Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1818-12-01
ON SOUTH A MEXICAN AFFAIRS.
DOCUMENTS
Referred to in the PRESIDENTS Nessgre
Mr.. RODNEY TO THE SECRETARY OF srAIG.

satisfactory esd ties OF the probable value or
amount in each province. There is: however,
| considerable internal trade carried on in the
Interchange of various articles between the
several provinces: cattle, horses, and mules,
| furnish considerable source of barter; with
the latter, Peru is usually supplied the Para
| quay tea is "A great article OF trade throughout
the country. The brandy, wine. raisins, and
| tgs OF Mendoza and San Juan. are becoming
| important the hides ofoxen, the skins of The
vacclDa aud gronaco, with a number Of fine
| furs. afford valuable articles of exchange
lGese, with the foreign goods transported in
every direction from Buenos Ayres, very rea-
diiy, by oxen and mules which also furnish
the means OF carrying their native production,
TO their sea ports, form branch Of trade Of
great magnitude, considering the population
OF the eonntry. - 80
Their exports are calculated, with some de-
gree OF accuracy, at ten millions of dollars
These consist, principals, of OK hides, jerk
heel, aud taitow, the present great staples of
the country. variety of furs aud peltries.
some gram, copper, mostly brought from Chill,
with geld and silver in bullion and coin, chiefly
| from the mines OF potosi
The imports are computedt to be about equal
to their exports. British manufactures form
the principal mass, and they are 10 be had in
great abusdance. They consist of wooden and
cotton goods of every description, some of
| them wrought to initiate the manufactures of
the country ironmongery, cutlery, hardware,
saddiery. hats, porter, ale, and cheese, are
among the remaining articles.
From the United States they receive lum
| Der of all kinds, and furniture of every des.
cription coaches and carriages of all sorts,
goldfish, mackarel, shad and herring, leather,
boots, and shoes, powder, and munitions of
war: and naval stores, Ships, and vessels, par
ticuiary those calculated for their navy, or for
privateers.
From Brazls they receive sugar. coffee,
! cotton, and rum.
| From the north Of Europe they receive steel
and iron and from France number OF art-
cles of lis Manufacture.
1 hpiV for 81. Ill
| ried on by British capitalists, though there
| are some Americans, few French and ether
| foreign merchants, alsosetiled at Buenos Ayres
they are all placed, | believe, on the same
| footing st equality.
| The revenue of the state may be estimated
| at about three millions Of dollars annually hut
| their system OF finance is very imperfect, aud,
| although their debt is small their Gre dit is lew
| They have hitherto avoided the issuing of pa.
per money, aud they have established no bank
-bni they have sometimes anticipated their
revenue by giving due bills receivable in pay
mcnt for dntes, or goods imported or articles
| exported: the impost furnishes the prinripal
| part OF the revenue. copy of their tariff, as
at first established, was time since trans
mitted, believe, 10 the Department of State
| in this the duties were generally specific and
high. understand they have been lately re.
duced, as their exorbitancy had occasioned
| much smuggling.
| Voluntary contributions from those friendly
| 10 the reyelntion, and forced loans from the
old Spaniards, have constituted another por.
| ton of their funds. To show the pnbc capi-
tal adequate TO all eXigencies, their different
civil, military, and naval establishments have
| been taken into view, and are comprised i'm
the estimate furnished, thing unusual with
us; bnt they have omitted their public lands,
which. ifa prudent use be made of the m, nust,
at no distant day, become very productive
source Otrevenre TO the state.
The mines of PotoSi which I'm all probahili.
~, Will very soon fall into their hands again,
may furnish tbcm with considerable supply
OF the precious metals. IL is stated, on res
recfabie authority, that so late as the year
1880, tie amount of gold and silver coined at
fsotosl In that year. was calculated to have
been 29o SIG in gold. aud $ 2 $50, i70 in silver.
The state of their army, and the condition of
their navy, will be seen by a reference to the
original return presented. (Appendix F.s)
Their army is composed OF regular troops,
CiorcOs, and militia In one other Of these
classes, they are educated to the military art,
and, tar as had an opportunity, and ca
pabie OF Judging, they appeared TO be we'll
| acquainted with the elements of their protes.
SION Their forces, according 10 the paper
furnished, are estimated at nearly thirty thou
sand men. They are composed of ,206 artii-
lery, 1888 infantry. and l4,7lS cavalry; OF
which IL ,iI3 are troops Of the line, oil are
Ciorcos. and 1888 militia. These form the
different armies of the centre of Peru, oftle
Andes OF CordOvs, and the auxiliary forces in
the Entire Rios. This statement, however,
only includes the militia OF the province of
Buenos Ayres itself Their supply of arms
anu OF war IS ample, dS VIII DE seen
by the statement annexed, on that subject
Their navy is small, and some Of their YES
sells are laid up in ordinary. A list of them as
wei as 0f their prlvateers, will be found in
| Appsndix L. Their private armed vessels are
subjected to very strict regulations, agreeabIy
TO their prize code, which is among The origi-
nal papers presented and herewith delivered
III may be proper, in this place, TO Introduce
the subject OF iie irregular conduct OF the pri
yaieers under the patriot flag, against which
the commissioners were directed to remon-
| strste. Having taken an opporiuuity OF ex-
planning to Mr. Tagle, the secretary Of state
tsepreceedlpes OF our governments; relative
| 10 Amelia Island and GaiyeztOD agreeably TO
| their Instructions, the commissioners embrac.
| Ell suitable occasion 10 urge The lust cause of
| complaint, which the maIpractices Of private
armed vessels, wearing the patriot colors. had
furnished our government on both topics
| they had long and interesting Conversations
| With the conduct OF the government respect.
! ing Amelia Island and Galvezton, MIR. Tagle
| expressed himself perfectly satisfied. aud he
discldimed Tor his government any privacy or
| participation in the Judgments Inado at those
| places. 10y persons actiBg in the name OF the
patriots OF South America. In reference to
ihe acts 0i cruisers under the patriot Gags, he
| said he was sensible that great irregularities
| had occurred, though his government had
| done every thing in their power TO prevent
| them, and were willing, is any instance of az
| erosion were pointed ont, 20 direct All inquiry
INTO the case, and. II the facts were established
| 10 punish those concerned and redress the in.
/ JuTed individuals. RE protested his readiness
| 10 adopt any measures that would mere effec.
| tually prevent a recurrence OF such acts, in
which lie expressed his belief that the pfiya
teers OF Buenos Ayres had rarely participated,
| though the character Of the government had
suffered from the conduct OF others. He sta
| ted That they had, on one occasion. sent oft
some OF tieir public vessels 10 examine all
| cruisers wearing the BGenOs AyTean flag, to
| see that they were lawfully commissioned and
to ascertain whether they had violated their
! instructions.
Amongst TIE causes Of dissatisfacfion IN