The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-05-22
Affairs In Mox1cOs -
Correspondence Of the New Orleans Picsyune.l

m0xICOs
Correspondence Of the New Orleans Picayunel
81 ~ rn Eli JALAPA, May A, 1854.
You know that visited Tampico and Vera Cruz
1.-THE two principal ports,) but you can hardly form
look upon the actual state Of things-because they
are plundered right and LETT
Now mind, there Is not class of people that
went in for Santa Anna, heart and soul, like these
merchants although, the greatest part being for
eigners, they have nothing but indirect influence.
That Santa Anna Is not better than his prede-
cessors you may learn from the facts disclosed Ia the
enclosed documents, which are authentic, being
handed 70 me at Iampico by respectable merchants
Now, is 1t not strange that Avalos, who only pro-
claimed such an exceptional tariff at Matalnoros
should be close prisoner in The fort of Ullua when
such things as separate tariff In one port are done
by the general government?
But this is not the worst; and If you read in the
papers Of violence and robberies committed upon
foreigners, and principally on Americans do not for
moment believe that they exaggerated, IL given
by respectable people, because it passes all belief
that such robberes should be permitted or tolerated
even In semi-civzed country.
iou can hardly bring any invoice where the petty
omcers OF the custom house do not find flaw and
confiscate the goods, with or without reason.
import an article of silk and cotton mixed for
which mixture duty is appointed, and they will
say that there is very little cotton in it. and that
it must pay as silk; you demonstrate against IT, and
the judge declares that such was not the meaning
but that having little cotton the declaration was
false and, far from paying as pure silk, the article
must be cOnfiscated.
You import three bales Of cinnamon, with two
small bales each, and you state five bales, with SO
many pounds; they fine you 81 900 for the double
bales, because such an article is contained In the
tariff; not amongst the rules laid down for the ship
pers, but amongst those prescribed for the con-
signees.
1t is of no avail that you go one month before the
vessels arrival and make your statements they
won't listen to you but say that you must submit
or appeal to the government
The reason is obvious. The Visitor, the Collector,
the Attorney General all get a SHARE and SO YOU
are condemned. you appeal, be sure sentence Is
confirmed.
Hence it arises that people are afraid of order
ing any goods, and Notwithstanding bombastic
statements in the papers, as far as could learn,
it is well proved that the custom houses will not
yield third part of what they brought last year.
or course they say that contraband is stopped on
you what facilities are given and as the interna-
tional duties are ridiculousy high of course goods
remain in Meyno unsold for twelve months and more.
Talk OF captain shipwrccked and imprisoned at
rotberies committed in the custom house Of Vera
Cruz.
You may rest assured that if Santa Ammo knew
only the tenth part of these proceedings, he would
soon put stop to it, and hang the perpetrators,
who njure the interests of the country to an inn
menee degree, just for the sake Of enriching them
selves
If the press were not chained down, a great
many things would have been published, principally
against the custom house robberies of the Atlantic
coast; but such thing could not be thought Of and
for seeing the President, you might wait month
(even when being in the capital) without having a
chance Of it.
In the hope that the Gadsden treaty may be rati-
fed, some bankers are advancing money to the gov
eminent, and in order to be able to sell their bills to
the merchants they have stipulated the condition
that the duty on money, for coming down from the
interior be raised from two to four per cent; which
measure no doubt will be carried, causing heavy
loss to the merchants who made oil their transac
tons for the last eight months, as am told calcu
lating only on two per cent.
This, however, is small item where lots of thou
sands of dollars are confscated under the most pal
try plea.
have beard much talk about the navigation act,
but don't exactly understand it. All, however,
even Mexicsns declare it to be monstrosity.
So much is sure, that if Uncle Sam does not send
out the old general again. or somebody OF his talents
God knows what may become of the commercial
interests of this country because outrages are COM
let the just claims accumulate, as they know that
there is provision made in the treaty for settle
ment and that they have not to pay but the United
States.
! could fill many pages relating all the wrong
which people complain of, but az l know that the
U. S. Legation keeps the government at Washing
ton informed Of allof them consider it unnecessary
and dare say they will look to it.
Mr.. Cripps, who is now the acting Charge D'Ar-
fairs, does all in his power for the American inter
ard have heard bin hshv y 20 sr De1pg If e
tem where no salary is allowed of course his fees
cannot half pay his expenses.
Tins was the reason why, formerly the consulate
passed from one clerk to another and was never at.
tended to- and that is what merchants complained
OF most bitterly.