Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-12-11

part of Mexico Not approaching our orbearance the Mex
lean people generally became hostile the United States and
asaled themselves OF every opportunity commit the most
savage excuses upon troops Large numbers of the po
puiaton took up arms and engaging in guerrilla warfare
robbed and murdered IN the cruel individual SOL
der or small parties, whom accident other had
separated from the main body of army bands OF guer
eros and robbers infested the roads, harassed trains and
whenever II was IN their power, cut Oft our supplies
The Mexcans having thus shown themselves 10 be wholly
incapable OF approaching our forbearance and bera was
deemed proper change the manner of conducting war;
by making them feel ITS pressure according the uages obsey
ed under by all other civilized nations
Accordingly as early as the 22d OF September 1916, in
ucons were given by the Secretary of War TO Major Gen.
Taylor to draw supplies for army from the enemy
without paying Tor them and require contributions for its
support II 10 that way he satisfied he could get album
dant supplies for his oree In directing the execution of
these instructions, much necessarily left the discretion
OF the commanding officer who best acquainted with the
circumstances by which he surrounded the Of the
army, and the praccablity Of enforcing the
Gen. Taylor, the 26th Of October 1916, replied from
Monterey that at would have been impossible hitherto and
so now, to sustain the by forced con-
uons oil money or supplies For the reasons assigned by
him ne did not adopt the policy Of his Instructions but de-
cared his readiness TO do should the army future
operations reach portion of the country which may be made
10 supply the troops with advantage He continued to pay
for the articles OF supply which drawn from the enemys
country.
Similar instructions issued to Maj Gen. Scott on the
30 OF April lsl7, who replied from Jalapa the 10th Of
May ls47, that it be expected that army to sup
port itself by forced contributions levied upon the country
we may ruin and exaspeate the inhabitants and
selves" The same discretion given him that had
been TO Gen. Taylor IN this respect. Gen. Scott for the
assigned by him, also connued pay for the articles
of supply for the army which drawn from the enemy
After the army had reached the heart of the wealthy
portion OF Mexico was supposed that the obstacles which
had before that time prevented would he such
der mpraccabe the levy forced contributions for its sup
port and on the first Of September and again the 9th Of
October lSl the order repeated dispatches addressed
by the Secretary of War Gen Scott and his attention
the burdens OF the by requiring them furnish the
means OF supporting army and he directed adopt
this policy unless by doing there danger of deprvng
the army of the necessary supplies Copies of these des
patches we've forwarded to Gen. Taylor for his government
On the 3ls of March last, caused order to be issued
to our military and naval commanders levy and collect
military contribution upon all vessels and merchandise which
might enter any of the ports of Mexico in military occu
PATTON and to apply such contributions towards derayng the
expenses OF the war by virtue of the right of conquest and
The laws OF war; the conqueror, consulting his safety
convenience may either exclude foreign altogether
from all such ports, permit il upon such terms and condi
tons he may prescribe Before the principal ports of Mex
leo were bockadeby navy, the derived from i'm
post dues under the laws of Mexico, paid into the
Mexican treasury After these ports had fallen into our mill
ary possession the blockade raised commerce with
them permitted upon prescribed and conditions They
were opened TO the trade Of all nations upon the payment of
duties more moderate in their than those which had
been previously levied BY Mexico and the revenue which
was formerly paid into the Mexican treasury was directed to
be collected by military and naval officers and applied to
d.
cers soldiers, and sailors of army and navy should be
exempted from the operations of the order and the mer
chandlse imported upon which the order operated be
consumed by Mexican citizens the contributions exaced were
in effect the seizure of the public revenues of Mexico and
the application of them own use In directing this
measure the object was TO compel the contribute
as lar as practicable towards the expenses of the
For the amount Of contributions which have been levied in
this torm refer you the accompanying reports of the Sc
cretay of War and of the Secretary the Navy by which
appears that sum exceeding hall million Of dollars has
been collected
This amount would undoubtedly have been much larger
but for the difficulty Of keeping open communications
the coast and tire INTERIOR enable the owners Of the
merchandise imported to transport and yend the nhab
ans OF the country 1t is confidently expected that this diff
culy will, TO great extent he removed by our increas
ed forces which have been sent to the field
Measures have recently been adopted by which the internal
as well as external revenues of Mexico in all places our
military occupation will be seized and Appropriated to the use
OF and navy.
The policy of evyng upon the enemy contributions in
every form consistently with the laws Of nations which may
be practicable for military commanders adopt should in
my Judgment he rgdy enforced and orders to this effect
have accordingly been given BY such policy at the same
time that our treasury will be relieved from heavy DRAIN
the Mexican people will be made feel the burdens Of the
war; and consulting their interests may induced the
more readily to require their rulers accede Just peace
Alter the adjournment of the last session of Congress-
events anspred in the prosecution of The war which, in nv
Judgment, required greater number Of troops in the field
than had been anticipated The strength of the army was
accordingly increased by accepting the of all the
volunteer forces authorized ny the the thirteenth of
May, 1885, without putting construction on that act the
correctness of which seriously questioned The voun-
eer forces now in the field with those which had been
ceped to serve for twelve months and were discharged
at the end of their term Of service exhaust the y thousand
authorized by that Had been clear that proper
construction of the warranted the services of an add
ona number would have been called for and accepted but
doubts existing upon this point the power exercised
II is deemed important that Congress should at am early
period Of their session. confer the authority TO raise an add
ona regular force during the war with Mexico and
to be discharged upon the conclusion and ratification of
treaty of peace invite the attention of Congress to the
views presented by the Secretary of War in his report upon
this subject.
recommend also, that authority be given by law to call
for and accept the services of additional number Of voun-
tee to be exercised such time and such extent as the
emergencies of the service may require.
In prosecuting the with Mexico whilst the utmost care
has been taken avoid every just of complaint on the
part OF neutral nations and has been given liberal priv
eges have been granted their in the ports of the
enemy in our military occupation.
The difficulty with the Brazilian Government which at one
time threatened TO interrupt the friendly relations between the
two countries WILL trust, be speedily adjusted have
ceved information that envoy extraordinary and minister
penpotenary to the United States will shortly he appointed
by his Imperial Majesty; and is hoped that he will come
instructed and prepared to adjust all remaining differences be-
tween the two Governments acceptable and hon.
orabe to BOTH In the mean Time have be-
eve that nothing will occur interrupt amcabe relations
with Brazil.
has been my constant effort to maintain and cultivate the
all ;nJo