The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-06-02
Our Commerce. with Mexico.

Our Commerce with Mexico.
The inquiries of Mr.. GApspEN in relation
to the trade relations between the United
States and Mexico augar we'll for the DISPOSE
ton of that gentleman to turn his attention to
practical measures for allaying the jealousy
with which Mexico persists in regarding us.
IL is moreovera favorable sign to see a minis
ter who has any thing to learn, and who ad-
vsrtises for information. Generally speaking,
they know every thing by intuition, and, like
some awkward intruder into fashionable socie-
ty, are afraid to ask an explanation of fact or
an usage, lest In improving their knowledge
they should expose their ignorance
1t IS often the case that newly appointed
diPlomatiss bursts upon the public like bomb,
packs histrunks, draws his outfit, and flies to
his past of duty as if he headed forlorn hope,
or were fearful of recall. The party and
local newspapers follow him with lauda,ory
ePithets as the WAKEFIELD family did Moses
departing upon his mission to sell BLAcKBER-
Rr, and confidently predict that he will out
wit those with whom he goes to deal. 1t is
not unfrequently the case that the next thing
seen of the energetic diplomat he is unwrap.
ping case of "spectacles with chagreen
cases." which some cunning cosmogonst has
imposed upon him, to the great CONSERVATION
Of those who sent him.
Thus gentlemen provided with a uniform
and bilingual dictionary precipitate them
selves upon China with little other knowledge
Of the walled Empire than is derived from the
pictures on tea chest or a silent inspection Of
the waxen figures of BARNUM; or they pitch
into the frozen regions of Northern Europe
with no further preparations for conducting our
relations with those countries than digent
use OF ice and brandy, understood to be the
most Important staples of that latitude
The first public response to the inquiry of
Mr. GApsDEN appears in the Baltimore .4uleri
icGB, which publishes the export and import
trade of the Unted States with Mexico during
a term Of years extending from 1929 to 1851
From this table it infers that Mr.. GADspEN "will
probably see that the crushing of American
manufactures by Carolina doctrines has pre-
vented our merchants from competing with
the British, Germans, and French in the
Mexican Market"
The Union flies to the defence Of the free
trade policy, and affirms that sit was during
the period of the well-known Compromise
tariff, enacted in 1888, that the South Caro-
lima doctrines en- that subject prevailed more
fully than at any other time during the pre-
sent generation ; and yet these were precisely
the years in which the .4mericGns tables
show our trade to have been the largest"
We do not agree that the revenue policy of
the United States has had any effect upon her
trade with Mexico.
Our manufactures were not in 1929 the sub
jects Of expectation to any material extent. Nor
were they ever-with the exception latterly of
few fabrics-cheaper in the foreign markets
than those of Europe.
1t has been always the obvious result of
protective revenue that American manufac-
lures could De furnished for domestic consu,np-
ton cheaper than articles imported under such |
a revenue. 1t is also obvious that, once fairly |
established, they can enter the markets of the
world fearless of equal competition. But these
results have not yet been realized to sufii-
cient extent TO affect our trade with Mexico in
the manner indicated BY the sudden and ex-
treme fluctuations shown In the tables emu
PlOyed by the american
We are satisfied that the variations in the /
commercial barometer of Mexico have been oc-
casioned by the alterations of her political at
mosphere. We have not at hand any revenue
tables showing the whole trade of Mexico with
all foreign nations; but from the insignificant
anfluapro uhicb tor iH hov had /
our export to other nations of manufactures not
adequate to our own consumption, and from the
known effects of civil disturbances upon ma
tional prosperity, we are satisfied thar table
showing the trade of Mexico with any ma
ton during the period chosen for illustration, |
will show that tie fluctuations Of her revenues |
correspond with those indicated In the tables |
published by the american, except so far as
actual war with the United States has affected
that particular trade.
We are satisfied that the causes of decline
in the trade between the United States and
Mexico are common to her whole intercourse
with the world, and lie deeper than the varia
lions of our tariff. They are, as we have init
mated, to be found in the condition of Mexico
herself and we fear that notifications of the
revenue laws of either country will restore or
extend the trade between them.
The physical obstacles 10 commerce in
Mexico have never been materially obviated
by Improvements. She has high mountains
and very few navigable rivers, even including
that which Colonel RAMSEY discovered short
time since before the New York Historical
Society. Few countries have so large an ex =,
tent of territory with so small proportion of
navigable streams SO few good ports.
There are very few artificial roads in Mexico,
and those though we'll paved present very
heavy grades. The principal distribution of
trade is therefore by pack-mules- The ex-
pense of distributing importatons is obvious.
The freight upon ton from a central point of
Mexico to any port upon the Gulf or Pacific
an average distance of $50 mies-would not
be short Of 800. The time of transportation
would be perhaps twenty days"
The distribution of goods into the Northern