The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-01-13
SPIRIT or BRAZILIAN cusroMs-LAws.

At meeting Of the French - Soattt DEeonoous
Pol,tigus," held in Paris November 5, 1857, Mr.. Pc
reira an OK member of the Brazilian Legislature, and
en-Presdont also of the province Of Rio Janeiro, on
invitation Of tho president of the society made
interesting remarks relative to the progress of the
science of political economy in Brazil, and the GUS
tom-house reforms in that empire. Political econ
omy is regularly taught, Mr. Perera observed, in the
two law schools Of the empire, in which instruction
ID not confined to tho science of law technical
y considered but embraces also the whole circle of
the social sciences. The tariff Of customs is pro-
excessively improved, and the system of protection
is gradually yielding TO the wiser policy OF combining
customhouse operations within the strict limits of a
revenue standard. AT this time, according TO Mr..
Pereira, two thirds Of the revenues Of the empire
and part of tho revenue of the provinces. are de-
rived from the duties ON imports and exports. The
late reductions in the Brazilian tariff have resulted
in Brazil az in England in considerable augmenta-
ton of revenue The present duties, in general, do
not exceed Is per cent the real value of Imports
as shown on the face of the invoice declared in
the bills of ladng. t
These statements of Mr.. Perera 80 far they 80,
are in accordance with the existing state Of the
toms-laws Of Brazil but they do not go far enough
The omisao reri does not, however, amount to the
sggeaio tas in this case, the exBrazilian Deputy
and President addressing society of Frenchmen
OH their own SOIL and he too much of diplomat
not to know how to suit his words to the taste of his
hearers. Had NJ. Perera been addressing meeting
of merchants in New Orleans, Richmond, Baltimore,
Philadelphia New York. OF Boston, he would doubt
less have gone to say that while the import duties
in Brazil do not on an average, much exceed ID per
cent. the invoice value, the scale from which the
average is calculated is most variable and tortuous
onethe highest and the most unequal falling upon the
products of the United States which necessaries
among the great masses of the Brazilian producers
and working classes and the lowest upon the gew-
gaws and Injuries Of European manufacture con-
snmod chiefly by the wealthier classes, who can bet
ter afford to pay high duties for the modes and deli
cacies Of dress table than the poorer classes for
the necessaries of subsistence. This is the grand
cret of our diminished exports to Brazil compared
with the heavy returns of British and French com
in that quarter and long this tariff ine-
quality operates against American products long
ah We pay Hoie On oui Hipoito hoh, auu W" OK
ports to, Brazil than these nations--there will con-
tinue to be practical discrimination against
equally injurious and unjust to both countries Eng
land, in great measure holds in her hands the bal
ance of commercial power in Brazil, because it is
chiefly through the hands of British bankers and
merchants pay the annually ncreasing balance of
trade against us in commerce with that empire.
Hence the latest fashions regarded in Bra
lillian tariffs than abundanfcrops and the principle
would seem to be recognised that if the mobiles live
sumptuously aud dress gaily the may fare as
best they can-Quidquid deleriua reyes, peauntur
arb,