Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1847-12-16

session OIL congress-, events transplred
in the prosecution Of the war which, in
my judgment ,required a greater number
oftroops in the field than had been an
ticipated. The strensth of the arm,
was accordingly increased, by sac
cepting" the services of all the volun
eer forces authorized by the, act Of tn.
thirteenth Of May, 1916, without put
ting a construction on that act, the cor
rectness of which was seriously ques-
Itioned. The volunteer forces row in
the field, with those which had been
"accepted," 10 "Serve for twelve
mon,hs,' and were discharged at the
end of their term of service, exhaust
the fifty thousand men authorised by
that act. Had it been clear thai a
proper construction Of the act warrant
ed it, the services of an additional
number would have been called for
and accepted; but doubts existing
upon this point, the power was not
exercised.
1t is deemed important tina: Con-
gress should, at an early period of
their session, confer the authority TO
raise an additional regular force to
serve during the war with Mexico,
and to be discharged upon the conclu-
sion and ratification of a treaty ofpeace.
| invite the attention of Congress to
the views presented by the Secretary
Of War in his report upon this sub
ject.
l recommend, also, that authority
be given by law to call for and accept
the services of an additional numb of
volunteers, to be exercised at such
time and to such extent as the eme,-
gencies of the service may require.
In prosecuting the war with Mexico,
whilst the utmost care has been taken
to avoid every just cause of complaint
on the part of neutral nations, and
none has been given, liberal privileges
have been granted to their commerce
in the ports of the enemy in our mill
tary occupation.
The difficulty with the Brazilian
government, which at one time threat
ened to interrupt the friendly relations
between the two countries, will, !
trust, be speedily adjusted. l have re-
ceived information that an envoy ex-
traordinary and minister plenipotentia-
nv to the United States will shortly be
appointed by his Imperial Majesty;
and it is hoped that he will come in
structed and prepared to adjust all re-
naming differences between the two
governments in manner acceptable
and honorable to both. In the mean
time, I have every reason to believe
that nothing will occur to interrupt our
amicab|e relations with Brazil.
1t has been my constant effort to
maintain and cultivate the most init
mate relations of friendship with all
the independent Powers of South A
merica; and this policy has been at
tended with the bappiest results. tits
true, that the settlement and payment
of many just claims of American citi-
liens against these nations have been
long delayed. The peculiar position
IN which they have been placed, and
the desire on the part of my predeces-
sors, as we'll as myself, to grant them
he utmost indulgence, have hitherto
prevented these claims from being u:g-
ed in a manner demanded by strict
Justice. The time has arrived when
they ought to be- finally adjusted and
'iquidated, and efforts are now making
for that purpose.
1t is proper to inform you that the
government of Peru has in good faith
paid the first two instalments of the in.
demnity of thirty thousand dollars
each, and the greater portion of the in
terest due thereon, in execution of the
convention between that. government
and the United States, the notifications
of which were exchanged at Lima on
the thirty-frst of October, 1886
The Attorney General Of the United
States, early in August last, compile
ted the adjudication of the claims un.
der this convention, and made his re-
port thereon, in pursuance Of the act
of the eighth of August, 1916. The
sumsto which the claimants are respect
lively entitled will be paid on demand
at the treasury.
invite the early attention of Con-
gress TO the present condition of our
citizens in China. Under our treaty
with that power, American citizens
are withdrawn from the jurisdiction,
whether civil or criminal, of the Chi
nese government, and placed under
that -four public func,ionaries in that
country. BY these alone can our citi-
zens be tried and punished for the
commission of any crime; by these
alone can questions be decided between
them, involvingthe rights of person