The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-01-29
A glance at Mexican Finances.

nee, consisting OF SIX MEMBERS appointed 10 take mo
consideration the finances of the country, and devise
ways and means for the support of the government and
the prosecution of the war The report is of consider
able length, and is well written; and the members of
the committee probably selected with view to their
individual fitness for the task especially committed to
them, the res Of their abors may be worthy of notice
| The following is the commencement OF the report:
''The undersigned members of the special committee
OF finance, appointed to suggest ways and means to sup
ply not only the grave and urgent requirements of the
in which the Mexican republic is engaged but the
ordinary expenditures of that part of the public admns-
traton which committed TO the general government,
were of opinion that the august constituent Congress,
appointing them had devolved upon them task mpos-
sibe to accomplish and our conviction OF this was per-
tect when at the commencement OF our laborious nves
legations, had Immediately to contend between the
cessan and peremptory demands for the public service,
on the hand, and the acknowledged and almost pro-
verbal insolvency of the treasury on the other.
"Al its revenues blrdened, and the scanty
which they furnish spent in anticipation, though INSULT
Gent at best for the ordinary expenses without hope Of
obtaining resources except in the usual mode of requr
ing new sacrifices from an impoverished and unhappy
nation the means OF obtaining them by Introducing
economy ORDER and system into the chaos of our na
ces obsruced, while, the other hand, the salvation
and future existence Of the republic depend the
cession of these resources the want Of which, by ita
ting the causes which have always led to disastrous
dissensions, already endangers our internal peace and
our acquired liberty the individuals OF the committee
have repeatedly had to all their rmness to avoid
sinking under the magnitude of the task committed TO
the august constituent Congress, the modest but very
sincere confession of their inability to accomplish it,
Embarrassed by such difficulties, and confronted by
the serious fears mentioned the committee neyerthe
entered upon their investigations and applied themselves
to review of the which offered themselves
under present circumstances. They commenced by an
alyzng the plans for obtaining them proposed by the ad
mlnstraton, the first OF which, in substance,
mends grant of power to impose forced loan in the
federal district of 100000 doaIs the second, that
extraordinary contingent, the States should be required
to pay, monthly at the rate of 5000 dollars for
each representative which ii has in the constituent Con-
gress and the third proposed verbally in the presence of
Congress- to contract loan OF twenty millions of dollars
upon the pledge OF the property of the clergy and the
condition of relaxation of the prohibtory laws in favor
OF national industry"
The committee then proceed to state their reasons
for disappearing each and all OF these plans The forced
loan they say obviously contrary justice,
equity and decency and the constituent Congress
could not be expected to commence its existence by a
measure which would at ALLEVIATE from the public
confidence so necessary to it, The proposed extraordna
ny contingent of 900 dollars for each representative they
consider equally Objectionable and suggested by the
hastness and want OF foresight The revenues of the
States already insufficient for the expenses of their
government, and this contingent would compel them to
double their eyactons from the people As to the pro-
posed loan OF twenty millions, they do not feel themselves
justified in recommending it. To burden still further
revenues, their right dispose of which is already dis
pued and I'd expose their manufacturing industry for
egn competition, would lead to great present difficulties
provoke certain and serious opposition, and be fatal to
their newly acquired liberty.
They then refer to the fact of the suspension of pay
ments by the treasury account of the public debt and
the notorious impossbiy of continuing these payments
during the foreign war; they mention the arrang of
the internal debt of the first duties of Congress
and taking, point of departure, this existing
fac" of the suspension OF payments by the treasury
which pre-exstence they say, will exonerate Congress-
and the individuals subscribing the report from the mpu
taon of innovation prejulical to the public credit or
to the interest of creditors they proceed to consider the
demands upon the treasury, exclusive of those
of the public debt and the which may be cal
culated upon to meet them for period of six months
From information furnished by the government to Con-
gress and the committee, they estimate the expenses of
the army under Santa Anna at 1858, per month; and
those of the garrison of Vera Cruz $4,000 per month
Taking into consideration the outstanding claims for the
supplies OF the army the payment of which should be
sidered second obligation, and incidental and unforeseen
war expenses, they estimate the whole expenses of the
war at 10000 per month"; or, for the six months,
$3,600,0o0
The whole amount of the expenses of the general gov
eminent for the same period exclusive Of the expenses
of the war, and after abdshihg all Offices that can be
dispensed with, they estimate at ST. 5s 9Simaking the
total estimate for the SIX months So, lSl9si.
To provide this amount they look to those sources of
which, from their nature, may be safely reckon
ed on for the coming year, Notwithstanding the and
they call the attention of Congress to the fact of con-
tnued increase which has taken place in the revenue
from those sources, Notwithstanding the war These re-
sources are, 1s inposts on internal commerce. (ncu-
ding taxes the consumption of foreign produce) the
amount of which for the coming year estimated at
S3lo5770 I'd, taxes property, revenues, and trade
estimated Tor year at $l257.i9l; 3D. government
nues, and branches of trade, $32i03f 18th, other mi
nor sources 33.365; 5h, retrenchment of the salaries
and fees of public officers, and of pensions, &c. under
the general and State governments, 1850 ESTIMATING in
all for SIN MONTHS 81 ,300lss which, deducted from the
estimated expenditures, leaves deficit of $ssi 496
To cover this deficit and provide surplus for conn-
gencles, the committee with many apologies for resorting
20 the measure recommend that the amount of the direct
contributions decreed by laws enacted in the years Isl
1912, and lsl3 shall be required for year in advance
from all States whose territory not occupied by the en-
envy They hope that the States will be reconc lei to
this measure when they reflect upon the eygency which
occasions it, and that resortel after making the
greatest practicable retrenchment in salaries fees, &c.
from the chief magistrate down to the lowest servant of
the public
The OF these direct contributions for year is
estimated $l,lll,ooo, which, deducng the deficit,
would eavea surplus of $1,000 for the six months.
The committee say that, although they believe that the
which they enumerate would be sufficient, yet
they will not be so unless the revenues faithfully
collected and dsbursei and effect that object they
the appointment OF provisional board OF in
spectors to be composed of three individuals residing at
the scat of government, of eknown fortune, proby,
and patriotism, whose duty shall be to watch over the