The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-01-11
THuRSDAY............, JANUARY IL, 1866.
4 Picture of Mexico.

.,>,lt and excessive annoyance TO the people
<>a~y similar event recorded in history. But
.he condition into which the country was
r,uu-cd hy the expiring struggles of the L,be.
ral powers has not begun 10 be allayed
We velatcly seen graphic and exhaus tive
s'a,cwcut Of affairs in Mexico, by an Ameri-
caa visitor 10 that country; the extreme
length of which, however, precludes its re-
publication in our columns. 1t appears from
,A., statement that agricultural labors have
virtually ceased in Mexico. Mining opera
tloa~, which had previously languished, have
been almost suspended in consequence of the
>"u>k 10 the labor system given by the late con-
ripuon, added 10 the difficulties and dangers
q transportation, and the scarcity and high
prices Of necessary articles. Mercantile inte
rr>r> have in like degree, suffered. The
8u.,S are higher than the unhealthy state
%. finances will bear. The export duties
.nea money are enormous. No bullion,
except copper. is permitted to leave the
...,.rv until il i resolved into the coin Of the
realm. The charges and duties, from the lime
il rwr> mine in the interior to its arrival in
san Francisco. are, as an average, in Sonora and
>rr,oa. TWENTY five and half per cent. Under
>.el dead weight as this, many OF the mines
oya Stopped others hold on in the hope Of Il
t.g.I condition 4 few OF The richer mines
arr r.o>pcring 10 some extent through il all.
I'll. retail trade OF the interior villages is
about ruined the embarrassments OF The
v,4l,Llrr citizens react upon the immense
n.ivot The people, and the condition OF the
masses u rendered, by oppression, reduced
v,i.,- lack Of service, and general neglect,
,.u~. Gcplorable. Guerilla parties prey upon
travellers villages and ranches, and eN-
epp. in the towns there is no safety any
whore for one who Journeys without arms.
But all This misfortune is not the CHIEF dli-
,t,uliy in In" path of Mexican progress. The
..ral cyl! i a social system lndescriDablS oad,
...d the general Incidence and ignorance of
suc people. The degeneracy OF the MeXicans
began with the revolution, and was decided
t,v The final exit of the old Spaniards in lS2l.
The energy, prosperity and pride OF the
spanish era have never been revived. The
narration now before us of the immortality
and degradation of this people is almost past
r.urI The charges for marriage have, for
wears. been SO eXorbitant as to shut out hun
,.r.,.~ Of the poorer classes from the marriage
,.riyirgr. Illicit connections and 4 wide
.prn:,d coucubinage have been the inevitable
s.~ult The ordinance of 1SJS, legitimatiZing
~. children born in the Republic, wa. sup.
u
lur> were illegitimate The sale of daughters
D.. their parents i not confined 10 II few IN
.,.apg> White female slaves are sometimes
sold at prices ranging from hundreds up
mona, the thousands. The most flagrant
u!.uuHor i not even attempted TO be concealed,
a..i doe, not appear TO affect the social posi-
tru uf those concerned. Some Of the cases
ay. too cross to be repeated. The passion for
hn, ha
rqe-ta., in Mexico. 1t peryades every artery
O.. thr social system, high and low. The
poorer Mexican women have been known 10
gamble the very linen of their backs The
tzsGc q: It sitting at cards frequently involves
,Ac peril Of domestic dishonor. II is obvious
that no government weaker than u mo-
narrly can govern such people At all
I'll friends Of the Empire contend that, If
I,Is 10 have fair tria, the very first necessity
j. complete uou-lnterNention by outside go
yrrH,.uu', in Mexican affairs, which means, OF
course. the abandonment OF the Monroe doc
.vlnr. The Sortadod, the official journal pub
l.>A..! in The city Of Mexico, whilst it does not
believe IN the imminence Of war with the
United States, says that ''the menacing atti-
..tud~ II the American Government cannot do
." - than retard indefinitely the pacilication
"ul urNico, depreciate lis credit, paralyZe en-
,1rrpr!-e, encourage the diSattccted, and dis
concert al calculations, military, political
'@H.4 financial 1t is possible TO tcresee,
therefore, that even if it tthe United States
~au.~ not openly combat the intervention and
.th,r.upirr AT least ii will endeayor TO agitate
"AIr>loo: 10 weary, by means Of continual
"altr.u~, the expeditionary forces 10 let the
French army exhaust itself TO enerNate the
..,...t,u aud ax cif g. Internal enemies with the
purpose of with greater safety, precipi-
..l-ln- itself when the day of official rupture
'sA.u arrive. This dssolving policy cannot
Doe. tolerated" 1t is seen by MAxiMILlAS that
Il confidence is TO be established III Mexico ana
.tr,nlhout the world i'll his government, the
Tr,rs,niliop bv the United States Is essental.
g. "a real business of reform and recuperation
nannot he commenced till then. The United
STATES have, therefore, only TO let MAXIMlLlAS
alone. and his experiment is failure.
Even with this recognition, the Empire must
rely for Il certain period upon external alds.
Loan, must be had, and an army retained
ptndlnr the reign of order and until the En-
ptror i, able 10 set upa military establishment
.,,r himself The present available revenues
,viu prove but 4 drop i'll the bucket. Inc
estimates for the present year are s;lid 10 reach
rfI,. millions SO deadened are the resources
Of The country at t.lis time that IL is doubted
whether half that sum can be raised Ut home
The opinion is expressed that, ,o.Htow ""ee
..U,paS If fyreigt eDGgration, rGa 0clatS"'o"
~ caDuc,l ond Mproughly iberot M.c$, "eM'S'
Emyj5e nyl Rspu5tic caa erer Sta'td nt Ae1sco.
Few persons are aware Of the immense min
eral and agricultural resources OF Mexico
The amount of silver alone produced from It's
mine. since the conquest was estimated oy
HruDyIDr in 1893 ut sl,767,9j2,ooo. In lSlo,
tive thousand mines were known 10 exist in the
tLl!ty.seyen mining districts, OF which the
average annual product during the fifteen
year. preceding the revolution was twenty
tour rluIIlions OF dollars. II is u striking proof
Of the internal capacity of the country that'
Notwithstanding the poverty of the customs
usually among the largest contributors 10 the
treasury Of a goyernment-the revenues IN the
days Of tie Spaniards reached a sum !ar ABOVE
l4signiAcance IN the year 1902 they amounted
10 twenty .a!!l!ons-nearly six millions oeins
derived from tho ynipes alone. ana aDOut loui