[2.] Sen. 1; 30, 1, p. 945. U. S. Naval Institute, Proceedings, xiv, 539 (S. C. Rowan, recolls.). Griffis, Perry, 200. Ho. 24; 30, 2 (Mason to Speaker). (Reputation) [73]Bermúdez de Castro, no. 445, 1847. Sen. 69; 30, 1 (punishments). [374]Shubrick to Conner, July 17, 1845: “The time has been when the conviction of an officer of having told a deliberate, premeditated, official lie would be fatal to him, so far at least as the opinion of a Court Martial would go, but that time has passed—alas! for the Navy.” In the course of a short cruise, 1847–48, Farragut had to “rid the service” of five junior officers and bring to trial a first lieutenant for drunkenness (Mahan, Farragut, 97). Mar. 5, 1847, [120]Capt. Mervine charged a lieutenant with being intoxicated repeatedly while commanding at S. José, Calif., amidst a hostile population. July 10, 1847, [120]J. H. Brown, S. Francisco, Calif., wrote to Biddle that officers got drunk at his house and did havoc. [120]Commander Hull informed Biddle, Mar. 4, 1847, that a midshipman came aboard intoxicated. Many seamen were of foreign birth, but only 26 out of 853 officers.
[3.] [354]Welles papers. Ho. 188, 191; 29, 1. Howe, Bancroft, i, 292. Polk, Diary, Sept. 9, 1846; Feb. 20, 1847. [108]Buchanan to Bancroft, Sept. 29, 1847. [256]Marcy to Wetmore, Nov. 28, 1845. Seward, Seward at Wash., i, 51. “Bancroft” was of course George Bancroft, the historian.
[4.] [48]Bancroft to Conner, Aug. 30, 1845, secret. London Times, June 11, 1846. [52]Bancroft, no. 25, 1847. [52]King, no. 28, 1846. [52]Martin, no. 14, 1847. Picayune, May 7, 1846. [58]Spofford, Tyleston & Co., Dec. 11, 1846. [13]Bankhead, no. 79, 1845. [58]Emory, Stetson & Co., June 5, 1847. [46]Newell to J. Y. Mason, Nov. 25, 1846. Sen. 1; 30, 1, 945 (Mason, report). Richmond Enquirer, Aug. 15, 1845. Phila. No. Amer., June 20, 1845. Memoria de ... Guerra, Dec. 9, 1846. México á través, iv, 569. [13]Pakenham, no. 42, 1846. [52]Saunders (Madrid), nos. 9, 12, 1847. [52]Littlefield to Saunders, May 2, 1847. N. Y. Herald (weekly), May 16, 1846. Ho. 60; 30, 1, p. 566 (Jesup). Boston Atlas, May 18, 1846. Buchanan, Works, vii, 325–6 (to W. R. J.), 355–6 (to T. N. C.). [49]Bancroft to Conner, Aug. 29, 1846. What is said of Cuba applies to Porto Rico also.
[5.] (Action of Mexico) [13]Bankhead, nos. 68, 100, 147, 150, 161, 1846; London Times, Jan. 8, 13, 15, 1847; Dublán, Legislación, v, 161; [52]Slidell to Buchanan, Mar. 27, 1846; [52]Martin, no. 11, 1847; [297]Mackenzie (S. Anna) to Buchanan, July 7, 1846; Semmes, Service, 80–1; México á través, iv, 569; [52]Consul Black, Sept. 28; Oct. 29, 1846; [73]Bermúdez de Castro, nos. 294, res., 368, 1846; [52]Bancroft, no. 16, 1847; [76]Tornel, circular (regulations), July 26, 1846; Memoria de ... Relaciones, Dec., 1846; [52]Memoria de ... Guerra, Dec., 1846; Diario, July 27; Oct. 3, 1846. Irving (Madrid), no. 8, 1847. London Times, Jan. 8, 13, 15, 1847. Semmes, Service, 80. Sen. 1; 29, 2, pp. 40–1. [52]Saunders (Madrid), no. 9, 1847. [76]Almonte, Dec. 10, 1846. Buchanan, Works, vii, 334–42 (to R. M. S.).
[6.] [52]Martin, no. 11, 1847. [52]Bancroft, no. 16, 1847. [52]Irving, July 18, 1846. Richardson, Messages, iv, 495–6. Sen. 1; 30, 1, 945–6 (report). Wash. Union, July 22, 1847. The 29th Cong., second session, provided for the punishment of the citizens (apprehended on privateers) of those states having treaties with the U. S. which made their acts piracy (Wash. Union, Mar. 9, 1847; [13]Pakenham, no. 26, 1847). [108]Bancroft to Buchanan, Feb. 3, 1847. [13]For. Off. to Bankhead, no. 34, 1845. Cong. Globe, 29, 1, p. 811 (Berrien). Buchanan, Works, vii, 23, 52. The suggestion of commissioning American privateers excited opposition in Europe. It was feared that they would molest neutrals. Even in the U. S. it was opposed (Dayton in Senate, Jan. 27, 1847). Nothing came of it.
[7.] (England) [13]Bankhead, nos. 79, 1845; 150, 1846; [13]To Bankhead, nos. 34, 1845; 1, 1847; London Times, Jan. 22, 1847; Britannia, Jan. 23, 1847; [52]Bancroft, no. 16, 1847; Monitor Repub., Nov. 21, 1846; [52]Bancroft, no. 18, 1847; [108]Id.to Buchanan, Feb. 3, 1847; [73]Bermúdez de Castro, no. 294, res., 368, 1846. (France) [52]Martin, nos. 11, 15, 1847; [52]Guizot to Martin, Feb. 26, 1847. (Spain) [73]Bermúdez de C., nos. 294, res., 368, 1846; [52]To Consul Campbell, May 14, 1846; [77]Mex. Consul, Havana, Dec. 10, 1846, res.; [76]Almonte, Dec. 10, 1846; [72]Instructs. to capt. gen., June 18, 1846; [52]Irving, July 18, 1846; nos. 5, 8, 1847; [71]docs. relating to Cuban ports; Sen. 1; 29, 2, p. 40; Boston Courier, Jan. 20, 1847; Buchanan, Works, vii, 334 (to R. M. S.). Sen. 1; 30, 1, 945–6 (report). Picayune, Aug. 26, 1846. Conner, Home Squadron, 12.
[8.] Richardson, Messages, iv, 548–9, 561. Ho. 60; 30, 1, pp. 774–5 (Bancroft). Sen. 1; 29, 2, p. 377. Sen. 1; 30, 1, p. 951. [59]Circular to U. S. ministers, May 14, 1846. [47]Conner to Bancroft, May 14, 1846. [52]Consul Chase, Jan. 20, 1846. [76]Parrodi, July 2, 1846. [52]McLane (London), no. 54, 1846. [13]Giffard (V. Cruz), June 30, 1846. [162]Morris to Conner, Oct. 24, 1846. [313]Conner, instructions, May 14.
American vessels were excluded on the score of impartiality and also because the admission of them would have defeated the main purposes of the blockade (Richardson, Messages, iv, 571). A particular advantage of the blockade is that it enables a belligerent to close ports that it is not desirable or not possible to capture and hold. Under the U. S. regulations vessels lying in Mexican ports on the announcement of the blockade could remain twenty days and then leave with or without cargo. Approaching vessels could not be captured or detained unless previously warned in writing by a cruiser ([313]Conner, instructions). Vera Cruz and Tampico remained open for British mail packets (ibid.). Fishing boats were not molested. Bona fide British property, including cochineal, could be embarked on British war vessels at Vera Cruz ([13]Bankhead, no. 23, 1847). From the end of June, 1846, Conner permitted British mail packets to land quicksilver and take bullion. Engagements made before the war could be fulfilled ([313]Saunders to Callaghan, June 23, 1846). A difficult question came up concerning the floating property of neutrals residing in Mexico (Sen. 1; 30, 1, p. 1305). Mexico decreed that since her ports of entry were blockaded, all her other ports might give free entrance to vessels forcing the blockade ([70]“Guerra,” no. 1079), and that no tonnage dues should be charged during the continuance of the blockade ([76]Guerra, circular, Oct. 10, 1846). England had to admit that she was the last nation to protest against a strict blockade, but warned us that difficulties might arise in the enforcement of it ([52]McLane, no. 50, 1846); and she would not have our announcement published in the London Gazette since, said Aberdeen, it might check trade and after all not be made good ([52]McLane, no. 55). Spain insisted upon neutral rights with peculiar jealousy. The Spanish commander even claimed free access to blockaded ports under arts. 14 and 15 of the treaty of 1795, but found that art. 16 warranted the blockade. Spain’s vessels were treated with special indulgence, but she made many complaints. For Spain: [72]Instrs. to capt. gen. of Cuba, June 18, 1846; [52]Irving, no. 2, 1846; [52]Istúriz to Irving, Aug. 5, 1846; [71]papers relating to complaints; Buchanan, Works, vii, 240–1, 290–2; [47]Span. commander to Conner, June 24, 1846; reply, June 26.
[9.] [48]Bancroft to Conner, Aug. 30, 1845, secret. Picayune, Mar. 11, 1847. Sen. 1; 29, 2, p. 377 (Mason, report). Ho. 1; 30, 2, p. 1163 (Conner). [76]Parrodi, May 20, 1846. [76]Capt. of port, Tampico, May 20. Semmes, Service, 106. Conner, Home Squadron, 9. Negrete, Invasión, iii, 173. [313]Conner, proclam., May 14. [313]Id.., instructions, May 14. [313]Saunders to C., June 20; Oct. 24; to Amer. consul, May 20. [313]C. to Saunders, July 22; Sept. 30. [164]Conner, reports, spring of 1846. Ho. 60; 30, 1, p. 525 (spec. orders 128). Niles, Oct. 10, 1846, p. 85. [47]Conner, Oct. 8. (Goatzacoalcos) About 140 miles S. E. from V. Cruz.
It does not seem worth while to follow the movements of particular vessels. Sept. 30, 1846, the blockade was extended southeast to the River S. Pedro y S. Pablo. (Difficulties) [47]Conner, Sept. 22, 1846; Picayune, Mar. 11, 1847; Griffis, Perry, 210; [313]Saunders to Wash. Union, Oct. 10, 1846; [313]Id.. to Conner, Oct. 24; Semmes, Service, 106; [162]Conner, Jan. 28, 1847. (Somers) Sen. 43; 29, 2; Sen. 1; 30, 1, pp. 945, 950; [374]Semmes to Conner, Dec. 10, 1846; [13]Pakenham, no. 151, 1846.