Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1856-06-06
PERUVIAN GCANO.
PERuvIAS LEGATION, !
WAsHiSGros. May Is, 1856. !


Sir II received in cue course. your letter OF the
81 inst in which you state hAt great DISSATISFACTION
continues Ia he manifested by many American farm
.r. and agricultural s"reties, more especially IN The
Niddl. and Northern States Ut the Union against fhe
,--.-nt high price Of Peruvian GuanO; that Gu HnU
G invention has III consequence been called, I" ineet
q, Washington on the lDtn prnximo Tor the pLrrose
OF suteavcrrns to counterfeit the system on which
N, sale of the guam is conducted; and To obtain, II
p.ss;ul- reduction Of the prIc- OF the articles; and
;ha, you desire be informed Of my opinion III the
MAILER.
.ars. attention to your request; aud having already
received numerous communications from various
paris * :ao United States containing similar nqu!'
r-s have concluded 10 furnish You with the follow
Ing statements and observations as my comprehen-
sy. reply thereto order 10 correct misrrpr.snnta-
::ons, detine and justify the policy OF my Govern
.n-nt III IN, management; at us gcano trade; and
finally, To nvow my firm conviction that under no CIR.
ounssuces will II be changed nor the price o. the
puauo Reduced iu favor ot American other foreign
eoIsuin"rs.
l. rn- Peruvian nation, being the sole owner of the
raauo depostes within It's territory has thu unques-
ti,n.d right TO dispose thereof in such manner and
for such price it may see tt and most IN accord
smc. with !,s own policy uni INTEREST," that II regards
this right essential attribute OF It's sovereignty.
aud sub ect matter OF negotiation with foreign
powers.
guano trade with foreign countries ON its account
aud risk eIclusveiy regulates and establishes the
price of thv guano, rud has lie cUnsgnees III the
krt. OF every country where the arcle is used. The
-t proceeds of the guanu thus sold are paid into The
Peruvian treasury, with the exception Ot certain pVr
zion, thereof which are received by its ministers
abroad and applied by them to the public service of
th-ir Government. No English or any other foreign
Capitalists have any thing to do with the matter and
RI the exception OF the part that Is sold in Engan
aua It's proceeds applied TO the payment OF the Interest
.ae Peruvian bonds held in l-ondon,no persons but
the agents Of the Peruvian government have any
inlu. whatever 10 do with it, Messrs. +. Barredu 81
Brother. the cVuSignees Of the government in tile
Cnted States, have no authority 10 fix or alter the
price Of III" guano, aud have done except oy
express order OF the Government or this Legation.
g. That the commercial value OF the principal con.
s'i;ueus ~ Peruvian guano, including ammonia
pn"sphales and potash, 10 ton of 2240 pounds. &C.
c"ring to careful analysis, at the present market
pice OF those articles respectively Is equal 10 about
So per aud that other known guano eau Cum
pare with II "a fertilizer III the relative amount OF
Ih"se ingredients
.haI The Peruvian Government is under the ne
ce-sIty III maintaining permanently an expensive CIV
il, mia amd naval establishments the latter con-
slsI:ng OF six wars,enIn-rs, besides a number of
ed sailing vessels, i'll fact tie whole national navy,
clUs:vely tor the preservau of its guaro depostes
AID in experimenting nd reg uating the delivery and
shipment thereof; and ID also compelled 10 employ a
lar,e force Ut labo:erS al the Chncha Islands in
trac,G, ard loading the gua'o; and that, by reason
% such ouerous expenses, together with the other
rultfarous aud natural charges OF freight commits
sions Sc. affecting tho expiration, sale and delivery
OF the yuanO into foreign countries, and taking into
account shat ia wasted III getting out aud putting or
bard a, the islands, and Lost by damage shpwreck
traushiprent, discharge OF cargo. &c, equal to !:
uer c.nt the government does not Al present by
means realize the profit it has right IRON lie guan
truIe.
United States for SALE the quantity it considers neces
s.:y TO meet the demand, aud II does the same VIII
other foreign markets. without increasing the price
tho article Ia the than the other, aithoug
.,,nI,S i'm fhAn
whvat exposing itself To any valid objections tim
it is unable 10 supply the great and Increasing denah
e., the cuano III Great Britain, and the cOntlnen
Of Europe. where II IL being brought into general us
and sells readily al SOU per ton. without any con,
plants about price or arbitrary conduct ON the par
o! tao Peruvian Government or amy of lis consisnee
o. asenrs III the Management OF the business.
b. Ina; the United States do not at present con
sume une-Eourth part OF the guamu exported from Pc
ri, it cannot reasonably be expected vi tue Peruvian
Government to make any reduction OF price III favO
y; American a2ricu;urlsts to the prejudice OF thos
OF other nations, whose rapidly Increasing consurnp
zion Of the art ie Peru fluids it difficult ~ supply
even the above mentioned price. 1t should, more
over, be- borne III mind tina: every ton Vt the guam
Cuasunet, wasted Or uesNuyed, is iuss without re
Laratiou oscause it is q commodity That cannot b
produced 10y diut Of labor or industry. and conse
oaenty every reduction U. it's price is pro tano los
Of capital
Z. That Peru regards it's precious guano deposte
sacred trust IF nappreciane value, to be preserve
tn, greatest care and vigilance for the present as we
al future by-i; of tho uatVD; and that i'll my op,r
lou, Instead Of promoting the Increased cunsumptlu
thereof il would hencuforth be It's true policy 10 d
n.ish and restrict the same 10 such all amount yea
ly IL. may be deemed sufficient to pay the iutere'
on its naroanl debt and contribute, with the 9th,
productive resnurces of the Republic 10 defray IN
currrn; exp.uses of the Government.
g. Tina, the system On which the present guam
trade - conducted by the Peruvian Government Q
its own account aud through the medium of It's dull
authorized aud Responsible cons guees provides III
Quesouaby the safest guarantees to the America
consumer OF the Senuenrss aud purity Of the guaut
besides, the trade gives einp"yrert to large amour
Of American tonnage; aud It appears from oihci,
documents that the disbursements vi sycry descril
tiou the Importation uf the guano into the Unite
States are, i'll general, greatly their favor: for
the impor tatlons III 1852 whilst the people Of tn
Uuon received for fregIts aud all other incident.
charges aud expenses ga " On each ton sold, Per
only realized Sl4 VI nett per ron.
9. Whether the sale Of tho Chincha islands woul
be more economical as regards the expectation, MOI
profitable for the government, and more advantag,
GUS for the agricultural interests of other couutrl,
consuming the guauo; and whether there would
DO risk o It's arriving at it's destination unaduerate
or. in the absence OF full supply at place Of cons
derabls consumption, the farmer being lett at Il
mercy of the speculutor, who would take sdvantas
OF his necessity. questions that have often bet
Investigated by my Government, and discussed free
aud deliberately in our National Convention, as We
ll