Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1852-03-26
From the Brownsville (Texas) American Flag.

who should have some care Tor her maSseSare ut
tery infatuated. In addition TO the obstacles thrown
in the way of her commerce. heretofore which have
we'll nigh converted her population into one band of
ugglers she has recently imposed additional
one, in the form Of Consumption Duties" This
most outrageous and oppressive duty is attempt
ed to be enforced not onl this line but through
out the entire country. This duty in effect utterly
closes the door of every merchant in Mexico; as, in
the manner Of its assessment. it amounts TO adj
vance to the government of so per cent. his en-
tire stock, to be paid in cash on the day of
ment. Within few days past an attempt has been
made to enfore this enactment in Matamoros, which
has resulted in causing every merchant to close his
doors. and by this means exclude the officers who
have attempted its enforcement. Thus, for the last
few days Matamoros has been on the verge of rev.
olution within themselves. while on the outside Car
vaia with his followers, looking these inter-
nal dissenSons and oppressive acts of the Govern
mont with hope, ready to strike blow for the dis
memberment whenever the suspicious moment shall
present itself. 1t is surprising what madness can
possess the Government of Mexico, thus to increase
the burhen of her people which were, ere this too
heavy to be borne, except by an oyerpowered and
spritless population. One of the worst features Of
the tariff of Mexico has been, that those articles
declared contraband which the duties are laid
so high to prohibit their importation into the
country are those for the consumption of the poor
classes For instance domestic cotton goods which,
in the interior constitutes the chief article used for
clothing, by both sexes, the different duties levied
upon its Importation from the time it lands in Mex
leo to the time it is offered to the customer, amounts
to sxty-fve cents per which is but little over
-fourths of yard. This article, in this coun-
try, would cost FIVE cents per yard Now, it is evil
dent that population poor the mass of the Ia
bOrers of Mexico, cannot buy at such ruuous prices
What is the result This, as might have been ex-
pected nearly every yard of these goods that
introduced, pay nothing to the Government; they
are either smuggled by the trader himself, by the
connvance and corruption of the Government officers.
Although these facts have been staring the chiefs in
Mexico in the face for years, still do they remain
blind to its operation. And now, when the deficits
of their treasury press upon them the necessity of
funds to meet the current expenses of the gov
eminent, how do they propose to effect it Why,
by placing another tax the already overburthen-
ed and sinking country! Instead of reducing the
tariff, so as to insure the regular payment to the 60
vernment of reasonable duties and which she could
do without distress to her people, she takes the OPP
poe view and increases the rates, and thus insures
the failure of the object sought This Mexico has
been doing for years, and although these unnatural
schemes have utterly failed to accomplish the end
still her blind legislators persist though the pro-
blem had never been solved.
Mexico presents instance, extreme case, to
be sure, of folly; of attempting to force commerce
and manufactures out of their natural channel
Mexico has few stinted manufactures in
two of her States and to protect this trihing inter-
est, she Expresses and degrades her entire popula-
ton, The result is effected by the enormous
tax laid the expectation of specie from Mexico 1t
is excessive that trader for moment think
of paying it; SO that all the specie exported from
Mexico. despite the vigilance of all her officers, is
struggled out of the untry and thus the govern
ment receives nothing for the very large amounts
of specie which is every month taken away
Had these men the scintillation of good practical
sense, they would reduce this duty to and half
per centum: and then merchant would think of
risking his specie without paying the duty imposed
then all would pass through the custom house regu
larly and handsome revenue be secured. But her
wise governors find that the present rate of three
per centum does not afford a sufficient revenue so,
then, to insure future increase, they sagely add to
it. Under the former standard, specie passed
through the custom house. the trader preferred
running the risks of smuggling it over, to paying
this sum. Well, then, to overcome this difficulty,
they increase the duty. This is the system of policy
which controls the destiny of this Inflated country.
All can at once that, under the present system,
her public agents will inevitably be corrupted her
onerous exactions evaded and disregarded, and her
people distracted and degraded. If her rulers have
not the sagacity to learn wisdom from the past,
honesty to apply themselves for the amelioraton of
their country, then we have no hope that she will
attain respectable position among the nations
OF the earth but torn by civil commotlon and op-
pressed by her own laws, her people rise,
but she must lay at the mercy of every adyenturer
who, by imposing promises Disadvantage, may attempt
to sever her territory and distract her councils
The consumption duty, which we. alluded to in
the beginning OF thlS article, VIII be found on our
fourth page, in the Spanish language. We look
with anxiety to the effect it may produce the dis
tracted condition of this border. In order to profit
by this feature of OPPRESSION Carva jail has issued
a manifesto, addressed to the Mexican people, in
which he, of course promises all the relief they could
DESIRE and all the advantages they could hope for.
Were this movement at the present moment, in any
other hands than those of Carvaial and his foreign
allies we should doubt rot an almost unanimous re-
volt would now But it is the pref udices
| OF the Mexican population are so strongly fixed,
adverse 10 this leader and his followers that do
rot expect they profit much by their dssensions.
The CONSERVATION produced by the closing of stores
in Matamoros, and the reports of the approach
of Caryaal has caused many families to across
the river to this city; in fact, the levee has been
crowded for two days, with the property Of those
seeking security on this side of the Rio Grande. AS
to the true position of Carvaal, we are in as much
doubt ever. His friends here have confidently
promised an attack on Matamoros for the last two
weeks, from day to day In the meantime, we learn
that measures are taken to bring up to Matamoros
the large guns and ammunition which has recently
arrived the Brazos from Vera Cruz, and that Gen
eral AVOIDS is repairing Fort Paroles, with the in
tenton Of defending the town from the outside, in
stead of from within, as before. What may turn up
within the next week two lily predict, but
trust that the suspense and uncertainty which has
prevailed throughout this valley for the last six
months, may speedily be terminated, and we once
more experience Of the benefits of the trade OF
the interior of Mexico. But for the real advance
ment or substantial prosperity Of Mexico, no hope
can reasonably be INDUCED in, until she has in he
councils more sagacious more honest leaders
A Paris correspondent of the Commercial Adver
tser, who attended the grand ball given by Genera