foreign commerce. are under the exclusive jurisdiction of officers of their own gov eInment. Until Congress shall establish compe- tent tribunals to try and punish crimes and to ex. ercise jurisdiction iG China American citizens there are subject to no law whatever-snd crimes may be committed with impanity; and debts contracted without means to enforce their payment. Inconve- niencies have already resulted from the omission of Congress 10 legisiafe upon the subject and still greater are apprehended The British authorities in China have already complained that this govern mert has not provided tor the punishment of crimes or the enforcement of contracts. against America an citizens. m that country whilst their government has established tribunals by which an American citzeu can recover debts due from British subjects
 Accustomed, as the Chinese are 10 summary justice, they could Bot be made to comprehend why criminals, who are citizens of the United States, should escape with impunity. in violation of treaty obligations; whilst the punishmen, of Chinese who have committed any crime against our American citizens, would be vigorously exacted. Indeed the consequences might be fatal to American citizens in China, should fragrant crime be committed by any one of them upon Chinese and punishment not follow. according to the Tequistion of the rea- ty. This might disturb, iC not destroy. our friend y relation with that Empire. and cause an inter- ruption 10 valuable commerce.
 Our treaties with the Sublime Porte. Tripoii, Tu- his, Morocco, and Museat, also require the legis- laiion of Congress 10 carry them into execution though the necessity for immediate action may no, be so urgent asrsgard to China.
 The Secretary of State has submitted sa essi. mate 10 defrsy the expenses of opening diplomatic relation with the Papai States The interesting political relations in progress in those States. well as our commercial interests. have rendered such a measure highly expeiieBt. Estimates have also been submitted Of outfits of Charges des Afiaires 10 the Republics of Gualxnals and Ecuador The manifest importance Ot cnltivatIng the most friend