The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-10-17

From the New Orleans Bulletin
1t is anticipated that the extension of the Ameri-
an boundary SO near to the populous parts of Mex
leo the line of the Rio Grande will effect to con-
siderable extent revolution in the trade of that
try. For several years past, England, by sly means
and adroit management, has succeeded in monopo-
LIKING; in degree, the Mexican commerce. We
can well recoect when, eight or ten years ago, il
was common to notice the arrival of vessels from
Mexico in our port almost every week, laden with
fifty, or hundred, or three hundred thousand dol
lars in precious metals, consigned to merchants
here This specie was returned to US in ex.
change for shipments Of cotton fabrics and other
American manufactures. In carrying on the traffic,
number of Baltimore-built clipper schooners Of
the smallest class were kept constantly plying from
this port to Matamoras, Tampico, and Vera Cruz.
Of late, however, a change hns taken place in the
course of the trade. Instead of Baltimore clippers
arriving every week or two in New Orleans, with
consignments of Mexican coin, we see registered in
the papers the arrival at Havana, direct from Vera
Cruz of her Britannia Majesty's royal mail steamer
H0sed, or Clyde, or Tdy, laden with one or two
millions Of dollars in silver and gold These pre-
cous metals are on their way to England, to. pay
for cargoes of British goods previously shipped to
Mexico, and scattered her vast territory from
centre TO circumference. Immense is the amount
ofspccie every year drained through this channel,
from the Mexican mines into the Golfers Of British
merchants and manufacturers. But, as was before
intimated, the approximation of the United States
frontier to the Rio del Nore will in all probability,
put an effectual check to this monopoly. change,
il may be expected will be brought about somewhat
after tho following manner: The rates of the Mex
lean tariff are extravagsntly high-ranging often,
on cotton fabrics, at four and five times the original
cost Of the article. Such tariff Of course presents
temptations to smuggling that TO the Mexican char
acter, are irresistible. All Mexicans, tits sad-even
their custom-house oficers-part in the bust
ness, when an opportunity offers. Much of that
c0ntraband traffic has been hitherto carried on with
Texas by bands of smugglers organized for the
purpose. Indeed all Of the Mexican traders there
are smugglers in disguise. But the distance across
the desert wilderness they have to pass in returning
from Texas, where they are exposed to detection,
has prevented any very extensive operations by the
Mexican contrabsndists. As soon, however. as the
eastern bank ofthe Rio Grande is occupied by the
United States, the case will be very different 1t
will not be possible for any custom-bouse police to
guard that stream along its whole length. An army
Of fifty thousand men could not do it. Then, for
the trouble of crossing the river some convenient
depot on the American SIDE the Mexican merchant
will be able to supply himself with goods to an un-
limited amount, with every facility for transport-
ton to markets in the interior, free of duty In
this way il is anticipated that American manufac-
lures will be introduced into Mexico, in quantities
sufficient for the wants of the whole country, SO
soon as the boundary on the Rio Grande is estab-
lished and occupied With such facts before us, il
10 easy to calculate the effect Of the movement on
the monopoly now enjoyed by British merchants, of
the Mexican commerce.