The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-07-15
lee than 4ss and. consequently. there Is de-

less than 436 and, consequently. there 10 de-
II we deduct from the annual expenditures, as above
the amount OF interest the debt. have estimated
il at five per csnttha is, ~. i92. i7s-we have as the
standing expenses of government 80 ass; which still
exceeds the nett By the Of 81 Oas JAG that
is say, that, supposng Mexico 10 be entirely out OF
debt without one cent OF interest To- pay or any unusual
burden Of any kind upon her. her ordinary would
st short Of her ordinary expenses more than one
million OF dollars year.
This is certainly. what have called IL very sorry
exhibit for Mexico and IL moi improved Dy taxing any
wider or srcier view Of the Of wealth existing
within this land Of mines the reputed treasure house OF
nature. Writers on Mexico are very macn given 70 ex-
posed nexhaastbe supplies OF the precious metals and
the immensely valuable agricultural products-cotton,
sugar. indigo, cochnea cofee tobacco, rice, maize.
soil We turn from the natural to the actual il is
not what Mexico might produce, but what she does pro-
duce. which are concerned with. All her effort have
resulted in any better general results than FIRST the
production OF just sufficient food TO supply the wants of
her own frugal peoples and secondly, OF certain amount
OF silver from the mines not exceeding $4,000 900,
annual exports and might say the total annual profit
OF ell the industry and capital OF Mexico.
Now, one main secret Of the poverty OF Mexico is that
she has nothing TO export but silver, and so small guam
ttyof it although the is in reality, OF very slight
consequence and the poverty would be almost relative
ly, as great il the amount were doubled Nothing that
Mexico do with her twenty millions of silver can
make il whit more valuable; capital and industry
would be expended on i in vain; neither manufacture
nor transportation can add sensby to its value few
mules winding down from the Sierra TO the Shore
few areros singing and shouting along the way and
few soldiers 10 protect the precious condcta from the
robbers embrace all the final industry expended upon this
raw material Of the mines; and single ship carry
away the whole years product in single voyage. With
means Of adding to the value OF her silver BY manu-
featuring labor or transportation il is quite clear that
Mexico import foreign goods ro which she draws
her customs duties) only to similar values and, in fact
from Senior Arangoizs statement the average imports fol
the three years, 43, ~ and as amount to about &c.
100000 year. On this amount Mexico imposes duties
averaging somewhat exceeding 20 per cent TO obtain less
Ii would be infinitely better for Mexico If she could
substitute cotton any other gross MATERIAL bulky
and capable OF being manufactured, for her silver
Twenty millions OF dollars worth OF cotton would give
her ships and sailors to carry il abroad and return with
Its avas and their own earnings; and If they manufac-
tured portion Of at home, do, much greater
and more valuable would be the immediate result as ex
qaence. the revenue OF the republic. Mr. R. j. Wake,
estimates the increase in the value Of manufactured over
raw cotton at an average OF about seven-fold, OF
seven hundred per cent Thus twenty millions worth
Of Mexican cotton, if Mexico could manufacture il
herself, would rise in value to one hundred and forty
mions which, ii returning through the custom
house in the form OF foreign products, would yield
gross revenue Of $2S, 100000. With such a re-
GLIDING interest her debt and the debt itself But
clear that to hope for such revenue, her people
do something besides raising and exporting twenty mil
lions OF silver They must turn and render available the
natural resources Of their soil, so often boosted Of
uniformly neglected and, above ALL they must stimulate
the industry OF race perhaps the ndoent anc
unemulatve in the world Mexico is worthy and she is
in reality, capable OF better things than she has accom-
pshed and certainly deserving OF less deplorable fate
than that which now threatens her. How such fate ma,
be averted, and what may be taken TO stimuli att
her people and direct their industry to the profitable
development OF her national resources are interesting in
quresswhich shall make the subject of some future
examination