Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-04-03


you may deem advisable in order enforce their collection.
As the levy Of the contribution proposed is military right
derived from the laws Of nations the collection and sbuse-
ment Of the duties will be made under the orders of the Sece
tary of War and the Secretary Of the Navy, by the military
and naval commanders at the ports places in Mexico which
may be in possession Of The report required is
therefore necessary in order enable give the
directions to the War and Navy Departments.
JAMES X. POLK.
WAsHrSsroS, MARCH - Is47.
Treasury DEPARTMENT., MARCH 30, ls47.
Sir Your instructions Of the 23i instant have been
ceved by this Department. and in conformity thereto pre-
sent you herewith, for your considerations scale of duties
proposed 10 be collected military contribution during the
the ports OF Mexico, possession of
by conquest with regulations for the ascertainment and col
lection OF such dutes together with the which appear
TO me 10 recommend their adoption.
II is clear that either adopt tariff that
Of Mexico, or establish system of duties. Our own
ta could be adopted because the Mexican exports and
imports different from that different rates OF
duties indispensable in order to collect the largest
Thus upon many articles produced great abundance here
duties must be imposed the lowest order collect
any whereas many OF the articles pro-
duced III Mexico, TO inconsdeabe extent and would
therefore bear there much higher duty for great
change also rendered by the proposed exacon
duties all imports any Mexican port in possession
from any other Mexican port occupied by in the
This would largely the which
might collect II is recommended, however for
Of obvious safety that this Mexican coastwise trade should be
confined our vessels well the interior trade above
any port Of entry possession, but that in all other
spects the ports OF Mexico held by should be freely opened
the Of duties herein recommended the vessels and
Of al the world The al yaoem system of duties
adopted by US although by far the Just and equitable
yet requires apprasemen ascertain the actual value of
every article This demands great mercantile Skill knowledge
and experience and therefore, for the Of sku appas
class Of officers wholly unknown in Mexico-could not
al once be put into successful operation there IT, also,
l,..-
military contribution through the officers Of army and
navy those brave could easily perform almost any
other duty than that Of emang the value Of every descrp
ton Of goods wares and uerchandise
The system of specific duties already prevails in Mexico,
and may be put by immediate operation and it,
conceded specific duties should he burdensome upon the
people oil Mexico the the operation Of these
duties upon hem the is likely that they will force their
military rulers TO peace. II is certain that mild
and iorbearng system Of warfare collecting duties in their
ports IN possession the Gulf and evyng contbu
TONS whilst our armies purchase supplies from them high
prices, by rendering the benefit 10 the people Of Mexi
co rather than injury has fastened the conclusion of
peace Il may pc however, that SPECIFIC duties
they and heavy contributions accompanied by vigorous
prosecution Of the may speedily that peace
winch we have failed T. obtain from magnanmous obeaance,
from brilliant Victories from proered negotiation The
duties however whilst they may specific and therefore
than ad vaorcm duties should moi he "a hg
as defeat revenue.
il is impossible to adopt basis the tariff Of Mexico be-
cause the duties extrayagauty high, defeating portaon
commerce, and revenue and producing innumerabe frauds
and smuggling There also sixty articles the mpoa-
ton OF which into Mexico is strictly prohibited by their tariff
embracing most Of the OF life and far the greater
portion Of our products and fabrics
Among the sixty prohibited articles sugar. rice cotton
boots and half boots Coffee nails Of all kinds leather Of most
Kinds, Hour, cotton yarn and thread soap of all kinds
mon earthenwarr lard molasses timber Of all kinds saddles
OF all kinds, coarse woocn cloth, cloths for coak ready
made clothing Of all kinds SALT tobacco Of all kinds cotton
goods textures chiefly such made by ourselves
pork, fresh saIted smoked scsd wooen or cotton
blankets o. countePane shoes and slippers wheat and grain
OF all kinds. Such list OF but part Of the articles whose
importation IS prohibited by the Mexican tariff These pro-
hibtions should not be permitted continue because they
exclude most Of products and fabrics prevent the col
lection of revenue
We turn from the prohibitions to the actual duties imposed
by Mexico The duties specific throughout and almost
universally by weight irrespective Of value are generally pro-
ectve exobltanf and without any discrimination for
nue. The duties proposed to be substituted are moderate
when compared with those imposed by Mexico being
rally reduced 10 standard Than onehaf below the
Mexican duties The duties also based upon dscrimi
nation throughout, for revenue and keeping n view the
customs and habits Of the people Of Mexico 20 different from
our own are fixed in each that rate which, il il be
eved, viii produce III the Mexican ports the largest amount
of revenue
In order realize from this system The LARGEST amount AZ
revenue would be necessary that our army and navy should
seize every important port and place upon Gulf Mexi-
or California, the Pacific, and open way through
the interior for the free transit OF imports and exports and
especially that the interior passage through The Mexican 18th
should be secured from for the hene of
commerce and that of all the world. This measure
whilst would greatly increase from these u-
tics, and facilitate communication between forces upon
the eastern and western coast 81 Mexico would probably
lead, at the conclusion Of peace results Of lncalcuabc
importance 70 and to that of All III,
world.
In the mean time the Mexican Government monopoly il
tobacco, from which considerable revenue is realized r
Mexico, together with the culture there which yields that re-
venue, should be abolished diminish the resources
that Government, and augment own, by collecting thu
l,, al fha
duties should also be abolished and their internal gov
duty coin and bullion. The prohibition Of ex
ports and duties upon exports should be annued and cspe
ciay the hesxy-expou duty coin and bullion,
l(l5aAa' y c0"a>