Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1847-12-13

lapse OF a few months. il became apparent
that these assurances. and this mid treat
meEt have failed TO produce the desired
effect upon The Nexica population. The
war has been conducted. uPon cur part.
according 10 the most humane and liberal
principles. observed By civilized nations.
1t was wa1ei IN a far different spirit on
thu part Gf Mexico Npt approaching CTR
f,rbrarance. the Mexican people generally
became hostile 10 the Unlted states. and
awaited l:leul- tlyes Of the oPpoftuAlt. u
commit the most savage eNcesses upon
our troops Large numbers Of the papula-
ton took up arms. and. engaging N g'Iar-
ia aliare. robbed and murdered. IN the
most cruel manner. individual soldiers. or
small parties whom accident or otner
causes had separated from the main body
Of orr army Bands OF the eacrrii;as.
aud robbers infested the roads. horrasSad
our trains. s,na whenever it was IN their
power. cut OF orr applies.
The ,icxican~ having ,hl,s shown than-
selves to ba v@o.ls apahle ct apprccia-
t1ue our I5rbearauce and liberalltv, II WAS
deemed proper to change the manner 81
conflicting the war. making Them feel il
pressure according Is the usag"s observed
nader similar circumstances, III ull other
civil ze nations.
Accordingly. a. carly a the o2 / Of Sop
tamber. 1876. Instructions were gwen. by
the Secretary Of y ar. To MAJOR General
Faylar. 10 draw supplies for our army from
the enemy. paying ior them: aud to require
contributions for It's support, il in that way
ne was satisfied he could get ahundcnt
supplies Tor his forces. In directing the
execution OF these instructions much was
necessarily left u the discretion OF the
commanding officer. who was best &c Iuain-
ted with the c rcumstanccs by which Ac
was surrounded-thc wants OF tho army
and the practicabilfy OF enforcing the
measure.
+ Gen Taylor. on the o6th Of October.
1916; replied from Monterey, that il would
have been impossible. hitherto. and is 50
now. to sustain the army by forced con-
fributlon~ or supplies.
Fer reasons assigned by him. hi. did not
adopt the policy Of his instructions. but de-
carad his readiness 10 do So, should the
army in its future operations. reach por-
ton of the country which may b. made to
supply the troops with advantage.
lie continued to pay for the articles Of
supply winch were dr,t" from the enemy 5
country.
Similar Instructions were issued to Ma
jor General Scott on the 3! Of snrii. 1917.
who replied from Jalapa. on the gotta OF
May. 1871. that ii il be expected that the
army is to support itself BY forced contri-
buttons levied upon the country, we may
ruin and cXaspcratc the inhabitants. and
starvc ourselves The same discretion
was given To him that had been to Gen.
TaNlor in this respect. Gen. Scott, for
the reason assigned by him. still continued
- pay for articles of supply for the army,
which were drawn from the enemy.
Alter the army had reached the heart Of
the most wealthy portion OF Mexico. il was
supposed that the obstacles which had be-
fore that :imn. prevented. would not be
such Is to render ImpraeticablC the levy Of
forced contributions tUf It's support: and on
the FIRST of September. and Oh the 9th OF
October 1871. the order was repeated in
dispatches. addressed by the Secretary of
War t. Gen Scott: and his attention was
again called to the importance of making
the cnolny bear the burdens OF the war.
by requiring tn IN to furnish the means OF
supporting our army; and he was dir ,cted
to adopt this policy. unless by doing 50
there was dang T OF deprlving the army OF
necessary supplies. Copies OF III dcs-
patches were forwarded to Gen. TaS lor
for his government.
On the 3lst OF March last | caused an
order 10 he issued 10 our Military and Ma
val Commanders. 10 levy and collect a
military contribution upon all vessels and
merchandise which nj 4ht enter any Of the
ports Of Aexico in our military occupa-
ton: and II apply such contributions to-
wards de!raying the expenses Of the war
,fI,n Of ti,. trItt snnu,,..... "a.
laws Of war, the coiGu ro", consulting his
own safety or convenience. may either eX-
clude foreign commerce altogether from
all such ports. or permit it..upon such terms
and conditions as he may prescribe. Be-
fore the principal ports Of Mexico were
blockadcd By our NAVY. the revenues de-
rived from import duties. unde, the laws
Of Mexico, were paid into the Mexican
treasury. ittcr these ports had fallen into
or military posse ssion, the blockade was
raised. and commerce with them permit
ted. upon prescribed terms and conditions.
#-Thev were open to the trade of all ma
tons. upon the payment Of duties. more
moderate in their amount. than those
which had been previously levied BY Nexi-
co; and the revcnu" which was formerly
paid into the Mexican treasury, was direct
cd to bo collected By our Military and Ma
val officers and applied TO the Of our
army and navy-Care wa, taken that The
officers. soldiers; and sailors Of our army
and navy. should be exempted from the
operations OF this order. and as the ner-
chandize imported. upon which the order
operated. must be consumed by Mexican
citizens, the contributions were. in effect.
tie seizure Of the public revenues Of
Mexico. and the application Of them 10
oar own use. Ia directing this measure.
the object was 10 compel the enemy to
contribute. as far as practicable. toward
! the expenses Of The war.
For the amount of contributions which
have been leivel in this form. | refer YOU
70 the companying reports of the Secretary
Of N ar. and tn Secretary Of the \aXE