The Sun.
London, England, 1862-05-01 00:00:00

THE AFFAIRS OF MEXICO.

A letter from Mexico, dated March 2 ;, says :
It is true little could be expected from those pre-
cious " preliminaries" of which I sent 3 cu a trans-
lation in my last ; still, we did flatter ourselves
that a stop would have been put to forced con-
tributions and other exactions which are being
levied upon foreigners with such an unsparing
hand. The Juarez Government, however, acting
upon the principle " that if they cannot make use
of their friends, who are they to make use of," have
set to work with redoubled energy, and, not to be
defrauded of their just rights, they have themselves
assessed the sums on which the 2 per cent. capital
tax is to be paid. I need not tell you that these
assessments are excessive in the extreme. Still,
there is no appeal, and the parties have to pay or
be embargoed. When these preliminaries were
signed Baron Wagner at once passed a note to the
Government upon the subject; but the only reply
he received from Doblado was, "that the prelimi-
naries in no way touched the question of forced
contributions, and that it was the intention of the
Government to compel payment by every means in
its power." Numbers of foreigners will be ruined
by these scandalously illegal exactions, which, un-
fortunately have received the sanction of Mr. Cor-
wyn, the American Minister, who has gone out of
his way and issued a circular to all the United
States' Consuls, giving it as his opinion that the
tax is a legal one, and must, so far as American
citizens are concerned, be complied with. Only a
short time back a letter, signed by the Minister of
Hacienda, was sent to the Mint of this city, the
property of American citizens, requiring the imme-
diate payment of 500,000 dole., in which the follow-
ing paragraph appears
instructions of the President are that, taking into
consideration the urgent and grave necessities of the nation,
and with a view of swing the sacred rights of the country
at a time when the ordinary resources of the Republic are
entirely absorbed, he has resolved to meet the dinieulties of
his position by taking possession of private property, par-
t ietamly an such as may consist of ready money, wherever
it may be found."
A more distinct avowal of the intentions of this
very respectable set of statesmen cannot well be
conceived, and it is perfectly unintelligible how
with these facts before them Gen. Prim and Sir C.
Wyke should have persevered in a course which
cannot but result in the ruin of every foreigner in
the Republic. Treaties and conventions are all very
well when made with a Government that has some
sense of decency and honour; but to attempt such
a course with a Mexican Government after the ex•
perience we have had for the last 40 years is worse
than folly. Besides, did it necessitate the presence
of 10,000 men to exact a convention ? Anyone the
least acquainted with this country well knows that
a Mexican Government will consent to anything
that does not require an immediate sacrifice, because
they can always repudiate before the day of pay-
ment arrives. You may go on making conventions
till the day of judgment, and when that period ar-
rives you will find yourself as far advanced as when
you started. On the part of Sir Charles Wyke
treaties and conventions have literally become a
monomania, and as the far-famed " Tony Weller,"
in the ever-to-be-remembered trial of " Bardell v.
Pickwick," looked upon " a alleybi" as the only sure
defence to an action for a breach of promise of mar-
riage, so does our representative seem to consider
" a convention" as a sovereign cure for every politi-
cal crime and delinquency.
Not satisfied with the forced contribution, the
Government has just decreed a " forced loan for
1,000,000 dols., to be appropriated among 40 indi-
viduals, of whom some are Spaniards, and clearly
exempted by treaty, Not a week back Gonzales
Echevaria, the Minister of Finance, went to Orizaba
to meet Sir C. Wyke and Gen. Prim—why, or for
what, nobody kno ees. He had scarcely turned his
back upon the city when Doblado issued an order
against a Mr. Buck, a Spanish subject, for the pay-
ment of 100,000 dollers within 24 hours, in default
of which he was to be expelled the country by way
of Tampico, a road impracticable to a man in
had health and upwards of '7O years of ago. He has
been obliged to compound by the payment of
iVeJUU UUIIS. tug .
day may be extended to Englishmen and French-
men to-morrow. It is a direct attack upon private
property, and shows, beyond all doubt, that nobody's
strong box is safe. These cases might be multiplied
beyond number. But individuals are not the only
sufferers; the country itself is being plundered by
anticipation in the most reckless manner. I men-
tioned in my last a case where the Real del Monte
Company were to receive in 10 years 1,200,000 dots.
for an immediate payment of 300,000 dots. My
statement of the amount was incorrect. I find by
the most moderate computation that they will have
received 2,500,000 dole. Exclusive privileges and
contracts of every description, ruinous to the coun-
try, are being granted and entered into every day.
What little remains of the Church property is being
disposed of at prices merely nominal ; even hospitals
are being alienated. Of course, it is well under-
stood that members and employes of the Govern-
ment are hereafter to participate in the profits of
each and every one of these arrangements—a pro-
vision against a rainy day. If bona fide creditors
are ever to be provided for, it is shrewdly suspected
that the allies upon their arrival in the capital will
have to overhaul these most unrighteous arrange-
ments. In fact, it is impossible to convey even the
faintest idea of one-half the villany that is going
on. Mexicans themselves blush for their country-
men, and it is no figure of speech to say that such a
system has never been known—no, not even in
Mexico.

I All these iniquities, however, sink into insignifi-
cance when compared with the execution, or,
more properly speaking, the murder of General
Robles. This gentleman, formerly Minister to the
United States, served under Miramon ; when the
outrage upon the British legation was perpetrated,
he at once throw up his commission, and from
that time to the present has never served in
any capacity. Ho came in under the amnesty of
November last, but having been favourably looked
upon by theDeputy-Commissioners,he was de( med
a dangerous character, and ordered out of the ca-
pital. Not thinking himself safe, he attempted to
make his way down to Tehuacan and claim the pro-
tection of the allies. Unfortunately, he was ar-
rested when within three leagues of the French
outposts. The news of his arrest was telegraphed
by Mendoza, the commandant of Puebla, on the
night of the 21st. No reply was sent to this tele-
gram, as Mendoza was known to be a friend of the
General's, but a courier was sent off at once, with
directions to avoid Puebla, and make his way
direct to San Andres de Chichicomula, the head-
quarters of the Mexican army, with orders to try
him under that disgraceful law of the 25th January
and shoot him at once. Immediately his arrest be-
came known, every possible interest was made on
his behalf. Being universally respected as a gen-
tleman, a man of honour, and one who had the in-
terest of his country really at heart, he commanded
the sympathies of all parties. This was enough to
insure his condemnation with the present party.
Notwithstanding the most urgent interference on
the part of Baron Wagner, and in open violation of
the preliminaries, he was shot as a traitor on the
24th. Within my recollection no event has created
so great a sensation in Mexico. The following are
the letters which passed between the Prussian Mi- ,
nister and Doblado, the Minister of Foreign Affairs,
which will be read with interest :

" March 22.

" Sir,—l have just been informed that General Robles
has been arrested rear Tehuacan. This i 3 a most unfortu-
nate incident. At such a moment it would, without doubt,
have been more to the advantage of the Supreme Govern-
ment that he should have escaped. Through an unfortunate
circumstance or the precipitation of some inferior chief
the life of Robles may be in danger. I am certain,
Sir, that you wilt understand all the fatal consequences that
such an incident. as the death of Robles may bring upon the
Government, and, above all, upon the president. You will
perform a reel service to his Excellency in calling his at-
tention to this matter.

" You are aware that General Robles received an asylum
in the French Legation, and that such a protection cannot
have been conceded to him without the consent of the French
Government, who will resent any unnecessary shedding of
blood at a moment when an armistice has been proclaimed
to stay the horrors and the vengeance attendant upon civil
war. E, DE WAGNER."

Two days elapsed without an answer being sent