Democratic banner., 1847-01-11
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.


United STATES:
In compliance with the request contained
in the Resolution Of the 18th inst, | commu-
nicate herewith, reports from the Secre-
tary of War and Secretary of the NAVY,
with the documents which accompany them.
These documents contain all the orders or
instructions to any officer of the Govern
Inent in relation to the establishment or or
ganization of Civil Government in anv one
portion ofthe territory of Mexico which has
or might be taken possession of by the Army
or Navy of the United States."
These orders and instructions were civ.
en- to regulate the exercise of the belliger-
ents engaged in actual war over such poi
tionS OF the territory of our enemy as by
military conquest Sunlight be taken posses
sion Of" and be occupied by our armed
iOrces-rights necessarily resulting from a
slate of war and clearly recognized by the
law of p~ations. This was all the authority
which could be delegated to our military
and naval commanders, and its exercise
was indispensable to the secure occupation
and possession Of territory of the enemy
which might be conquered. The reguIa-
tions authorized were temporary and de-
pendent on the rights acquired by conquest
They wee authorized as belligerent
rights, and were to be carried into effct byI
military and naval officers. They were but
the amelioration Of martial law which mod
crn civilization required, and were due as
well to the security of the conquest as to-
the inhabitants ofthe conquered territory
The documents communicated also con-
tain the reports of ~several highly mcritori-
Gus officers of our army and navy who have
conquered and taken possession Ofporlions
of the enemy territory.
Among the documents accompanyingthe
reports of the Secretary of War, will be
found ''a form Of government" s'es!ablislr-
I'D and organized' by the military comman-
der who conquered and occupied with his
force the territory of New Mexico. This
document was received at the war Depart
mcmt i'll the latter part ofthe last month, and,
as will be perceived by the report OF the
Secretary of War, was not, fJr tie reasons
stated hy that officer, brought to my notice
until alter my annual message of the It'll
inst. was communicated to Congress.
IL Is declared on its face to be- a "'emro-
rary government Of the said territnr >" but
there arc portions of it which purrort TO
'rStablish and organize a permanent ter
ritnrial government Of tie L. State peri
tie territory, and 10 iinpart to lis ;.h ~
trIts i%.nlitical rights which urt. tic ell" :
>~litl,inn oi the L. $. can be rnjn,cd ]i"rr.a-
neatly hI!y by citizens u the Init! States
TH'>' have not Eccn approved and rcog-
I:z"d bl mt.
SA:'; organized relations as have been
established III any Of the conquered terri
I nj. iGr the security of our conquest, for
TIC preservation of order, for the protection
of tiic rights OF the Inhabitants, and for de-
pri, ing t,e enemy u The advantages ~ofthesr'
territories, while tie militsry possession Of
them by the forces of the United States
continue, will be recognized and approx
ed.
1t will be apparent from the reports of the
officers who have been required by the sue.
cess which has crowned their arms to ex-
crcize the power Of temporary Government:
over the conquered territories, that if ANY
excess ofpowers has been exercised the de-
parlure has been the offspring of a patriotic
desire 10 give to the inhabitants the privi-
leges & immunitieS So cherished by the peo-
pie Of our own country and which they be-
lievcd calculated to improve their condi-
tion and promote their prosperity.
Any such excess has resulted in no prac-
tical injury, but can and will be early cor
rectcd in a manner to ALLEVIATE as little as
possible the good feelings of the inhabitants
Of the conquered territories.
JAMES X. POLK,
Washington, 22d December, 1876.