The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-04-05
From the Washington U

From the Washington Union, April !. j
We are glad to see the system OF military q
lions proposed TO be levied by the President IN
approved In advance by the National Mteilig
this morning. 1t always gives us pleasure "!
able editors Of that paper array themselves ON U
rican side Of any question, and we would rsJo
more II we should never again have occasion "a
from their views, as regards the existing war wit
leo. They are mistaken, however, in supposing
system OF collecting duties in the ports Of Mex
military contribution originated with their distin
WING correspondent. Gen. Waddy Thompson, lat
ter to Mexico. Long prior to that publication
ference to the files of the Union Of the 22d ID
last, and among the papers laid before Congress
President, at the very commencement Of the
sion, will be found an able despatch of Judge
Secretary Of the Navy, directing the collec
duties on imports ut u rate not exceeding
sent tariff, in such Of the ports Of Califo
might be in our possession by conquest Indeed
diately after the commencement of the war, the
ton Of duties in the ports of Mexico well col
by the President and his cabinet. and approved,
co should determine to protract the contest.
to collect these duties in California, were actual
mitted as we have shown, Us early as the 5th of
Der last, which orders have probably reached thd
nation before this date. In Tampico and Mai
! however, so much nearer to the capital Of Mex
where the measure would be calculated to prodt
feeling, ii was delayed. in hope that the contest
terminated by peaceful negotiation. This howe
been again and again tried by the President. but
| success, and even since the adjournment of Cong
have received what must be regarded, at least
present, the obstinate refusal of Mexico to ncgo
peace. Upon the receipt of this intelligence, u
| dent. with the unanimous sanction of his call
solved to put into immediate operation the \
duties now proposed, M the best means of levy
tary contributions In Mexico. The right thus
exercised in California, having been laid before
Mt the commencement of the last session, and
| encountered no opposition there, or through
| country. may well be regarded AZ unanimously al
| Pence has its laws, ms well as war but the 81
iron rules OF the latter are ordained, not by
| legislative enactments, but are to be found in
written code of the law of nations. IL il this la
| ing to our army and navy. which regulates our
| rights rs well ~ those of all other belligerei
| among these is the unquestioned and unqued
| right of levying military contributions upon thu
This right is now exercised by Mexico against
| as to public and even private property, and
| possess this right in n conflict even with the
enemy, or 1t does not belong to us, if summoned
against the greatest allied powers Of the world
render this right, would strip us Of one of the VIII
butes OF sovereign power, would place IA upon
equal footing with every bclligercnt, would imI
| welfare and interest of the country, might sacr
lives Of our heroic defenders might turn our
into defeats. and even cndanger the safety Of thu
lie. Without this right also, we might never ID
conquer peace, and its exercise is most approI
this time, when Mexico, unable to meet ouI
forces in the field, now mainly relies on vi
our treasury and finances through a lingering
pensive contest. 1t Is the Department Of the
which Mexico expects to break down, and \
| see whether our finances are not as impregnabld
armies
| II is recognized by the law of nations, ,admttd
| distinguished commentators on that law,and af1
| the highest judicial authorities of this countr
| the world, that during war, one belligeren1
session by conquest of any of tho ports or ter
another, has right to establish a temporary
| gov eminent there through the order of its exed
| the commander in chief of the army and navy
also the right, through the same authority, I'd
such ports or places, military contributions u
enemy. This right is exercised to aid in defra
| expenses Of the war, to augment our own resou
| ing the contest, as also to diminish and exhaust
the enemy, so as to compel him to agree more 81
an honorable peace This right prcsupposes
nation making the conquest and lcvying the
tions, relies upon the justice Of her cause respoI
! her acts TO the God of battles, and to the cnA
judgment of the civilized nations Of the wo
nearly the fourth Of a century Mexico has inf|
! on our country series Of wrongs, outrages, an
| unparalleled in history. She has. during perid
| found peace, repeatedly insulted our flag sci
| confiscatcd the property of our unofcnding
| arrested and manned some of them, and
| others Of life and liberty. When she had
| acknowledged some Of these injuries and
| by solemn treaty stipulations to make at
for them, not as debt but as u satisfaction for
wrongs and insults justifying of themselves an
the last resort of nations. she has violated thcd
| compacts, and thereby reduced many Americana
and their families to serious cmbarrassmcnts, and
| cases to want and ruin The name Of an Amer
stead OF affording. as IL should have DONE the d
pie protection to all our citizens in Mexico, WI
| invitation to outrages and insults the most ag
and intolerable. Before the anne xation Of Texas
| as the tables OF our imports and exports show, 81
ally driven our merchants and commerce from
and cities Of Mexico. From the frequent outra
| the persons and property of our citizens trad
| Mexico, rendering our whole commerce there
our exports to Mexico fell of from more than 81 \
of dollars in 1885, to S36S 900, in 1915, and oui
from Mexico almost exclusively specie) fell from
O0O in 1895, to 81 ,7O2 900, in i645; and when
nation Ms sovereign Mexico, recognised al
dependent government by the great power
earth, and with AS clear right TO decide
destiny for herself-resolved with our assent ID
| State Of this Union. Mexico, in defiance Of e1
of right and of every principle of justice, sod
after, announced war as existing with this cour
proceeded in a short time, as well by atrocou|
crcs, as by public military movements, to shed
cious blood of American citizens upon the sacr
| one Of the States Of the American Union. Al
again. In spirit Of generous and magnanimous
ance which Mexico seems wholly unable or UNIV
appreciate, VIC offered to negotiate for peace, al
TO her to agree TO terminate this contest; but
friendly offers and appeals are met by insulting
and she seems resolved to continue this cont
hazards. This is deeply regretted by the adm
ton. One Of the great trusts confded TO il by d
| rican people, was to unfetter our commerce as
| means Of maintaining peace and advancing
best interests in common with those Of all Of thd
Of the world. Peace was the policy and ardent
| the administration but II has been frustrated
pervcrse obstinacy Of Mexico, in the war wi
insists upon prosecuting against our countr
war occurred at the very period when the
tration engaged in endcavoring to fulfil
its sacred trusts, by reducing the duties, an
tering the commerce of American people.
greatly embarrassed and endangered the 81
this benign policy, although it did not effect
throw The question now is, must the Amerid
submit to new and heavy loans and grevious
or shall we subject the enemy by every lawful
ton during the TO those burdens which NJ
| ,nnQi nu hxtr nf,rSiv
contest We have endeavorcd by every offer Of
negotiation to prevent the occurrence OF war;
itself has been prosecuted on our part I'm n spirit
and forbearancc almost uncxamplcd; new Offer
have been again made by us to Mexico, and ag
| the rising of Congress, contumaciously refu1
forbearance and enty have not been nppreI
Mexico; they have been mistaken by her for
| and timidity on our part, and IL would seem
nothing short Of the most rigorous war, and I'll
practicable contributions will compel her to rel
| peaceful relations.
| Money being the sincws of war. the revenus
belligerent are as necessary to their success as
| navies and these revenues, being public propd
be seized and confscatcd. and diverted TO our
during the contest. Mexico herself now seizes
lie property and revenues wherever she can NJ
She IN endeavoring also to enlist the whole wi
general spoliation Of our commerce. and reventI
seizure OF American merchant vessels and
| every sen, 80 AZ to weaken resources and
her own. Under these circumstances she can
just cause Of complaint II we divert her rcver
we'd from duties from her treasury, where they
against ms, and collect those revenues ourscv,
best means Of bringing the contest TO speedy
orablc conclusion.
IL will be seen that the Secretary Of the 4
whose estimates as to revenue heretofore have
cccdcd the results. calculates on large additd
resources from these duties lie estimates also
revenue will be largely augmented by the occ al
the ports on each side of the Mexican isthmus
is about one hundred and thirty miles from SCI
and securing the free transit across that istbm'
commerce, and that Of all the world. At 4
mus the navigable waters OF the two ocd
proach within about sixty miles, the informed
lance being practicable for n canal or railroad