The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-04-01

abundance mere, uuueS must be imposed al
lowest rate in order to collect any revenue; whereas,
many OF the same articles not produced in Mexi-
co. or to very nconsiderable extent, and would there
fore bear there much higher duty Tor revenue great
change also rendered necessary by the proposed
ton of duties all imports TO any Mexican port in our
possession, from any other Mexican port occupied BY us
in the same manner ihis measure would largely IN
crease the which might collect 1t recon-
mended however, for reasons OF obvious safety, that
this Mexican coastwise trade should be confined TO
our own vessels well the interior trade above
any port of entry in our possession, but that IN all
other respects. the ports OF Mexico held by us should
be freely opened at the rate of duties herein
commended to the vessels and commerce of all the
world. The ad vaorem system of duties adopted BY us
although by far the most Just and equitable yet requires
apprasement to ascertain the actual value OF every
article This demands great mercantile skill, knoWI-
edge and experience, and therefore, for the want OF skill
full appraisers class of officers wholly unknown IN
Mexcocould not at once be put into successful opera
ton there H. Also as proposed these duties are 10 De
ascertaned and collected military contribution
through the officers of army and navy, those brave
men could more easily perform almost any other duty
than that of estimating the value OF every description OF
goods, wares, and merchandise.
The system of specific duties already prevails IN MeXl-
co, and may be put by into immediate operation; and
some upon the people of Mexico, the the
operation OF these duties upon them, the sooner IS IKE
ly that they will force their military rulers to agree to
peace 1t is certain that mild and iorbearlng system OF
warfare collecting duties in their ports IN our posses
sion the Gull and levyng contributions, whilst our
armies purchase supplies from them at high prices, by rem
derlnI the war dement, OF
an injury has not hastened the conclusion of peace 1t
may be- however, that specific duties onerous as they
are, and heavy contributions, accompanied by vigorous
prosecution of the war; may speedily insure that
peace which have failed to obtain from magnanmous
forbeaance from brilliant victories or from profered ne
gotiaton. The duties, however, whilst they may be
specific, and therefore than ad vaorem du-
| ties, should not be so high 10 defeat revenue;
1t is impossible to adopt basis the tariff OF Mexico
because the duties exravagany high, defeating I'M
poraton, commerce, and revenue, and producing innu
| mo
tces, the importation of which into Mexico is strictly
prohibited by their tariff, embracing most of the necessa
res of life and far the greater portion of our products and
fabrics,
Among the sixty prohibited articles are sugar, rice,
cotton, boots, and half boots, coffee, nails OF all kinds,
leather of most kinds -four warn and threa
of all kinds common earthenware lard moasses, tim
Der of all kinds, saddles of all kinds, coarse woollen
CLOTH cloths for coaks ready made clothing of all kinds,
SALT tobacco OF all kinds, cotton goods textures chei
y such made by ourselves, pork fresh or sailed,
smoked or corned woollen cotton blankets counter
panes, shoes and slippers, wheat and grain OF all kinds
Such is list of but part of the articles whose mporta
ton is prohibited by the Mexican tariff These prohib-
tons should not be permitted to continue, because they
exclude most of products and fabrics and prevent the
collection OF revenue.
We turn from the prohibitions to the actual duties i'm
posed by Mexico. The duties specific throughout,
and almost universally by weight irrespective of value,
are generally protective exorbitan and without any
discrimination for revenue The duties proposed to be
substituted are moderate when compared with those I'M,
posed by Mexico being generally reduced to standard
more THAN Ont-ndll DelOW Tue
ties also based upon discrimination throughout for
revenue, and, keeping view the customs and habits OF
the people of Mexico, different from own, fix
ed in each at that rate, which, 1t is believed, will
produce IN the Mexican ports the largest amount OF
revenue
In order to realize from this system the largest amount
of revenue, it would be necessary that army and
Wy should seize every important port and place upon the
Gulf OF Mexico, California the Pacific, and open
the way through the interior for the free transit OF i'm
ports and exports and especially that the passage
through the Mexican SthmuS should be secured from
for the benefit OF our commerce, and that
of all the world This measure, whilst it would greatly
increase revenue from these duties. and facilitate
communication between forces upon the eastern and
western coast of Mexico would probably lead, at the
conclusion OF peace, to results OF incaculable m
portance to our own commerce and to that OF all the
world.
I'm the meantime the Mexican government monopoly in
tobacco, from which considerable revenue is realized
by Mexico together with the culture there which yields
that revenue should be abolished to diminish the
resources of that government and augment by
collecting the duty upon all the imported tobacco The
Mexican interior transit duties should also be abolished,
and their internal government duty coin and bullion.
The prohibition of exports and duties upon exports should
be annued and especially the heavy export duty on
coin and bullion, to cheaper and facilitate the pur
chase of imports and permit the precious metals unaXed
to flow out freely from Mexico into general circulation.
Quicksilver and machinery for working the mines OF
precious metals in Mexico for the same reasons, should
also be admitted duty-ree; which, with the measures
above indicated, would largely increase the production
and circulation of the precious metals, improve our own
commerce and industry, and that OF all neutral powers
In thus opening the ports OF Mexico to the commerce
of the world you would present to all nations with
whom we peace the best evidence of your desire
to maintain with them friendly relations to render
the to them productive OF as little injury as possible
and advance their interests far safely can
be done, by afordng to them in with ourselves,
the advantages OF liberal commerce with Mexico. 10
extend this commerce, you will have unseaed the ports of
Mexico repealed their interior transit duties winch OBJ
the passage of merchandise TO and from the coast
| you will have annuIed the government duty on coin and
bullion and abolished the heavy export duties on the
precious metals SO as to permit them to flow out freely
for the benefit of mankind; you will have expunged the
long list of their prohibited articles and reduced more
than one-haf their duties imports, whilst the reest
scope would be left for the mining OF the precious metals
These great advantages which would be secured to
friendly nations, especially when compared with the ex
cuson Of their commerce by rigorous blockades 1t is
true the duties collected from these imports would be for
the benefit OF our own government; but 1t is equally
true that the expenses of the which Mexico insists
upon prosecuting, borne exclusively by ourselves and
not by foreign nations. 1t cannot be doubted but that
all neutral nations will see in the adoption of such
by you, manifestation of your good will towards
them, and strong desire to advance those Just and hui
name principles, which make the duty OF beigerens,
as we have always contended TO render the which
they engaged little injurious practicable TO
| trail powers.
| These duties would not be imposed upon any imports
into our own country but only upon imports into Mexi
and the tax would fall upon the people of Mexico in
the enhancement TO them of the prices of these imports
Nearly all our products excluded by the Mexi-
tariff IN time OF peace they excluded also
during the war, far continue the system OF
bockadng any OF the ports OF Mexico and they also
excluded from the ports not bockaded possession
OF Mexico, whereas the system would soon open
commerce all the ports OF Mexico, they shall fall
into military possession Neither own nor foreign
merchants required to send any gosds to Mexico,