Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-02-19
MISCELLANEOUS.

The following message "ss ie.'.''"i 49,
sidec, Of The United Saes:
To aie Senate and
HOUSE OF Representatives. II me u States;
Congress. by The act of the 18Th Of May last,
declared thai, 'ty the act u The Republic q Hex-
leo. sale vi Wal e1,sls between thds u"Ve'h-
ment and the Unued States" and "or The purpose
OF enabling The Government Vi The y SIa'es 10
prosccpte said war 10 a speedy ana successful
termination. authority was vested ~ The Presi-
dent TO employ the naval and military ioIces oi
The United States"
\, ha. been my unalierable purpose since rne
commencement OF hostiiiies by Mexico, and The
declaration Of the existence OF waf oy Congress,
u prosecute The war IN which the country was
uoayudablv involved with The utmost energy, viii
a view 10 lis speedy and successful termination"
By an houoiaS,e peace.
Accodinsy all The operations OF our naval
AID military forces have been directed with Ibis
view. While the sword has teen held in one
hand, and our military movements pressed for
ward into the enemys county, anu It's coasts in
vested By our navy, the tender nj an honorable
peace has been constantly presented 10 Mexico i'll
The other
Hitherto, the overtures of peace which have
been made by this Government have not been
accepted By Mexico With view 10 avoid a
pro;racied war; which hesiancy and delay On our
Informed you, in my annual message uf the Sth
December last, tho: ne war would continue 10
bs prosecuted with yigoT as the best means u
securing peace" aud recommended 10 your early
and tavorable consideration the measures pro-
posed by lae Secretary OF War, III 4is report ac
companyins that message.
In my message OF Ali January last these ard
other measures, deemed 70 be essential 10 the
speedy and successful termination" OF tne war,
and the attainment OF just and honorable peace.
we're recommended 10 your early ana favorable
consideration.
The worst state OF things which could exist in
a wa With sucn power as Mexico, would be a
course OF INDIGESTION and inactivity on olr parl.
Being charged by the Constitution and the laws
with the conduct OF the wag, have awaited my
self OF all the means al my command 10 prose-
cue il with energy and visor.
The acl ITO raise cor limited time an add
,ional military force, and Tor other purposes y
and which authorizes The raising of len additional
regiments TO the regular army, % sc:vc during
the war, and 10 be disoanded al its termination,
which was presented TO me on The llh inst, and
approved on that day, viii constitute an lmpot-
,ant part Of our military force. These regiments
will be raised and moved 10 The sec, Of war with
the least practicable delay.
4, will be perceived that this act makes ~ pro
visions 81 Tie he afsse3tsa'rp q,
nor Tor The appointment, Vi general officers 10
comma nd il. |, will be proper 'ha, authority be
given by law to MAKE such organization, and 10
appoint, by and with tic ad:;ce and consent Of
the Senate, such nnm'er Of ma or generals and
brieadier generals as he ctfciency OF The service
NAV demand The number NJ officers OF these
grades now in service are not more than are re
ouired for their respective commands; brt ui-
,ncr legislative action during your present session
will, in my judgment be required, and 10 which
j, is my du,y respectfully TO Invite yonr attention
Should The war, contrary To my earn ST desire
be prolIacied 10 Inc close oi Inc term vi service
Of the volunteers now in Mexico, who engaged
for twelve months, IN additional volunteer tore,
vii, probably become necessary 10 supply heil
place Many Of the volunteers now serving il
Mexico, il is not doubled, would cheeIfully en-
gage, al The conclusion OF their present term, Il
serve during the war They would cons,
iute more efficient force than could be speed
" obtained by accepting the services Of any new
corps who might offer their services. The,
would have the advantage OF the experience an'
discipline of years service, aud will have be
come accustomed 10 the climate. and be in les
danger than new evies Of suffering fiom The dis
eases Of the country.
recommend, therefore, that authority be glvel
10 accent The services OF such Of The volunteer
now in Mexico as the state OF the public seryic
NAV require, and who may, al The termination Q
their present term, voluntarily engage 10 ser"
durine the war with Mexico, and that provision
be made for commissioning The officers. Should
,h;s measure receive the favorable consideration
of Cnnnress j, is recommended lha, 4 bounty b
granted 10 them upon their voluntarily exlendin:
.heir term OF service. This would not only b
due 10 these gallant men, but il would b. econo
nv 70 the government; because, !! discharged a
the end OF the Twelve moD,hS, The government
would be bound 10 incur heavy expense v
bringing them back 10 their hcmes, and IN senf
ing 10 The seat of war new corps I'll fresh troop
10 supply heir place.
By the .c. OF the thirteenth Of May last, III
Presideu. gas authorized 10 accept The service
tdvolunleeis ''in COMPANIES, batialions, squad
rms and regiments" but no provision was mad
for filling rp vacancies which might occur b
death or discharges from he service, on acconu
M sickness or other casualties. In Consequent
nj this omission, many OF The ccrps nov IN SCI
v,ce have been much reduced III numbers. NO
WAS auy provision made for fi!lirs vacancies :
.eoimental or company officers who might die o
resign Information has been received al IN
War Departmea, Of the resignation OF more ina
one hundred OF these officers. They were ar
pointed by the State authorities, and no inorma
lion has been received, except in a few instance:
that their places haze been lled-and The Ell
c;encv OF the service has been impaired frol
this cause.
To remedy these defects, | recommend that al
.hority be given to accept the services OF indiv
dua! volunteers, to fill up TIC places Of such
may.aie, or become unfit for The service ana !
discharged; and that provision be also MADE !.
filling the places of Iegimenal anu company OH
GERS who may die or resign By such prov
sions, the volunteer corps may be constantly keI
iull, or may approximate The maximum numot
authorized and called into service in The first II
stance
While ii is deemed 10 be our true policy 10 pr
secu.c the war in the manner ind Gated, and TIT
make the enemy feel lis prcss2rc and lis evils,
shall be al all times ready, with the au;horil
conferred on me by The Constitution, and with a
the means which MAJ be placed 81 M comman
BY Congress, 10 conclude a just and hono'ab
peace.
OF equal importance with n energetic and '
gorous prosecution of the war ale tie means II
ouired 10 detrav lis expenses, and 10 uphoiu al
maintain the public credit
In my annual message OF The Sin Dscemo
last, submitted .or The consideration oi Co
gress the proprety OF imposing, as war me-
sure, revenue dulles On so,ne OF The articles no
embraced in the free list. The principal ar,ici
now exemp, from dny, from which any consi
,rable revenue could be derived are tea and CO
(e.. A moderate revenue duty on these article
il is estimated, would produce annually a
amour, exceeding Two and halt millions cf &C
lars.
Though in period of peace, when amp
means could be derived from duties on other
,icles for the support Of the government, II me-
have been deemed proper nc! 10 resort 10 cu
ON these articles; yet, when tine country is e
gagged in a foreign war, and all our resources
demanded to NEE. The unavoidable increased e
pendilure ia maintaining our annie in The lel
no sound reason is perceived why We should n
avail ourselves ot the revenues which may
derived from his source. Tn. objections whic
have heretofore existed TO The imposition VI the
duties were applicable to state OF peace, whe
they were moi needed.
I've are now, however engaged 10 foreis
war. We need money 10 prosecute II, ana