New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-05-06


him With duplicity. and with acting wholly
for selfish ends. but we have seen nothing
in his recent course to Justify such an &C
cusstion.
The leading measures Of policy, which
alone can place Mexico On a secure basis,
are asfollows: /. The permanent ad ust-
ment of the National Finances. >. The
revision Of the Revenue laws and their
strict enforcement. 8. The fulhlmert Of
the Federal Compact by the States; and,
4. The adoption Of liberal measures with
regard to Education, Immigration, Manufac-
lures, &c. We DO not speak of a reform
in the administration of justice or Of curtail-
ing the immense privileges Of the Church,
because these are changes which demand
time, and which will follow in the natural
order of things. The necessity of the
measures we have cited is imminent and
earnest; each day Of their pOstponement
brings the nation nearer TO ruin. A strong
hand on the part of the Administration, a
determined spirit in the dominant party in
Congress, will effect their passage and the
salvation of the republic.
Take, for instance, the subject of Reve-
nue.. The annual receipts Of Mexico,
country containing 100000 square miles,
and more than eight millions of inhabitants,
have dwindled down to about $780,
600. The expenses of the current year are
something over Sl2,OOO,OOO. The indem-
nifty received from the United States has
afforded a temporary relief, but when the
last instalment shall have been paid, moth
ing short of a complete revision and thor
oueh enforcement of the revenue laws can
save the country from hopeless bankrupt
CIV. The legitimate resources Of Mexico
are amply sufficient in Themselves to main
tain the Government, sustain its credit
abroad, and in time creste a sinking fund
for the extinction of the National debt.
This can never be attained, however, while
the present shameless system Of cOnup-
ton prevails. More than half the com
merce of the country with other nations, is
| contraband. The officers of the customs
are satisfied with moderate bribe, and the
merchants, both native and foreign, of
course prefer paying $1,000 in this way to
$4,000 in the way of regular duties.
How a conscientious officer succeeds, is
curiously illustrated in the case of the
Collector of Guaymas, which is related by
The T'ribune's Mexican correspondent.
The various departments of the Govern
ment are open to the same charge. The
Army has been greatly reduced since the
war, but tho sums appropriated for its
maintenance pass through a systematic
course of plumber before reaching their des-
tinstion. The officers thrive aud grow
rich while the soldiers are often in actual
want When we state. in addition to these
facts, that many Of the States withhold
the contributions due by them for the sup
port Of the General Government that they
claim possession of all the public lands
and that much of the finest property Of the
countIy-amounting to the aggregate value
of $4,000 ,O00-belongs to the Church,
the financial embauassments Of Mexico
cease to be a matter of surprise. A pOr-
ton of the Liberal party advocates the ap-
preparation of the immense Church estates
by the Government, but this is too bold a
measure for even Arista's administration.
1t is now proposed to raise loan sufficient
to consolidate what is called the Interior
Debt, by pledging this property as securi-
tv. The Church must perf0rce consent to
the arrangement.
The question of Finance is not the only
one which demands a prompt adjustment.
The Legislative Assemblies Of the States
continually exceed their Constitutional
powers, embarrassing their mutual rela-
tons, and coming into open conflict with
the General Government. The State of
Durango, for instance, imposes duty upon
all merchandise coming from the State of
chihuahua. The latter State reciprOcates
and in this most impolitic and unlawful
strife the trade Of the country suffers seri-
GUS injury. Some Of the States even go so
far as to establish an arbitrary tariff on
foreign merchandise. Zacstecas last year
passed law imposing duty Of l24 per
cent. on articles Of domestic manufacture,
and only per cent. on foreign imports :.
This state Of affairs could not exist had
it not been for the weakness Of the late Adj
ministration. For this reason we looked
l. u Il.