Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1847-12-17

zens, were pad fo1 at liberal prices, agreed apo
| by the parties. After the lapse Of few months
| becacle apparent that these assurances and thi
/ mild treatment have failed 10 produce the desire
| effect upon the Mexican popdlatloE. The var ha
] been conducted, upon Cur part, according so IT.
| most human and liberal principle, observed by civ
| liIzed nations II was waged is : Jar 1 ttiereu
| spirit on the part Of Mexico. Not appreciarin
! our tofbelrance. the Mexican people generally hos
tic 10 the United States, and awaited themsei es
the opportunity - coulGnu the most savage exces
ses upon our troops. Large numbers of the Dor
ulation took up arms and engaging in guerri
warfare, robbed and murdered, in the most crue
manner, individual soldiers, small parties eyhou
accident other causes had separated from tn
mann body OF our army. Bands o; guerrlas, an,
robbers, infested the roads harrdsed our trains an
whene'erm Vas in their Powercut off our supplies
The Aexicans having thus shown themselve
to be wholly Incapable OF approaching our lorbear
ance and lberality II was seen proper to chang,
the manner OF conducting the war making thea
the pressure according TO the usages observed IN
der similar circumstances, IL all other civilizet
nations
Accordingly as early as the 22I of September
1915, instructor were given, by the Secretary o
War 60 Major General Taylor, to draw supplies
for our army from the enemy, paying for them
that way he was satisfied he could get abundan
supplies for his forces. In directing the execution
OF these Instructions much was necessarily LETT Il
the discretion Of the commanding officer. who wa
best acquainted with the circumstances bv which
he was surroundcj-the wants of the arny--anC
the prdctlcab!llty of enforcing the measure
Gen. Taylor, on the goth of October 1916 re
piled from Monterey that it would have been i'm
possible, and Is now, to sustain the army by for
ced contributions Of supplies
For reasons assigned by him. he did not adop,
the policy of his Instructions but declared his rca
dincs TO 60 shouid the army, in It's future oper
atoms, reach portion OF the couRtry which may
ce made to supply the troops with advantage
He continued to pay for for the articles of sup
ply which were drawn from the enemy 5 country
Similar instructions we've issued TO Major Gen
Scott on the ID of April, 1917; who replied from
Ialapa, on the 2Oth OF May. 1S47, that hit be ex
pected that the army Is TO support itself by forced
contributions levied upon the country. we may I'll
in and cxasperatc the inhabltants ana starve our
selves. The same discretion was given to him
that had been given 10 Gen. Taylor in this respect
Gen. Scott for reasons assigned by him, still con
tinued 10 pay for articles OF supply for the army
which were drawn from the enemy.
After the army had reached the heart of the
most wealthy portion OF Mexico it was supposed
that the obstacles which bad before that tme pre-
vented, would not be such as 10 render impractical
bic, the levy OF forced contributions for its support
and on the first OF September, aud on the Isl OF DC
tober 1877, the order was repeated in dispatches
address by the Secretary OF War TO Gen Scott; and
ms attention was again called TO the importance OF
making the enemy bear the burdens OF the warby
requiring them 10 furnish the means of supporting
our army; and he was directed to adopt the policy
unless by doing SO there was danger of depriring
the army of necessary supplies Copies OF these
dispatches were forwarded 10 Gen Taylor for his
government
On the 3lst Of March last | caused an order 70
be issued TO our Military and Naval Commanders
10 levy and collect a Military contribution upon
all vessels and merchandise which might enter any
OF the ports of Mexico in military occupation:
and 10 apply such contributions towards deraying
the expenses of the war. By virtue of the right
of conquest, and the laws OF war, the conquerer
corsutlng hrs own safety or con, enience may ei.
Their exclude foreign commerce altogether from all
such ports. or permit ii Upon such terms and con
dtIous rs be may prescribe. Before the principal
ports OF Meyrco were blockaded by cur Navy the
reNnnue derived from import duties under the laws
OF Mexico, were paid into the Mexican Treasury
A!tcr these ports had fallen into our military pos
session, the bllck,le was raised and commerce
with them permitted, upon prescribed terms and
conditions. Theo were open to the trade of all
nations upon the payment of duties more mode
rate in their amoUnt than those which had been
pre-, ously levied by Mexico; and TIE revenue
which was formerly PAID into the Mexican Trca
sury, was directed to be collected by our military
and naval officer ard applied to the use of our ar
nv anc navy Care was taken that the officers
soldiers and sailors Of our army and navy. should
be eqempted from the operations OF this order, and
AZ the merchandise Imported upon which the or
der operated must be consumed by Mexican citi
Gems, the contr buttons were, in effect the seizure
of the public reyenues OF Ncxsco. and the appca
ton Of them to our own use. In directing this
measure, the Object was TO compel the enemy to
contribute. as lar as pr@cc cable towards the cx
peu:c OF the war.
For the amount Of contributions which have
been levied in this form, re.er YOU TO the accom-
pauying Reports o. the >ecrctary Of War anil the
,ccre'ary o! tie Navy by which II appears that Il
sum exceeding halt million of dollars.
This amount would undoubtedly ha, @ bcea much
larger but tor the difficulty Of keeping open com
muncation between the coast and the Inferior so
a, TO ensJ,u the owners OF the merchandise impor
tel to transport and Vcad il 10 the inhabitants of
tie country
1t is confidently expected that this difficulty will
tn great extent be soon removed by our increased
forces which have been sent to the field
Measures have recently been adopted by which
internal as weIl as external revenue in all places in
our military possession will DO received and appro
priatcl 10 the use OF our army and navy. The pol
icy OF the levyng upon the enemy contributions
III @, cry form Consistent with the laws of nations
which it may be practicable for our military com
mandcr> to adopt, should be rigldly enforced and
and orders to this effect have accordingly been Civ
en-. BY such a policy al the same time that our
own treasury will be reived from heavy drain.
the Mexican people will he made TO feel the bur
theus OF the war; tue more readily TO require their
rulers to accede 10 a Just peace.
After the adjournment OF the last session Of Con
gre>S. events trdnspired, in the prosecution of the
war, which in my Judgment, required a greater
number of troops in the field than had been an;ci
pated. The strength OF rhe army was accordingly
increased, BY accepting The services of all the Vol
untccr forces authorized by the act of the 18th of
May. 1917; without putting construction on that
act the correctiun OF which was seriously question
ed. The volunteer forces now in the field, with
those which have teen accepted. TO serve twelve
months and were discharged at the end of service
cxhausts the fttv thousand men authorized by that
act Had it been clear that proper construction
Of the act warranted the services of an additional
number they would have been called and accepted
but doubts existing upoh the point the power was
not exercised.
Il Is deemed important that Congress should. at
early period OF them session confer authority to
additional rau,,lar torre scr,