Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-04-10
NAVY DEPARrMENT, APRIL 3, 1917

NAVY DEPARTMENT. APRIL 3, lS47.
SIR On the receipt of intelligence Of the military conquest
and occupation of California by the forces the United States
Commodore Stockton, command that station, in
sucted by orders from this Department under date 9Th
OF November last to admit the of citizens
and OF neutra excluding conaband such ports and
places in actual military occupation on the payment
OF moderate Duties within the limits prescribed by the tariff
laws of the United States After the occupation of Matamo
and subsequently of Tampco, instructions given in
regard 10 the import and export trade Of those places By
those instructions the import trade confined cagoes in
American bottoms which had paid duties in custom-house
OF the United States, and which, without drawback, were
cleared transpped OF the ports occupied by our
forces Mexico still obstaey refuses negotiate for the
restoration Of peace The President has determined to place
the trade OF all such ports and places of the enemy the
Pacific and the Gulf Of Mexico, or may be in
our actual military occupation, footing more favorable to
neutral commerce and better calculated contrbu
ton 10 be used in carrying the war; and in relief of our
own Treasury The considerations which have induced the
President direct this ORDER in the of beigeen
right fully stated in the papers, copies Of which
with enclosed He has availed himself Of the commercial
knowledge and practical acquaintance with the subject
trade OF the Secretary of the Treasury and the officers
ed To the Treasury Department. for the details his orders
through The War and Navy Departments for military duty
under acknowledged right of As the commandern-
chief Of the army and navy he has approved the schedule
and makes it obligatory you in carrying his orders into
effect They derive authority from the Treasury Depart
men which has control the subject but having been
examined and adopted by the President he has determined
them be carried into effect by the officers of the army
and navy, the occupation of such portions of enemy
territory Thus adopted and made public our own citizens
and neurals have full notice Of the on which their trade
will be admitted and officers furnished with safe guide
protect them against the consequences Of want Of pact-
cal knowledge and the confusion incident Of uni
formity and system.
In conformity his directions now instruct YOU to cause
the system he carried into effect with due observance
the schedule Of articles be admitted the rates OF duty
prescribed and of the regulations prepared at the Treasury
Department, which have received the Presidents approval
In regard to the regulations deem necessary only to add
this general reference, that you will give the thirteenth
liberal Interpretation The policy Of the whole system ia to
obtain contribution from the people of Mexico by the mpo
of indirect exaction from them and is desired that
brave officers, soldiers, sailors and marines shall bear
part of this burden The article has been carefully pre-
pared to protect these mentoous from any increase
prce by reason OF the duty and you WILL in execution
construe to accomplish this result without giving to the
suffers the actual benefit drawback articles not sold to our
officers and men for their
Where port orplace possession and garrison
ed by land force, the commanding officer Of which is not
below the rank Of colonel the duty ofcoecng
ing for the duties will be performed under his authority and
direction the naval force present s1dng all the aid in its
power to enfotce the collection Of the duties At all other
ports where naval force present. the duty will be perform
ed by the senior naval officer present. under your direction
but if IN your operations against the enemy, by
weather OF other accident the naval force Withdrawn the
performance Of this duty will devove on the highest armv
officer duty, whatever may he his rank When YOU have
believe that the public service will be best
by such at particular port where under these
instructions the naval officer present would he authorized 10
act, you WILL ty orders such officer direct that he
shall leave the performance Of the duty in the hands of the
army officer in command Of such port or place
You will use the most digen that the moneys
collected by officers under your command are accounted for
and paid short intervals according the regulations
Tor public to the pursers dsbursng officer Of the
army where may best promote the public by paving
the other You will require that the receipts
Of the officer to whom such payment shall be made are pro-
pey attesed vouchers You will cause separate weekly
accounts detail, he returned to YOU showing the re-
cep from whom and for what, and the payments Of money
by the officers under your command respectively charged witt
the collection OF duties and transmit this Department ate
your approval, such accounts, with a general statement
least a month
The dbursug officers TO whom the moneys collected ma,
be paid will he required TO settle separate accounts and
held to strict accountability for the The money :,
collected and paid will be subject disbursement on pub
lie account Tor the army navy in the prosecution Of tn
war, under the direction Of the officer of the army or nav
under whose orders the dsbursng officer may be acting
IL Is possible that IN the practical execution Of these orders
Notwithstanding The care with which they have
you may hnd that notifications may be udcous atann
tue great OBJECTS IN view II so, You will suggest them "a
consideration by the Department.
The President directs impress on Won and the off
under your command, his desire that the dute
imposed shall be performed by the officers Of the arm
and navy in spirit Of cordial operation and good will hs
all collision may be avoided and that the care be oh
served TO prevent confusion in the accounts.
II il obviously necessary Of giving full effect TO TN
ysem that the ports Of the enemy through which supple
may enter for their conception must far practicable
seled and held by After the anticipated Of III
Jon attack Vera Cruz is expected that you will emplo
te forces under your command in accomplishing these objects
You WI vigorously blockade such ports you may NJ
deem II best to capture and hold that excluded from then
lawful foreign commerce seeking ineres into Mexico
readily find admission through those norris held by rs on n
moderate anu reasonable conditions imposed
mus by holding those which lie most advantageous
occupied and bockadng the other ports on the Mexican
The whole commerce for the supply Of Mexico must pa
through lines and pay as The cont lutions which
the purpose Of the President from the enemy sb