Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-07-24

as much public spoil be found in them, and entering
his chief cities and his capital perhaps convert them into
quarters and camping grounds for the conquerng
army, and OF course laying them for the time under martial
law Here his power of military government would begin
and end But the President has little relish for such mode
rate notions these. He began the for conquest and
never having dared to ask Congress to give direct sanction
TO any such PROJECT he has found thought himself Obliged
to do every thing, far this object concerned in his
own way, and by his own usurped authority.
:" is manifest that in establishing commercial code and
tariff for the seapos Of Mexico captured and occupied by
our military forces the President has acted not
military commander but political sovereign. He chooses
to regard these seapors merely places under military
occupation by our troops where they have their garrison and
camp for the time, with all needu authority in the comman
der under the military law for The government and preseva
ton of his army and camp and for internal and external po
lice, but places held by him, the President both
queror and sovereign and subject his exclusive and unds
puted political authority in all things, far he may
ut to exercise IT, lnder this authority, and treating the sea-
ports his own, for NIL purposes I sovereign control and GO
venmen he proceeds to the exercise Of civil and sovereign
power in OF its most important functions by establishing
regulations for the trade of all nations with those ports enact
ing tariff OF duties to be paid all merchandise and pro-
duce entered there and thus raising for the supply
OF his exchequer They longer Mexican ports block
AIDED by navy and shut up from the trade Of the world
but they are American On independent ports under the SOW
eregny OF the PRESIDENT and open the trade of the world
Mexico to be supplied through them, by grand system OF
illicit commerce and smuggling encouraged and promoted by
the sovereign OF the independent ports who is thus TO
cure the dement's oil large mporaons and an ample revenue
And that these are independent ports and not ports OF the
United States any more than they Mexican ports, plain
enough from the fact that cargoes entering them from the
United States are as much subject to duty cagocs from
England France The trade to them from New Orleans
New York foreign trade, and coasng trade and
pays duties accordingly If they ports Of the United
States, this would OF course be coasng trade and the
other hand filthy Mexican ports citizens Of the United
States subjects Of ono Of the bcgerent Powers could not
trade with them at all without being liable to the severest
penaies-uness, indeed by the special permission Of the
dent What spectacle is here presented to the country
The President Of the United States assuming the sovereignty
the ports Of the public enemy, occupied by American
troops and there actually levying duties the trade Of Ame
rcan citizens which he invites hther well the trade OF
all other countries and putting the collections into his
independent treasury This, too being fact trade, and
expressly Intended with Mexico carried on through these
ports and between them and the Interior by illicit
ade whether direct or indirect in which American citizens