The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1847-04-15
OFFICIAL PAPERS.
Fr0m the lVaslington Union d Arrll !. lsl1

From the Washington Union Of April /, ls47.
To the Secretary ofthe Treasury:
SIR The GoyeTnmenl OF Mexico hav.
ing repeatedly rejected The friendly over
lures Of tie United States TO open nego,la-
tons with a view 10 the restoration Of
peace, and souud policy aud Just regard
to the interest OF our own country require
that the enemy should be made, far as
practicable, 10 bear the expenses OF a war
Vi which they are the authors, and which
they obsIinatey persist 10 pfotacung
II is the right Of the couqueror TO levy
contributions upon he enemy IN their sea.
ports, towns, or PROVINCES, which may be
ia his military possession by conquest, and
10 apply the same 10 detray the expenses Of
tho war. TIE couquefor possesses the
, r,ghl also 10 establish temporary military
government, over such seaporis, towns, or
provinces, and 10 preserlLe The conditions
aud restrictions u.on Ah ch commerce with
such places may be permitted. lie may,
~ hrs discretion, eIc.u ie oil trade Or al
mt, Without limitation or Tesiricton Or in.
pose erms, the observance OF which Uill be
The condition OF carrying II GA Oae OF
these conditions nav be the payment Of
prescribed rate u duties On tonnage and
imports.
la the exercise Of these unquesuoned
rizhts OF war, have, On iuIl consideration,
determined 10 order that oil the ports or
places 10 Mexico shtch nov are, or hefeal.
Ter may be, IN the &c ual possession Of our
and aBi naval forces by conquest, shall be
opened, shie our military occupation may
continue, to the commerce Of all neutral
nations, as well as Jur own, in articles not
conIrabaud OF war, upon he payment Of
prescribed rates OF dunes, which will be
made known and go orced by cur military
aud naval commanders.
While The adoption of this policy will be
TO impose burden On the enemy, aud at
Tue same time 10 depuye them o. the reye.
nue. TO be derived from trade, al such ports
or places, as vel as 10 secure Il to our.
selves, whereby the expenses OF the war
mss be dImIGisaed-a jusliesard % Tie gen.
ersl Interest Of commerce, sud the obvious
advantages OF uniformity 10 the exercise d
these beilserent rights, requires that well.
considered regulations aud restrictions
should be prepared tor the guidance q
those Who may De charged wi,a carrying Il
into effect.
You are therefore instructed to examine
The existing Mexican tariff d duties and
report to me a schedule oil articles Vi trade,
to be admitted at such ports or places as
may al any time b. 10 our military posses.
son, SI,h such rates Of duties on them, aud
also ca Tonnage, as vii be likely TO pro.
d1ce the greatest amount Of re snue. You
vii also Communicate The CONSIDERATIONS
which may recommend Inc scale OF dunes
winch you may prepare, AMI : II subm.t
such regulations as yol may dee n adylsl.
be 10 order to enforce their collection.
, As the levy OF The cou;ris u;on proposed
= IS military night, derived from the las,
Of Nations he collection ana disbursement
2 81 the duties will be made under the order
u Of the Secretary OF War aad he Secfetatr
Of The Navy, By The military and naval CON
+! mandefs at The ports or places IN Mexic,
winch may be 10 possession Of orr arms
} The report required Is therefore necessary
IN order TO enable ms TO give The prope
= direction. 10 the War aud Navy D-part
Z neu.'.
JAMES X POLK
a WAsmSaroS, March -, ls47
e TarxsrKg DEf4araESr, Mtfru 80, 1917.
4 Sin Your Instfucuous d ta= 23i lnsf
e have been received 5y tbs Department, an,
10 conformity thereto present you here
/, ailh, for your Consideration, a scale Of d.
I. ties proposed 70 Lc collected a. a m,Atar,
contribution durlas the var, n he ports {
Mexico, ~ possess Of our army or "a
w BY cualges', VIA equations Tor the as
a ceraamem and collection If such dallut
IS together +" III The reasons ahIch appear {
:, me 10 recommend their adoption.
10 lils clear that Sc mus either adopt on
i 2wu tariff or that Of Mexico, 81 establish
b.. new system Of du'es. Our oantanf c0uli
not be adopted, because the Mexican ex
h pJ.,s and imports are 50 q tiefeu! ,gom on
l.. oga that 1 l=rsHi rates oI luucs are lndjs
il. peusaJis IN order to collect tue largest rev
d eNue. Thus, upon many articles produces
Z. 10 great aJuudauce artg, duties must b
Il. imposed at the I1wc1t rare in order to CO
III leCI Guy revenue whereas many OF III
IS sanIo articles are not produced N Mexics
e.. or 10 very uncomfortable extent, and oui
therefore bear tasfe q mech hj.agf tGl
a i5r revenue. great change Is also rem
u dcted necessary by the proposed exactel
re OF duties 90 all imports to any Mexca
4. port "a oar possession from ans other Mex
>. lcau port occupied by ~ ia The sane man
;. ner. Ihts measure would largely lncteas
$, The revenue whoa we might collect. Il
:. recommended, however, tor reasons Of OF
Il vtous safety, that tbs Mexican coastsls
"a trade should be cuatiled to our own vessel
id asweiI as TIC interior trade above any po
OF ol entry IA our p.ssesslon, bot that 10 d
IS. other respects the ports Of Mexico held L
he Us should be freely opsued at the rate
al duties herein recommended to The yesse
Is. and commerce Of all the world. The
OF Sa.oiem system Of duties adopted BY IS, a
ed though by far the most just and equ,tabi
Us. YET requires au aFpfaisemeut TO sscera
I'm 3.