The Yazoo City Whig. [volume] (Yazoo, Miss.) 1844-1851, 1847-01-01

casl0ns during the administration Of PTesi.
dent jefferson.
j 90 the 2eth Of FsBr 1903. an apprO-
PFiallon Of two Mill olars was made,
and placed at The 0f The President.
It's object is well n. Il vas It that
time IN contemplate acquire Louisiana
from hee, and il INTENDED 10 be ans
lpiied . part Of ll nsideration which
Emigh paid foI erritory. On the
/ 18th february be same sum was
in like tanner appron ated, with view to
the purchase Of the Iidas from Spain.
These appropriations ere made to facilitate
negotiations, and as means to enable the
President to accomplish the important OBJ.
iects in view.
4 Though il did not become necessary ID
the President to use these appropriations,
yet state Of things might have arisen in
which ii would have been highly important
for him 10 do so, and the wisdom of making
them cannot be doubted. 1t is believed that
the measure recommended at YOUR last ses-
sion met with the appreciation of decided
malOrities in both houses Of Congress. In
deed, in different forms a bill making an ap~
lpFoprlatiOn Of two millions of dollars passed
each House, and it was much to be regret
ted that it did not become law.
The reasons which induced me to recom>
mend the measure at that time still exists;
and again submit the subject for your con-
sideraIiOn. and suggest the importance of
early action upon it, Should the appaopri-
alton be made, and not be needed, it willFes
main in the Treasury; should it be deemed
proper to apply it in the whole or in part, it
will be accounted for as other public expen-
dilures.
Immediately after Congress had recognis-
ed the existence Of the war with Mexico,
my attention was directed to the danger that
pIiVateers might be fitted out in the ports of
Cuba and Porto Rico to prey upon the com.
merce of the United States; and invited
the special attention Of the Spanish Gov
eminent 10 the l4th article Of our treaty with
= that power Of the Goth Of October, 1895, un.
= der which the citizens and ubiecls of either
nation who shall take commissions or letters
: of marque TO act as pTivateers against the
( other, ''shall be punished as pirates"
, II affords me pleasure to inform You that
have received assurances from the ?anish
= government that this article the treaty shall
= be faithfully observed on its part. Orders
- for this purpose were immediate ~ transmit.
IL ted from that government TO the authorities
., Of Cuba and Porto Rico to exert their ut.
y most vigilance in preventing any attempts
u TO ft out pFiVateeFs in those islands against
~ ~ tho Lasted Stoteo--F Fem abe eood faith of
= Spain am fully satisfied that this treaty will
- be executed in its spirit as well as its letter.
!! whilst the United States will, on their part.
! faithfully perform all the obligations which
- it imposes on them.
Information has been recently received
: at the Department Of State, that the Mexi.
can Government has sent to Havana blank
= commissions to priVateers, and blank ceiti>
: 6cates of naturalization, signed BY General
!. Salas, the present head Of the Mexican
- Government. There is, also, reason to ap>
~ prehend that similar documents have been
- transmitted to other ports oF the world.
:" Copies Of these ,papers, in translation, are
herewith transmitted.
% As the pTeliminaTies required BY the pFac.
- - tice Of civilized nations for commissioning
pTivateers and regulating their conduct ap>
= pear not 10 have been observed. and as these
:! commissions are in blank, 70 be filed up
20 with the names of citizens and subjects of
all nations who may be willing to purchase
:: them, the whole proceeding can only be
construed as an invitation to all the free
u hooters on the earth, who are willing to pay
= = for the privilege, to cruise against American
=" commerce. Il will be for our courts Of Jus,
tice to decide Whether, under such ciFcum,
-" stances, these Mexican letters of maEque
and reprisal shall protect those who accept
eW them, and commit robberies on the higf
sed seas under their authority, from the pains
ne and penalties Of piracy. II the certificate
'se> Of naturalization thus granted be intended
Tor by Mexico to shield Spanish subject from
IN. the guilt and punishment Of piaates. undo
veil our treaty with Spain, they will certainl
lold prove unavailing. Such subterfuee woU
0. be but weak device to defeat the proVi
,Tri. siOns Of solemn treaty.
on> / recommend thai Congress should imme
and diaiely provide by law for the trial and pun
! he ishment as pirates Of Spanish subjects who
The escaping the vigilance of their government
sup shall be found guilty of privateeFing agaIns
.on> the United States. DO not apprehend SER
ride Gus danger from these prvaieeTs Orr nav
the will be constantly on The alert to pro.ect on
has commerce. Besides in case prizes shoul
BY be made Of American vessels, the utmoc
the vigilance viii be exerted by our blockadin
8 in squadron 70 prevent the capiuFes from foI
leo, ing them into Mexican ports, and il is n,
} to appFehended that any nation viii violate /
the neutrality by suffering such PRICES 10 be col
ifDr- DENIED and sold within its jurisdiction.
apS recommend that Congress should imm
ten. dia.ely provide by law for granting letters
from mafque aud reprisal against vessels md
g 10 the MexicaN flag Il is true that there a
may but few. IL any, commercial vessels of MeS
hesa CO upon the high seas: and il is thevelarr n
Jap probable that many American TT ats
forth Won be fitted ont, and in case a Ian sael
.ces> pass authorizing this nude Of warfare. Il
{ our notwithstanding. certain that such priValel
may render good service TO The. commerce
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