New-York tribune., 1868-11-16
IpANANlA.

ATTEMPT TO COLLECT WAR TAX FROM
OREIGNERS-MEETING OF THE CONsULo-
ANOTHER PROTEST-THE AUTHORITIES IN
EXoRABLE-FoREIGN PROPERTY IN DANGER.
GPRoM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT
PANAMA, Nov. 5.-Matters in this city look
no better. The Government, as l Informed you IN my
last issued decree the Goth ut doubling the COM
mercal that month AS soon as the attempt 10
collect the tax made, memorial was drawn up py
the merchants and sent their respective consus pro-
resting against the decree and setting forth that The
ordinary tax for October had already Deen coecteo ~
the Government The following IS copy OF tue protest
Vi '"o A'"e''''D PANAMA, Oct 2a 1868.
10 Gen. KuBI SMITH, T. ConstL 60 .,u.,, . ..,.,
s: We undersigned American citizens established as merchants
~ & % d Of the ioih inst oftbe Provisional Government
Of the State Of Panama Increasing the eomngr1 h nsen m &
Illegally o the existing Government 10 Iase mels o
g tIs az Srv & mpo" n isef peacii interests aud
10 opposition 70 International % ~ ron Viii
Of tie MT meet your aplro's We - he mode of
make lnowa TO =, aIa al ie sane , ,Soot Relying ay
ot e,,8ts s1nuei Pri Co Boston lee Co.. per s. W
D. Jackson George / Schroeder T. G. hsror1ge OG r. "
60 per Ash Frank Roth Alfred hu al. SeHOeisn
A'Slo @ ~ oS AN the onsus took place Immediately to
take into consideration the question submitted 10 thei
by their e!tizcns The result OF this conference was
dent courtcously but firmly protesting against tie dc
cree aud informing him that their citizens were aaylseu
by them pay except under protest Inc CohsuiS
Ina their reply to their menOriasts INFORMED tneD Oh 'e
result II the meeting aud advised thelr e,I|Sns no' 20
extra tax except lt collected by force, ana then -
der protest These protests would be Immediately lot
varied their respective Governments Tor actiOh
lengthy rcpy the remonstranCe or the Cohsus WAS
rccyed the following day from SonOr Mendoza III when
h eudcayored TO Justify the action OF the Government
aud declared MS determination TO adhere 10 MS olehl
intention OF collecting the tax This note received q
very acouic from the Consu 10 the effect tha
the reply had failed O change their opinion rs 10 the
legality OF the tax and that they still protested against
IT, The Government resolved to enforce the decree
aud as all the merchants viii refuse 10 pay except by
force you may expect some very lively times among us
before long
The only way that the Government collect this un-
inst tax by sending armed force into every foreign
ers place business and forchy Selling his goods Up
probably because the Government believed hat some
COMPROMISE would be arrived at before going 10 cNtren-
les That the Government is anxious Tor compromise
apparent from the fact that one OF the merchants was
appr0ached privately and the request made 10 cau
meeting ascertain II they would loan the Government
a. OO1 and il SO the obnoxious decree would be with
drawn. The meeting took place, but was attended by
few Individuals the result was the unanimous adoption
Of the following resolution:
E0re the broad principle Of right Ihe eommercal CON
October lat being contrary to existing treaties as usu"'l
respective eonsulA A.. lin ho so+.,ad for all
time and the authorities be made To comprehend lhat
solemn treaties be set aside by astIOAe t e pen
ON several previous occasions the attempt TO levy var
tnx upou foreigners has been attempted; Dut, uhior'
tunaielv the merchants always compromised Dy mahlhg
loan the Government ana hencc IOShs tuo OPPOA'"
nifty Of testing the question r,,.. -.
/ have iust learned that the ActingPresident mas
doubled tie commercial contribution Tor the month VI
November Hence, In few days, the business men OF
Tins ctty will be compelled by force 10 pay $1,000 when
is the Of the war tax Tor OCTOBER anu NoNeDei