Weekly national intelligencer., 1848-02-12
THIRTIETH CONGRESS.
Extracts from the Business Proceedings
IN SENATE.


Mr.. GASS by unanimous consent introduced Joint re-
solution authorizing medals and certificates be given to Of
fcers and volunteers for gallant conduct in battle during the
with Mexico.
larger and the othe, Of smaller sze with suitable DEVICES
and to silver medals be srck-he larger be
presented to commissioned officers and the smaller each
officer musician and private Of the regu
lar forces and o1Inteers who may distinguished himself
may hereafter distinguish himself in battle during the pre-
sent also, certificates parchment signed by the Pre-
sident, and sealed with the seal Of the War Department
counersigned by the Secretary Of War; be presented
each officer commissioned officer, musician and private
receiving meda-the certificate state the battle in which
such person has distinguished himself The officers who have
received gold medals and whom the thanks Of Congress
have been granted do not within the provisions of this
resolution 1t provides for board of not less than three
fedofcers, of whom shall be general officer, If the
service allows Of it, to be convened by the Secretary OF War
in this city, to examine the reports Of the various actions with
the enemy, and Of the conduct Of officers and engaged
therein, and designate such worthy and report the
to the Secretary of War; who is lay before the Pre-
sdent for his approval and the President approves then
medals and certificates to be presented further pro-
vides that when any officer commissioned officer, mns
clan, private has been killed in battle, died in
quence Of wounds received the medal and certificate If he
should be entitled to them, to 60 to his family.
Mr.. HANNEGAN, leave introduced a joint resolu-
ton Of thanks Col Alexander w. Donphan officers, and
under his command.
This resolution provides swords with suitable devices,
Col Doniphan Lieut. Col. d. C. MITCHELL Lieut.. Colonel
Congrave jackson, Majors Wm Gipin and Meredith L.
Clarke, in testimony OF the high entertained by Con-
gress and the country of their gaanty sedena and noble
conduct in the campaign.
THE PRESIDENTS MEXICAN TARIFF.
message received from the President Of the United
States in to resolution of the lst instant inqung
whether the President caused to be laid and collected any
taxes dutes mposts upon goods and merchandise be-
longing citizens Of the United States exported by such
citizens from the United States Mexico and if So the
OF such duties and the amount collected" &C.
The message refers the Senate the annual message Of
tacn
orders had been given to military and naval commanders in
Mexico to adopt the policy far practicable Of levyng
military contributions upon the enemy for the support of
army The Reporter gives such extracts from the
bear the most material points, having time ranscbe
the whole.l The President says
The order operated upon the vessels and merchandise
all nations whether belonging to citizens Of the United States
or to Foreigners arriving at ports in Mexico in mill
tary occupation The contributions levied upon
Mexican citizens who the Of the merchandise
imported But for the permit license granted by the order
all vessels and merchandise belonging citizens Of the United
States necessarily excluded from all with
Mexico from the OF the The coasts and
ports of Mexico ordered be placed under blockade
the day Congress declared exist and by the laws Of
nations the blockade applied the vessels Of the United States
well the other nations Had blockade
been declared had Of merchants entered OF the
be seized condemned lawful prize by the Mexican
thores When the order ssued operated as privi-
lege the vessels Of the United States well those of
foreign countries the ports held by
scrbed terms AMI conditions altogether optional with
citizens the United States and foreigners to avail themselves
OF the privileges granted upon the terms prssenteu
Entertaining no doubt that the military right to exclude
altogether from the ports of the enemy in our mill
tay occupation included the OF admitting under
prescribed conditions became important question at the
date Of the order whether there should be be-
vessels and cargoes belonging neutral nations Had
the vessels and belonging to citizens OF the United
States been admitted without the payment Of any Duty while
duty levied foreign vessels and cargo the object OF
the order would defeated The whole commerce
would have been conducted in American vessels contTbu
on could have been collected and the enemy would have
been furnished with goods without the exaction from him Of
anyc and
fted by military occupation instead Of being made to ee
the evils of the In order to levy these and
TO make them available for the support OF the army u became
therefore absolutely necessary that they should be collected
upon imports into Mexican ports whether in vessels belong
ing to citizens OF the United States or to foreigners.
m deemed proper extend the privilege to vessels
and their cagoes belonging to neutral nations has been
my policy, the OF the war with Mex,co
Justly snd literally all neutral nations and to
afford them just OF complaint and we have seen
the good consequences Of this policy BY the general sasac
ton which il has given"
In the inquiries the rates Of duties imposed
the President refers the documents which sccompa
MED the annual message Of 9TH December last and then en-
closes reports from the Secretaries Of War and Navy showing
that contributions have been collected all vessels and
goes whether foreign Amecan but that the returns do
not show with exactness the amounts collected on american
as dsnguishabe from foreign vessels and merchandise
GENERALS SCOTT AND TAYLOR.
Mr.. CRTTTENDEN moved that the Senate take up the
joint resolutions from the House giving the thanks Of Congress
to Major Generals Winfield Scott and Zachary Taylor.
Mr.. HALE opposed the motion at some length giving
vote thanks to those who tried put end to the
war
Mr.. UNDERWOOD replied, declaring that the officers
entitled TO thanks for their gallant behavior, however
unjusty the war might have been commenced.
MIR. BUTLER also cpudated the doctrine Of Mr. HALt
AT length, well in relation 10 what then before
them his peculiar notions slavery and conended that
the thanks Of the nation pre-emnently due TO Gen.
Taylor for the battle Of Bucna Vista.
Mr.. HALE I,joned iustying his position in relation 10
the war; and the Of his constituents slavery.
On motion Of Mr. CASS, the further consideration Of the
subject was postponed.
BILLS PASSED.
The following bills wrre then sescr,y considered in Com
nee Of the Whole ordered to be enprossed for third read
ing and were subsequently read third time by unanimous
consent and passed
bill IN addition for the relief Of Walter LOOMS
and Abel Gay, approved July 2, 1886.
bill Tor the relief Of Edward Boon.
bill confirming former sales by the State OF Illinois, o
he ohs saline Reservations and authorizing the sale Of the
residue Of such reservations
bill for the relief Of Susan Il. Gordon
bill for an increase Of the medical staff of the army for
limited time
bill for the relief Of Jones and Boxer
The bill authorizing persons to whom reservations Of land
have been made under Indian treaties 10 aenate be n
fee was taken up, amended, and passed
REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES.
By Mr.. DOUGLASS from the Committee on Territories
A b 10 establish the Territorial Government Of Oregon with
out amendment
BY Mr.. BREESE, from the Committee on Public Lands