The Sun.
London, England, 1864-04-01 00:00:00

THE FRENCH IN MEXICO.

(From a Correspondent of the Times)
MEXICO, Feb. 27.
Some few months back, in order to enable Vera
Cruz to compete with the ports then in possession
of Juarez, the duties on all imports were lowered 50
per cent. This, as a temporary measure, was much
approved. Since then the subject of the tariff has
been frequently!under the considerationof the French
authorities, and as it is notorious that some of these
gentlemen are in favour of very extensive modifica-
tions, it may be as well to consider very shortly
how such modifications, pa-ticularly if carried out
to the extent contemplated by some—namely, 75
eer cent.—would affect the future revenues of the

country.
It must be borne i❑ mind that ❑p to the present
time the duties levied at the ports have formed the

principal if not the only source of real revenue, and
although, from the system cf plunder and robbery
which has ever prevailed, these duties have seldom,
even in the best of times, produced more than

7,000,000 dols. annually (except in theyear 1831-32,
when the Vera Cruz Custom-house alone is slid to

have yielded within a fraction of 13,000,060 dols.),
yet few can doubt that with an honest collection
they would have realised more than double that
amount. Almost every Finance Minister from the
year 1830 down to the present time admits such to
have been the case, and the fact is susceptible of

proof in the following manner ;—The imports of the
country, as set down by Senor Lerdo y Tejada and
others, have amounted one year with another to
about 26,000,000 doll., and, from the inquiries I
have made, the duties upon these imports average,
at the lowest estimate, 70 per cent. of the real value

of tLe goods. This would give, under an honest col
lcction, 18,200,060 dots. Now, to deprive the coup

:ry of so large a source of revenue, at the very mo
meat when it stands most in need of it, is rather a
strong measure. Tranquillity restored and trade
flourishing, it will, of course, be important, as tar
as possible, to adopt the principles of free trade ;
butt in a country like Mexico, where, out of a popu-
lation of 7,000,000, 4,500,000 are Indians and non-
consumers, this cm only be brought about by slow
degrees. In most European countries increased con-
sumption has more than compensated for reduced
duties; but that will not be the case here. Before we
can hope to obtain increased consumption, we must
engender wants in the great mass of the population,
which can only be done by improving their posi-
tion, exciting emulation, and raising their morale,
and this must necessarily require time. At the
present moment I believe that an Indian woman
would still be sati-fled with one gown a year,
whether it cost her 2 doll. or 4 dole.
The general opinion seems to be that no violent
changes ought to be made for the present; that it
would be better in the first instance to do away with
the international duties, which only create trouble
and confusion, and leave the tariff, at all events for
a time, as it stands; that if a reduction if. made it
ought to be gradual, so as to give an ;.mpetus to
trade without materially affecting the revenues of
the State. Many believe that, with a judicious
system of taxation, the rever ues of Mexico may be
raised to 30,000,000 dole., but then this system has
to be devised, formed, and carried out, and to de-
prive a country in a state of bankruptcy, overbur-
dened with debt, and utterly without credit, of a
well-ascertained source of revenue, before another
has been substituted in its place, is certainly a dan-
gerous mode of proceeding. A great proportion of
the present duties have, moreover, been assigned to
the bondholders, convention holders, and other
creditors, and it would scarcely be acting equitably
towards these gentlemen to deprive them of this
security, unless some other means are provided for
the liquidation of their demands.
The following extract from a letter written by
Juarez:and addressed to Doblado confirms the truth
of a statement made in one of my previous commu-
nications, that en attempt had beers made to force
Juartz to abdicate in favour of Ortega :_
" I have already told you in my letter of the let, and I
have repeated it to Senors Carreaga and Medina, in the
presence of Senor Cabeza, that, I never said a word to the
latter touching my pretended abdication. I have well con-
sidered th-, question, and I cannot discover any rea:on of
sufficient weight to convince me of the propriety of the
course you wish me to adopt. On the contrary, I consider
such a course fraught with danger, and I am satisfied that
it would only cover us with ridicule, increase the anarchy
and confusion, and overwhelm me with ignominy. I fear
this result the more as it is by no means certain that the
enemy will treat with Ortega, whom he considers as a de-
serter who has broken his parole. Besides, facts prove to
us that the enemy does not wish to destroy individuals, but
merely the G ,vernmeut which the nation has adopted. It
is with this view that a monarchy under a foreign Prince
has been established, and that Napoleon, in his last speect,
to the Legislative Assembly, declared that he had no pre-
concerted plan; that he merely sought the triumph of his
arms, and wished to secure the interests of France by con-
fiding the destinies of Mexico to a Prince well qualified for
suck an undertaking, I, therefore, think that my abdica-