Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1848-02-01
VOLUME 5. NUMBER 81.
The Mine, 81 M.xieo.

of San Luis and Zacatecas by two col.
umns ofGen. Scott's army, under special
instructions from the War Department.
We understand the expeditions were
about to be organized for this purpose
when the last official letters left Mexico
for Washington. If we may believe the
letters from the camp. written even before
these expeditions were suspected, the of.
feet will be to deal another heavy blow at
the enemy, by cutting him off from some
of his material resources. To show what
were the speculations upon this subject,
we lay before our readers the following
extracts of letter published in the last
New Orleans Commercial Timas, from
correspondent in the city of Mexico, Of
.he lst of December:
"The Mexicans-at leas. those who
are sufficiently enlightened to think-feel
that they have been for years enslaved.
unde: the captivating name oflibsrty; It's
sweets, its National blessings, they have
never enjoyed; and there is NO bond of
union between them and their govern
ment. Indeed, the latter would cease 10
exist altogether, five were to cut off the
resources which still remain to them.
These are to be found in the rich mining
districts Of Zacateeas, Guanaiuato, and
San Louis Potosi. We should take
prompt stepts to seize on these depart
n'ents. A foreign gentleman here, largely
interested IN mining operations, and res
Ident for twenty seven years in Mexico,
lately told me that the mines were never
at any period so productive as at present.
Taking the annual produce at $40, O0O-
OOO, three per cent.--the sum eIacted
by the government-Amount $780,
600. This is an important item in o
budget.
1.-The mine Of Real del Monte, 80
leagues from here, pays the government
$4,000 monthly. The house of Macin-
tosh & Co., in the city, predom-
inant influence on the powers that were
in his country; they had the controlling Of
the mints in Mexico. Guanejuato. and
Zacatecas, receiving the bars of silver
from the miners a, 90 much per mark
e ounces. )As this silver,in bars. contain
ed Is grains of pure gold to the mark, this
house made handsome profit by the ar
rangement, since no allowance was made
for the purer metal. II is the custom,
believe in every country. when bar sill.
yer is coined in any quantity, TO give the
owners the value ofthe gold, after tho
expenses attendant on separating il are
paid. have heard that the house above
alluded to has represented 10 the govern
ment ofthe United States that il would
be better for the latter to prevent the
expectation of siIves in bars, unless at
high per centage. ] think sound policy
indicates the propriety Of taking the su.
pervision of the mines into our own hands,
if We contemplate making long stay
here.
"Many respectable Mexieans fancy
that the great commercial house above
spoken of is playing double game with
Santa Anna and our government. They
say that Santa Anna. before leaving the
capital, made over to the head ofthe firm
his haciendas at Encierro and Mango dc
Clava, with all the real estate he possess
ed in the public. This same gentleman
is not in the base order. either with his
own countrymen or Americans, for The
CONSPICUOUS part he played in the ATmis.ics
at Tacubays."