The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-12-09

government of Mexico.
have not been able obtain any reliable statement of
he amount of duties realized in Mexico upon exports
(, however il were fairly collected upon all the exports
\, specie from Mexico, il would probably not amount to
ess than 81 900 900 per annum. 1t rs not KNOWN how
ever that so large sum realized from this duty
ever recorded in the custom house returns OF Mexico.
Under these circumstances, It IS extremely dhcu to esi-
mate the amount of duties which could be derived from
his source but they ought not TO fall below $3eo,09o per
,nnum. The receipts from duty on imports collected
by Mexico have varied from six to twelve millions Of
dollars per annum; and think it ought not to be less
with the ports and interior and the roads in posses
sion. and rendered secure for exports and imports
There many reasons why il ought TO be greater
The present duties framed to yield the largest
revenue whereas the Mexican tariff was in the highest
legree protective and prohbltory the duties even when
the goods admitted being generally adverse 10
nue There were also sixty articles, the Importation OF
which was prohibited atogether-among which were
sugar, rice cotton, boots and half boots coffee nails OF
Ill kinds leather Of kinds, flour, cotton yarn and
thread soap of all kinds, common earthenware lard
noasses timber of all kinds, sa ldes of all kinds, cotton
roofs textures chiefly such are made III the United
States; pork, fresh sailed, smoked cured woollen
cotton blankets, counterpanes shoes and slippers;
wheat and grain of all kinds The admission OF the pro-
hbted goods at reasonable rates. the change OF the pro-
,ecve into revenue duties, and the abolition of the
heavy transit charges must e course increase imports
and revenue, and greatly enlarge our trade with Mexico
bringing back specie in return for our goods imported
there No nation in proportion to its wealth, can afford
TO import more than Mexico because her great staple
export being specie, sought by all nations in exchange
for their goods imported there. Under our brave officers
the money will not be lost as 1t was to great extent By
pecuaton under the Mexican government and the lower
duties will to great extent prevent smuggling The
utes also being collected on the goods imported from
Mexican port into another will be an addition to the
amount exacted by the Mexican government.
On the whole, cannot believe that under the circuIn
stances and condition of things above suggested as the
most favorable to augment these contributions, that the
utes imports, with all the ports the roads and lnte-
or in military possession, would be less than was
under the government of especially under the
guaranty already given, that in treaty of peace
will announced, be provided that the goods imported
,bo ha ed ia
duty by Mexico.
The internal revenue collected by the Mexican gov
ernmen well as departments, was about Sl3,oooOoo
do not believe however that any very large portion
Of this could be collected under military sys
tenn; and have sufficient data upon which TO base
any reliable estimate as to these OF
Under these circumstances, it Is impossible TO name
any precise sum that which probably would be de-
rived from military contributions in Mexico The more
complete however, the possession OF the country by
our troops the larger would be the revenue. Thus
much have thought it incumbent on me to say and
without being able TO fix any precise sum- ~ my co
vcon that the revenues that may be derived from THESE
various sources in Mexico would be very considerable,
and augmenting from time TO tune In view, however,
of the uncertainty Of the amount of these contributions
present and the delay in carrying them INTO eject
the measures proposed for augmenung the revenue BY
duties upon and coffee the reduction OF the price OF
the public lands, and the extension OF the pre-empuon
privilege should not be adopted by Congress recommend
that authority beganted to negotiate loan tor the sum
of upon the terms authorized by the act OF
2Sh of January last Should the war be continued un-
i'll the lst July 1si9 additional loan, amounting to
would be necessary II no additional revenues
in Mexico As it is believed however, that consider
able sum must be derived from these contributions, no
further loan beyond the amount OF $lS,5OOOO0 is asked
al this period and it believed that this sum all that
will be required, in all probability, until the meeting oil
Congress in December, 1913, is possible however,
that further loan for not exceeding ~, 100000
may be required before that time Should this be the
case there will be ample time to communicate the lnior
nation to Congress, and ask further provision Tor 'ha'
amount.
duty of twenty-five per cent al valorem on tea ana
coffee again respectfully recommended by reference
to tables RR and RR 2, 1t appears that the aggre-
cate value of our imports of and co!ee progressing,
and that the lmpost suggested would probably ye'd an
annual of $3o0O,000, reducing the loan, aiding
the credit and finances OF the government and with our
other securing prompt payment TO our gallant
army and navy, who vindlcatng the rights sustain
ing the honor and eevatng the character OF our coun
try The experience of the last year proves that no a
dtional revenue, exceeding few thousand dol
lars could be obtained from any augmentation ei autes
upon the duabe imports. No such augmentation is rec,
ommended and scarcely any revenue could be derived
from the few remaining articles on the Tree s exclusive
of tea and cotee. -.
II is a sound rule when contracting public debt 10
provide at the time, such revenue as VIII be adequate
for the prompt payment of the interest," and the gioua
but certain exingushmcnt of the principal OF the debt
So long this rule pursued, there is no danger OF any
alarming accumulation of public debt, any apprehen-
sion thai the public credit will be impaired or enbar-
asse To refuse the tax at this tme would be to accu-
muIae large debt with an augmenng amount Of inter-
est and with no certain provided for the qu!da-
ton Of such engagements The credit of nations best
maintained when for all their obligations, adequate pro-
vision is made the times and there is danger that IN
creasing debts without any additional revenue, might eX-
pose finances TO great hazard.
Diminishing expenses being one OF the best means oil
improving the finances, the charges OF collecting the rev.
enIe from customs have been carefully examined, ana
every retrenchmen made compatible with the ps'lc IN
lterest The saving thus effected notwithstanding the
vast increase of business, will amount is believed 10
nearly $500 900 per annum not by reducing wages, or
reasonable compensation but by dispensing with every
officer or agent not absolutely required for the publc
service; by caIng the expenses OF the revenue ma.
rne by Introducing rigid and perfect system oil
accountability; by classifying the expenditures and ar
ranging them in tables under distinct heads and above
ALL by subecng them TO the checks under the SUI
pervison of the accounting officers OF the treasury asap-
DIV TO appropriations made by law IN regard 10 WHICH,
Congress will, no doubt be guided by that wise ana en-
ghened economy important at tins time to the nam
enance of the public credit
The recommendations in my first, rs well as my second
annual report, OF the reduction of the price OF the pDic
lands in favor of settlers and cuyaiors together win he
removal of restrictions upon the pre-emptlon
ton of Congress Sales the reduced price, it is Thought
should be confined 10 settlers and culhyaors IN limited
quantities, sufficient for farms and plantations, and the
pre- -empon privilege extended every bona de settler
and embrace all lands, whether surveyed unsuryeyed
TO which the Indian title may be extngushed The
lands remaining subject to entry, at private SALE on the
first of this month, 1852 0O acres; and the I'M
surveyed lands to which the Indian title has been
tngushed, II 0lS2ll acres, (per table H. The adoption
of these two measures, Tor the reasons stated IN my pre-
vous reports would augment the revenue million and
half of dollars per annum, operating as they would on
o23 lg 2l5 acres 1t would at the time increase
the wages OF labor, by enabling much larger number OF