New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-06-07
tFRoM SAN JUAN DE NICARAGUA. 2
The Port of Gan JuaD-Rentlng OF tho Gus
toms-Ipjustice 10 Foreign merchanus'
y,I--...o-1enee of The TrIbane.


The Port Of San Juan Renting Of the Gus
toms-IpjustIce TO Foreign merchants'
correspondence Of The Trbsne.
SAN JuAS Thursday, April 49, 1850
se.,s Creeley 4 MeElrah:
call the attention Of the readers Of The ITl6'tHe
TO point in which interests until now have
not been defended with that energy due to the lm'
portapce of the question San Juan de Nicaragua,
BY the English called Greytown, the key OF the
projected Canal between the Atlantic and the
Pacific Oceans, has become more aourishing, partly
by its situation, partly by the expected canahzsuoh
of the Gan Juan River 1t is at the same time the
channel of the greater part OF the trade between
Nicaragua and Cossa RIGA, and viii become still
ore 40 as soon as the better roads in the interior
render trade with Europe by way Of the Pacific
Ocean unnecessary. Though this port is mostly
visited by American vessels, the Engligh Govern
rent conceived its Importance well enough, and
took such position that its political agent is the
constant tutor of the Indian King, who is friend,
and thus the Consul is the absolute ruler OF the
country
Its not NV intention to add to this fact any po-
Htical suggestions, or to examine the position in
which the United States are placed in regard to
these circumstances. We are going to relate only
one fact in order TO draw from it single conse-
o,erce whcb-althougb Of limited operaton-en-
dangers for the moment our own interest in
considerable degree, if not the interest of all.
Like all regions which are just beginning to I'M
fold themselves to the influence Of trade and cul-
ture. Central America, and particularly San Juan,
has hitherto In considerable degree been held as
n monopoly in the hands of those who first estab
lished their capital and industry there. 1t is natur
nj that they should seek TO profit as rapidly and as
long "a possible by their privilege Of priority, and
disnlsy hostility TO every plan Of concurrence The
later this unavoidable concurrence OF the aggre-
gate interest takes place, the greater their gain
r. This view. two merchants, who have settled at
San Juan within a few years, have made use OF
the weakness of the provisional English Consul, an
honorable well meaning physician, bat entirely Ia
experienced in business. They affected sincere
devotion to the English interests, and Intentionally
showed q party feeling, while, in fact, they only
care for their interests, and under the pretense
that the Government OF Mosquito is threatened,
call the ever ready English cannon to the protec-
ton of their warehouses and their hated monopoly.
First of ALL they made OF the interegnum for
lasting speculation, by renting the customs of the
bsrbor OF San Juan for u years from the LIST this
month This operation Is In ltseli as powerful
hindrance 10 free trade, as great national eco
o
the renters Of the customs are themselves mer-
chants eud deal with all kinds ofgoo1s. The duties
are nd ralorem, and all importing merchants are
obliged on account of the valuation, to EXHIBIT TO
their coupettors their goods and sources OF trade,
or--as the tariff declaresto avoid this, must allow
an increase OF only 20 per cent. by the customs
renters on their own valuation
How oopressve and injurious this arrangement
il for every merchant, needs no showing Since
each cargo comes hrst 10 the examination oil the
Customs the renters easily succeed IN placing their
hands first on any Dsecured goods, determining
ths nrices and dominating over the market, without
mentioning that their own goods are received
free of duty The entire duty is laid upoa the trade
of foreign States aud is political injustice toward
them. Mosquito aud san Juan are very small con'
kumers aud almost yAlueess as producers. Nearly
all the goods hch 90 IN and 0ut OF the port o San
Juan are articles OF export from Nicaragua and
Costa Rioa, partly for California. To all the
abuses, which are equally oppressive 20 English
trade, may be added the circumstance tina. these
renters OF the Customs are, personally, emolttered
enemies Of the American as vel as the Ncaraguan
interest Both have been uhldcRy 10 their early
commerce with both countries; both have been
Obliged TO fly from Ncsrsgus--one, French
Picompte, as a ruined cutvator Of land, and the
other, German, as a merchant who had vainly
endeavored to elevate his condition by credit in
the United States. Ofthe four vessels which have
arrived ia the harbor OF San Juan since the lst Of
April the two American vessels have already had
some costly experience The Captain Of one was
obliged to pay $50 hne for landing regularly
taxed barrels OF Hour without certificate Of entry.
The other Mr. q. r Priers, who passed through
San Juan on his way 20 California with expedi-
ton OF 90 persons freed himself with some difficulty
from a double duty winch was attempted to be put
upon him, bee 8use, upon his departure from New
York long before the Let OF April the British Con
sui there bad lot given nm an al vsl0rem sttests
tion Of bis goods They even asked duty upon the
medicine chests Of the physicians wbJ were on
board. All these vexGtloUs, Occasoned by avarice
and a mean hatred. will undoubtedly sugment IN
me latare, vigorous measures are nor taken to
protect our trade with the Mosquito Coast-xhich
is thus thre atened-against it. hone our CT ,yerp.
meut especially IN regard 70 the arrangement which
determines san Juan for tree pors. will take
means 70 obwste this farming out Of the co,,oms
which is as unjust as It Is injurious. An Amercsn
man.of war should be stationed IN the harbor Of
San Juan. An ELghsh waryessel is con,tantly in
attendance.
Messrs Priest x VOLTS company leave here to-
day for California They number Ioo-au well aud
IN eood spirits. L.