Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-12-04
ON THE ADMINISTRATION "FEELERs."

SWAN MUST SUProRT ITsELF."-It was maxim OF
Napoleon that ' ought always to support itself" In
reducing this principle practice his troops whenever they
made nroad in foreign country, began to levy contbu-
tons in money! provisions, and forage. Their marcheswere
accompanied by host Of commissae provided with wagon
trains and horses These locus attended by proper es
co would dyerge from the line of march to the RICH, and
left any point where the spoils could be found Grain
was cut in the field green would for horses if
ripe, transported depot and speedily ground in
handmils to make bread the sodey. AS the went
on supporting ITSELF the miserable farmers stripped Of
every article of food Horses seized replace those Of
the cavalry which were swept of the casualties of battle
fatigue. Oxen cows and sheep put in requsion to
provide flesh the daily raons BY this system Of organized
maraudng the countries through which the French armies
marched completely ruined The acts OF oppression
committed by men whose ultimate logic the sword
the principal causes of that general rising against Napoleon,
among all the mdding and lower classes in Europe when
the hour of rebuon arrived Although had occurred
before he became conqueror, in which military leaders i'm
posed contributions particular districts Cities yet these
required punishments for acts of cruelty to the
soldiers or some acts Of unhuness in the observance
the terms of capituaton In Short had the impu-
dence claim that matter of right those who invaded
country acquired the power seize private well public
property until that period when Providence raised
up the Corsican to scourge the world Even the partial
bographers Of the Hero of Hundred Battles have
tced the boundess rapacity which characterized his military
movements This has dakened his escucheon with blot
that will remain as long as history has record
The result of this experiment in the Of the French
perfectly runous their interests, all Europe
maddened not much by the subjugaon of territory by
pllagng made common against them, and, when the
tide Of turned they made feel that Old Blu
cher, at the head Of his hussar and Pato leading on the
updarc he IS
ITSELF when they swept France, nearly well the
Great Emperor. And so it must always be- Nations
enrich themselves by punderng, in The long rum
than highwaymen pirates. But let look moment at
things this side of the Atlantic. We have engaged
war for the expenses of which HUNDRED
required. Our army has marched to 'he halls
of the Montezumas" Although troops have been almost
uniformly successful in the conflict they have won no cash.
for the good that there be Laure
and glory heavy discount in the money market Our
citizens alarmed at the prospect of heavy axao and
begin to manifest their uneasiness in threats Of bringing the
contest with Mexico to end appeal the bao-box
The Cabinet is shaken with fears nightly To the
exgency ers put forth in its newspaper organs advo
eating the adoption of the Napoleon MAXIM The must
support ITSELF Some months ago the plan of eyying duties
goods which should the Mexican ports adopted
Vera Cruz however being the only which could be at
all productive of revenue, and the Mexicans would not
buy the articles which arrived there the scheme has proved
failure Now, high in the confidence Of the Cabinet
made to develop its policy for compelling the Mexicans
to stand by country right wrong In few words
the plan levy contributions on hem the name of
taxes both external and Internal OF course those who
have cash may have and cattle As it would be al
together Inconsistent with military usages allow the owners
to set price these their value settled BY the tax
gahere or, in plain English, by the commissaries for
,iions hia III
will be fixed at very reasonable We have read some
of these Administration eer and bluhed at the oness
impotence with which such principles avowed. Their
adoption viii with nfamy in the face of the civilized
world To show that have exaggerated nothing we quote
the following article reported as the tariff for Mexico
WAsHIsGroS, NOVEMBER Is, 1917.
The Secretary Of the Treasury, Mr. Walker has recon
mended and the President has Just signed the following a
lutary financial measures in regard to Mexico
The export duties exacted by the Mexican Government
before the to be levied by officers military CON
ubution.
Of any description whether upon persons or property exacd
by the Government Of Mexico by any department town
city thereof to be collected by officers and appro
paed military contribution toward defraying the expenses
Of the war, excepting transit duties which check upon
commerce.
g. The export duties the precious metals are as follows
Cold coin or wrought three per cents silver coin six do
silver, wrought with without Mexican certificates seven
do gold ore or dust, three do; silver ore seven do
N0fd Bene.- hen the precious metals are taken from
city IN our possession, the duty be them prepaid or
charged double at the port Of expectation.
BY of illustration, give the following extract from
the correspondent Of the Philadelphia Ledger:
WASHINGTON, NOVEMBER IL ls47
You will have perceived from my Geographic despatch that
Mr.. Cays letter. far from inmdating the Administration
has produced contrary effect Mr.. Walker the ndefatiga
bic Secretary of the Treasury, has recommended and tie
President adopted Of the efficient and necessary war
that has yet been brought upon Mexico
The revenue OF Mexico, both internal and etera To be
applied toward dcfayng the expenses war; As far as
troops hold the country every Mexican State county, or
city TO be levied by officers the United States ana 10
be applied to that purpose.
This is than Just and proper no hardship upon
the people, (pacing them merely upon the same footing as
before the INVASION, and essential Of breaking
the spirit Of the Mexcans The Mexcans must be de-
prived Of the nepuS Of the war; which is money in
order TO to their We might them ad inf
fun and yet advance further in subduing them aud
forcing them for peace than the point where we were
at the commencement Of hotes, unless follow up our
advantages and, The Administration now does (and as
fortnight ago predicted would do make the war support
the II Is all idle say the Mexicans are poor thew are
rich, and those who have nothing will he called upon to
pay Besides, troops have expended enough mo
my there enrich the Mexcsns and we will now take
-easonable Of our outlay back again.
- % the export duty gold and silver the who
pay viii be off than before the war; bu on the
contrary, much better They will pay transit duty which
amounted TO nearly six per cent, beside escort &C. The law