The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1847-12-16


made to supply the troops with advantage. He
continued to pay for the articles OF supply WHICH
were drawn from the enemy's country. A.. OIL
Similar orders were given to Cen Ocol on tho on
AnrI 1917 who replied from Jaapa, on the 2Oth
NAV, 1917, that if it be expected that the army is
to support itself by forced contributions ieVea upon
the country, we may ruin and eXaSperate tne lnnap-
itants and starvc ourselves. The same dfeCtlons
were riven to him that had been to Gen. Taylor IN
this respect Cen Scott for the reasons assignedby
him also continued to pay for the articles OF supply
for the army which we're drawn from the enemy
After the army had reached the heart OF the most
wealthy mart of Mexico, it was supposed that the
obstacles which had before that time prevented ~
would not be such as to render impractlcaple tue
levy of forced contributions for Its support una On
the 1st September and again on the 9TH OctoDer'
1917 the order was repeated in dispatches ADDRESS
ed by the Secretary OF War to Gen. Scott, and his
attention was called to the Importance OF making
the enemy bear the burdens OF the war by requlr-
ing them to furnish the means oil supporting our
army; and he directed to adopt thIs pohcy, ul-
| army oC the necessary supplies. Copies OF these
dcsnatches we're forwarded to Gen. Taylor for his
government ,., 49,, ,,u,o,. toto
issuod to our military and naval commanders to
jcvvnnd collect military contribution upon all YES
sells and merchandise which might enter any OF the
ports of Mexico in our military occupation, ana TO
apply such contributions towards deIrayHg INC OK
|
quest and the laws of war, the conqucror, consult
ing his own safety convenience, may elther ex-
clude foreign commerce altogether from an such
ports or permit it upon such conditions as ne may
prescribe Before the principal ports oil Mexico
we're blockaded by our navy, the revenue derived
from impost duties, under the laws OF Mexico, was
paid into the Mexican treasury. After these ports
had fallen into our military possession, the blockade
was raised, and commerce with them permitted up
IN prescribed terms aud conditions. lheV were
onened to the trade Of all nations upon the payment
of duties more moderate in their amount than those
which had been previously levied by Mexico; ana
the revenue, which was formerly paid INTO the Mex
con treasury was directed to be collected by our
neyal md military officers and applied to the OF
orr army and navy. Care was taken that the ofil-
GERS soldiers, and sailors OF our army and navy
should be exempted from the operations OF the or
der: and rs the merchandise imported upon wnlch
the order operated must be consumed by Mexican
ctiynns the contributions eXacted were, in effect
the seizure of the public revenues OF Mexico, and
the application of them to our own use. IN direct
inc the measure the object was to compel the enemy
to contribute, as far as pracucao!e Vo""lo9 lhe ca
penses of the war.
For the amount of contributions which have beer
levied in this FORM refer you to the accompanying
cnorts of the Secretary of War and to the Secrcta
ry Of the Navy, by which 1t appears tllat sum OK
crndinp half million of dollars has been collected
This amount would undoubtedly have been muct
larger, but for the difficulty of keeping open th'
, communication between the coast ana inc interior
so as to enable the owners OF the ncTct"luse III
, nortad TO TRANSPORT and vcnd it to the lnhabltan
IF fine country 1t is confidently expected that this
difficulty will to great extent, be soon removed b,
our increased forces which have been sent 10 III
field. ,,,,.,
the internal AS well as external revenues of Mexico
in oll rIaces in our military occupation, will b.
seized and appropriated to the use of our army AM
navy.
The policy of levyng upon the, enemy contrbu
tpNt wit
, tions which il NAV be practicable for our milltar
q commanders to adopt, should, in my judgment, b
rigidv enforced and orders to this effect have &C
cordingly been given. BY such policy, at tn
. same time that our own treasury will be relieve
from n heavy drain, the Mexican people will b
made to feel the burdens of the war, and, consultin
their own interests may be induced the more readl
IL TO require their rulers TO nccedc to Just peace
, After the adjournment of the last session OF Con
ces4 events TRANSFERRED in the prosecution OF the wa
, Which in my Judgment, required greater numoe
of troops in the field than had been anticipated
The strength of the army was accordingly increase
: by "acceptng' the services of all the voluntee
q forces authorized by the act OF the thirteenth
NAV, 1916, without putting a construction on tina
act the correctness Of which was seriously question
: cd The volunteer forces now III the hela, WIZ
q those which had been accepted" to serve 10
e twolye months" and were discharged Mt the end G
- their term of service exhaust the fifty thousan
o men authorized by that act. Had it been clear ths
6 II proper construction of the act warranted IT, tn
services of IN additional number would have bee
i called for and accepted but doubts existing upo
this point the power was not exercised.
p II i deemed important that Congress should,
~ an early period of their session, confer the autholt
= tn raise an additional regular force TO serve durn
d the war with Mexico, and to be discharged upon N
+ conclusion and ratification of treaty Of peace.
Invite the attention of Congress to the views pr
:, sented by the Secretary Of War in his report upo
v this subject.
= rcc%mmend. nso that authority be given b
Z t1Nn N-tNng f,t ar
tional number Of volunteers to be exercised at sue
g time and to such extent rs the emergencies OF u
T. service may require
4 In prosecuting the war with Mexico, whilst Il
y utmost care has been taken to avoid every lu
J., cause of complaint on the part of neutral nation
c and none has been given, liberal privileges ma
+ been granted to their commerce i'll the ports OF Il
e enemy in our military occupation.
a We have thus far copied entire, the Message
u the President thinking the readers of the Voic
Id who have not seen that document in other papcl
II would like to see what Mr.. Polk says his We
- about the war with Mexico. As the remainder
&c the Message occupies about the same space as t
ie part coped and is not Of character particular
u interesting at this time, we have thought best
j. give the points embraced, rather than the whole.
Il The first alluson is to the government of Brazil
ID tho threatened difficulties but the President belicv
is matters will be satisfactorily adjusted.
Our relations with the Independent Powers
ID South America are amicable, although some clair
p against those governments remain unsettled;
al there is prospect of an Immediate adjustment
rs In regard to our relations with China, the Pre-
IN dent says: According to present treaty stipulation
IL an American criminal not be tried in China,
cd cent before an American tribunal, and intima
ar that Congress should Immediately adopt measu
ne for the trial and punishment of offenders in that gu
rit ter, who commit their dcpredations under the ma
of Americans lest serious difficulties occur betwC
)S- Al, ,,,,o,,+. 80 C1,;,o and tho Ipited Sta+es
of 'o S"N'''''''''" :, =,
* Our treaties with the Sublime Porte, TripOli, |
'p- mis-, Morocco, and Muscat require legislation