The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-04-19
CITY OF WASHINGTON.
MONDAY NIGHT, APRIL 10, ls47.



MONDAY NIGHT, APRIL 10, is47.
Hiiatary Contributions In the Mexican Ports.
Hardened the National lnellgencer has at last be
in its unblushing advocacy OF the Mexican
il winces grievousy this morning under the Batmor
Americans conclusive and searching exposure of tn
folly OF the recent attempt made by the Federal organ Il
aid our enemies by asserting without any color of plaus
biity that the mode of military contributions recently
adopted by the President, is unconstitutional
The lnteligencer has the face to say that the Unor
quoted the article from the American upon this subject
because OF Its not having been able, by any intention
its to sustain the act of the President" Certainly
have not seen that any invention" part was
requisite in very clear But the lnellgencers
remark would be graceful, it, instead of relying en-
trely upon quotations from other journals and from
anonymous letters, it had itself stated least single
idea Of its by way of showing reason for its course
in condemning looking solely to the aid of our
own arms and finances against those OF our foe.
There is but little occasion TO add anything to what
have before said upon the nghtfuness of this
else of military power by the President, but cannot
refrain from exhibiting to readers specimen
of the Federal organs logic in reply tho argument of
the American. Here ii is:
''Our neighbor regards the of a common
military contribution That is all idea of the
inater When has II happened, heretofore, that system
of commercial regulations has been imposed conquered
province unusual in and unlimited in point OF tme
military contribution We think neighbor can
refer TO no such case
The utter confusion of thought in the above extract
must be obvious to every In the first place the mil
itary contributions imposed by the President upon Mex
leo 'unusual in extent" On the contrary, they
far less than many other modes OF military
contribution. In the next place, they not unlimited
in point OF time On the contrary, they expressly
mited" to the period during which the ports Of Mexico
shall be in military possession In the third place,
at the very moment when the Intelgencer thus wrote
down that the Presidents plan OF military contributions
without precedent and that similar 60 case
could be preferred to-" it had before its eyes the
precedent established in advance of the Presidents
plan by General Scott at Vera Cruz That distinguish
ed officer has not hesitaed to frame rule by which mil
ary contributions shall be temporarily collected in the
Vera Cruz. The Inellgencer will not presume to say
that this act OF Gen. Scott is unlawful exercise Of
military power Yet, so long admits the lawfuness
Of that act, the Federal organ most papaby stues it.
SELF when it denies the right of the President the COM
mander chief to frame similar rule for military con-
tbutons all the Mexican ports in our possession Ii
is, Huccu, inc very eSSeHCe O
the military contribution mode OF action known to
public law, and distinct from military plumber consists in
the fact that such contributions regulated by the
supreme military authority. Whenever such contribu
tons. therefore, levied upon articles of commerce.
imported exported they must, by the very of
the case, take in far the form of Commercial regu
lations"
But at last the Iniegencer, apparently finding it i'm
possible to deceive itself any longer the shaowness
of its owa sophsres ushes desperately and Nth eyes
shut upon the following most astounding assertions:
''We might add, bearing directly the view which
Baltimore neghbor takes of this order decree that
tswo Issued as direction for epyng nt1ry contribution
sD sa sy IL r , &C., a as an o ,
He rests his net on his civil political authority President
81 s on , Sts g. tie ee Of s~a Of
Nary. in the discharge Of their epfee as such In al respects
Il, !, Sss az ess a a % sa o ps
President does NOT make himself"
This fairly out Herods Herod Why ever since the
plan was proposel the Integencer has been abusing the
President because he sought TO levy these contributions
by his military authority military "conqueror"
And turns round and tells its readers that the
President rests his authority in the matter " upon
no such military ground" Blu, the proof of this
strange assertion s, if possible, more astounding
than the assertion itself The order ." not issued
il seems by the President commanierin-chiJ Of the
army and nauy.' And why' Because it is issued
through the Secretaries Of Var and Of the Nary! Why,
in the name OF all that is preposterous through what
other channels than the Departments OF War and the
Navy should go the orders issued by the President
commander-in-c hief of the army and navy' But this
style of proof proceeds The Presidents order to
collect military contributions sis treated act of eua
Administrations Why Because it is carried into effect
"by the rule prescribed by the Secretaries Of Var and of
the Nary" This is better and better The Secretary OF
the Treasury, whose duties known be very arduous
will doubtless be glad to learn that, according this
light mot say blue lghD upon the constitution, he may
now turn the whole trouble of revenue system
Gas civil administration to the War Navy Depart
ment" Until this revelation of constitutional law,
ton of revenue in enemys port by the authority and
rule of the Var Department pretty good evidence that
it was collected by military authority, and OF
as a military contribution. But have already spent
more time than necessary in showing up the Intel
ligcncers plumbers and self-contradctions
Virginia Election.
THIRD DsrRIcTOur accounts from this district are o
both friends and foes in the ability and efficiency with
which he vindicates the policy of the administration from
the ruthless attacks of the ederalists. Mr. T.
the faithful and efficient representatives in the las
Congress- The democracy Of the district have only
out Thursday election day) his rum
phant reeection.-Lynchburg Republican.
We beg leave to add mite TO the just compliment
OF the Lynchburg Republican We have the h onor o