The Democratic pioneer. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1845-1853, 1847-12-24

acquainted with the circumstances by which |
he was surrounded-the wants OF the army
and the practicability Of enforcing the meas
urc. Gen. Taylor, on the Goth of October,
| ls46, replied from Monterey, that it would |
have been impossible hitherto, and is so now, (
/ to sustain the army by forced contributions OF
supplies. For reasons assigned by him, he I
did not adobt the policy of his Instructions, |
tbut declared his readiness to do so should the
army in its future operations reach portion
Of the country which may be made to supply
the troops with advantage.
lie continued to pay for the articles OF sup
PLY, which were drawn from the encmy's
country.
Similar instructions were issued to Maj. Gen.
eral Sect, on the Sd of April, l847, that if it
be expected that the army is to support itself
by forced contributions levied upon the coun-
try, we may ruin and exasperate the inhabi
tQnts, and starve ourselves. The same dis
creton was given to him that had been given
70 Gen. Taylor, in this respect. General
Scott for the reason assignedby him, still
continued TO pay for articles ofisupply for the
army, which were drawn from the enemy.
After the army had reachedthe heart the
most wealthy portion of Mexico, it was sup
posed that the obstacles which had before
that time, prevented, would not be such as to
render impracticable the levy Of forced con-
tribuhons for its support and on the first of
September, and on The 9th Of October, l347,
the order was repeated in dispatches, address
sed by the Secretary of War TO General Scott;
and his attention was again called to the I'M
porianco of making the enemy bear the bur-,
dens OF the war, by requiring them to furnish
the means Of supporting our army: and he was
directed to adopt this policy, unless by doing
SO there was danger of deprying the army of
necessary supplies. Copies Of these despatch
es were forwarded to General Taylor, for his
government.
On the 31st Of March last, caused an or
der to be issued to our military and naval
commanders, to levy and collect a military
contribution upon all vessels and merchandise
which might enter any Of the ports of Mexi
co in our military occupations towards defray
inr the expenses Of the war By virtue the
= right Of conquest, and the laws of war, the
conqueror, consulting bis own safety or con-
yenence, may either exclude foreign com
morce altogether from all such ports, or per-
nit it upon such terms and conditions as he
may prescribe. Before the principal ports of
Mexico were bockaded by our navy, the rev.
5 enues derived from import duties, under the
laws Of Mexico, were paid into the Mexican
treasury. After these ports had fallen into
our military possession, the blockade was
raised, and commerce with them permitted,
? upon prescribed terms and conditions. They
. were open to the trade Of all nations, upon the
: payment of duties, more moderate in their
;, amount, than those which had been previous
{ " levied by Mexico; and the revenue which
was formerly paid into the Mexican treasury,
was directed 10 be collected by our military
and naval officers and applied to the use Of
+ our army and navy. Care was taken that oifi-
GERS, soldiers, and sailors Of our army and
navy, should be exempted from the operations
Of this order, and as the merchandise import
. ed upon which the order operated, must con
sumed by Mexican citizens, the contributions
were, in effect, the seizure Of the public reve-
!. Enues of Mexico, and the application Of them
to our own use. In directing this measure,
n the object was to compel the enemy to con
tribute, as far as practicable, toward the ex-
y penses of the war.
For the amount of contributions which
have beenslevied in this form, / refer you
to the accompany ing Feports OF Tue Secre-
tary Of W ar, and the Secretary OF The Ma
Wy, by which itappears that sum ex
ce eeding hall million ofdollars has been
collected.
The ataouut would undoubtedly have
been much larger, but for the officially of
keeping open communication between the
coast and the interior, so as to enabie the
owners oftna merchandise imported to
transport and send it to the inhabitants
OF tie country.
| 1t is confidently expected Chat this df,
Rculty will, to great extent, be soon re-
moved by our int reased forces which have
been sent to The field
Measures have recently been adopted,
by which internal, as well as external
reye dues, in all places, in our military
possession, viii be received, and aPrro
priated to the use OF our army and navy
The policy ofthe levying. upon the enemy
j contributions in every fern consistent
i with The laws Of nations, which IT may be
4 prac,icable for our military Commanders
/ 10 adopt, should be rigidly eniorced' aud |
iaoraers to this effect lave according been |
! given. By such policy al he same time
that our own treasury "il De FsisaseN
ftom heavy dFain, the Mexican people
will be made tofeel tue bqrthens .ofthe
" ar; and consulting their own tnteresisF
M ~ he ir,,inc ed. the more readllI 10 re