The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1849-01-05

enforced, and orders TO this effect have &C
cordingly been given. BY such policy, at
the same time that our own treasury will
be relieved from heavy drain, the Next
can people will be made 10 feel the burdens
Of the war, and, consulting their own in
terests, may be induced the more readily TO.
require their rulers to accede to just
peace"
In the same message, informed Con-
gress that the amount of the " loan,"
which would be required. for the further
prosecution Of the war, might be " reduc-
ed by whatever amount Of expenditure
can be saved by military contributions col
lected in Mexico" and. that "the most
rigorous measures for the augmentation of
these contributions have been directed, and
very considerable sum is expected from
that source" The Secretary Of the Trea-
suIy, in his annual report Of that year, in
making his estimate Of the amount OF loan
which will beprobably required, reduced the
sum in consideration Of the amount which
would probably be derived from these con-
tributions, and Congress authorized the loan
upon this reduced estimate. In the message
Of the 10th ofFebruary, 1S4S, to the Senate,
il was stated that g No principle is better
established than that a nation at war has
the right of shifting the burden off itself,
and imposing il OH the enemy by exacting
military contributions. The. mode Of
making such eyactions must be left to The
discretion Of the conqueror, but it should
be exercised in manner conformable TO
the rules of civilized warfare. The right
to levy these contributions is essential to
the successful prosecution Of war in an
enemy's country and the practice Of ma.
tons has been in accordance with this
principle. 1t is as clearly necessary as the
RICH, to fight battles, and its exercise is
often essential TO the subsistence Of the
army. Entertaining no doubt that the
military right TO exclude commerce alto
gelher from the ports Of the enemy in our
military occupation included the minor
right Of admitting it under prescribed con-
ditions, it became an important question, at
the date Of the order, whether there should
be a discrimination between vessels and car
goes belonging to citizens OF the United
States, and vessels and cargoes belonging
to neutral nations"
In the message to the House of Repre-
sentatiyes Of the Oath of July, lS4S, it was
stated that it is from the same source of
authority that we derive the unquestioned
right, after the war has been declared by
Congress, to blockade the ports and coasts
of the enemy, to capture his towns, cities,
and provinces, and to levy contributions
upon him for the support Of our army
or the same character with these is the
right to subject TO our temporary military
government the conquered territories Of
our enemy They are all belligerent rights,
and their exercise is as essential to the sue
cessful prosecution Of foreign war as the
right to fight battles"
By the constitution, the power Hto de-
clare war" is vested in Congress and by
the same instrument il is provided that ''the
President shall be commander-in-chiefo Of
the army and navy of the United States,
and that che shall take care that the laws
shall be faithfully execnted."
When Congress have exerted their pow
er by declaring war against foreign ma
ton, it is the duty Of the President to pro-
secute it. The constitution has prescribed
no particular mode in which he shall per-
form this duty.
The manner Of conducting The war is not
defined by the constitution.
The term par, used in that instrument,
has well-understood meaning among ma
lions. That meaning is derived from the
laws Of nations--a code which is recognise
ed by all civilized Powers as being obliga-
tory in state OF war. The power is de-
rived from the constitution, and the manner
Of exercising it is regulated by the laws Of
nations. When Congress have declared
war, they, in effect, make it the duty of the
President in prosecuting it by land and sea,
to resort 10 all the modes and to exercise
all the powers and rights which other ma.
tons at war possess.
He is vested with the same power in
this respect as if he were personally present,
commanding our fleets by sea and our ar
mics by land. lie may conduct the war by
issuing orders for fighting battles, besieg-
ing and capturing cities, conquering and
holding the provinces Of the enemy, or by
capturing his vessels and other property on
the high seas. But these are not The only
modes of prosecuting war which are re-
cognised by the laws Of nations, and to
which he is authorized TO resort The
levy Of contributions on the enemy is
right Of war, well established, and univer-
sally acknowledged among nations, and one
which every belligerent possessing the abb
lily may properly exercise. The most ,ap-
proved writer's on public law admit and
vindicate this right as consonant with rea-
son, justice, and humanity.
No principle is better established than that
"we have right TO deprive our enemy of
his possessions, of every thing which may
augment his strength and enable him to
make war. This every one ende avors to
accomplish in the manner most suitable TO
him. Whenever we have an opportunity
we seize on the enemy's property,and cor.
vert it TO our own use /; and thus, besides
diminishing the enemy's power, we aug
ment our own, and obtain at least partial
pJns,, Gao \ I. r "a,