Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1831-10-10

Ertract ofn ie,ier from respectable nlerchanito
b;s correspondea in Neic York. dated
Mexico, August 10th, 1881.
.Siu,e nv return to Mexico. have renewed
nv acquaintance with Col Butler. the American
minister. and have been received by him with
the utmost kindness. The more | know OF him,
the more appreciate his character. lie Is man
of vast deal of good sense active III his service.
totally devoted to his country. and ever ready to
defend the rights of the United States. lie IS
certainly one of the most popular OF the DIpo-
matte agents here, yet all this cannot aVa'l MN
any thing with the government, when Is TAR 'roH
being friendly to foreigners or to their commerce.
and courts popularity BY sacrificing their Interests
have indeed found the public opinion materially
changed in regard to foreigners ne "aueu
shown to them has been much increased, 1t Is IN.
deed as cordial as possible. The priests and old
Span,ards whom tbs government permit 10 re-
turn, do all in their power to increase the evil
In the Nuthern Provinces it Is worse even man
herr In violation to the Constitution. several
of the nothern states. have passed and enforced
law prohibiting foreigners from having retail
stores; and such a law is now before the Federal
Congress, which has been assembled since the Isl
Instant in extraordinary session. III order to DIS
cuss the various treaties which have been lately
| concluded. From other states (namely from that
of Vera CRUZ proposals have been sent into levy
| Il higher duty on mportations made by foreigners.
than on those by Mexicans. nay others went SO
| far as to propose that all should be expelled
Several of these proposals of course will be reject
ed. they serve however to show the dislike with
winch foreigners are treated here. As 10 the law
concerning retail business 1t is very likely that
| il will be sanctioned, whatever may be the repre-
/ ,G -t.-l,u
on the score that it would be violation of the
treaties between Mexico and those nations.
Mr.. Buffers treaty, which has been ready for
ratification since October last, land which, in
spite of his faithful exertons. he has not been able
to bring before the Chambers sooner and that Of
France, Prussia, and the Hanseatic towns, now
await the decision of Congress, and as soon as
that shall be obtained, the several minis tiers will
Join together in their prOtestatlOns against this
law. Yet even should the law not pass here, il
will be exceedingly difficult to annul it in the 9TH
err states, for the federal government is altogether
powerless.
They have no arms, although their few soldiers
cost them every year, according to their budget,
| II millions of dollars. and the dlfcrent states
which consider themselves perfectly independent.
pay no duties to the federal government, and do
what they please
This o,ernment, regret TO say, is far from
being in as prosperous condition as the ministers
manage to represent tin the foreign newspapers,
and as they tell every day TO the people here. -
Since its establishment, all proceedings have been
characterized by hostility towards foreigners,
taxes have been levied upon taxes and, in fact,
so many obstacles have been thrown in the way
| Of commerce, That those measures begin to ope-
rate powerfully against the government, by dI'n'-
| nishing the amount OF duties collected, which,
with &c" eHNspiinns, forms their only revenue. -
The maximum OF duties collected IN all the Mex
lean ports even in their best times, docs not
coed seven millions, and their budget reaches Sc
venteen millions Of dollars, the payment OF inter
est on the English debt not included The def.
cit, therefore, is very considerable, and still in
creasing. in consequence o. the falling Oft OF the
revenue from duties. Under such clrculnstan-
ces. 1t is out of the question to think that they
could regularly pay the interest on their English
debt: the capialZng of the interest, which has
been in arrear. is merely trick to take in such
as NAV believe that the few remittances Of about
800, 200, which they have made this year. will
be continued SO as to complete the $4,000, 900
which they have to pay annually for interest.
Such is the state of things, and it is impossible
to foresee where this may end; certainly it can
not lead to prosperity. must indeed ask your
pardon for having so much enlarged upon sub
ject which is the on = one could presume to be
Of any interest to you, on account OF the vicinity
of the two countries .-Her .4dr.