The New York herald., 1870-04-16
The Free Zone.


translation from La Cronlca, March 1o.1
The newspapers OF tne United Stases are full OF
complaints against tne Inssltason VI tne free some
on our northern frontier. The evils resulting thero
from 70 the treasury and the commerce Of their
country are serious, and they denounce tho measure
% contrary to the reciprocity whic1 should exist be-
tween tine two countries For ourselves. from the
time the re-establishment OF the free soma was
discussed IN Congress. is never seemed " us q
measure favorable TO the interests OF Mexico. and
We believed further thas w0a.a send W oessrGy
There were not wanting men in the Chamber to
state the consequences that would result from law
90 broad, Al well as lmpOlitlc and burdensOmo TO
tine legitimate commerce 0f the two republics; but
possessed Dy false fears respscnnS THIS question
and impaired to majority Of the House their Iears
and preJndlces and, stlll more feeiing OF unjust
distrusI towards the Inhabitants OF the other Of
the Bravo.
Those interested knew that by touching the feeling
OF tine hOuse upon tne point oi annexation q sub
Ject upon which many speculate at this day, tney
could Incline the Will OF the Deputies In favor or their
plans, aud they succeeded In doing SO.
fne wnoe frontier OF the States OF Tamaulipas
Coahulla and Nuevo Leon has been opened without
conditions, 10 iilesltnate trade. Hereafter, mer-
cnandise introduced through tne port OF Vera Cruz
VIII not be able 10 compete with that entering
tnrouRh the Tree zone for the simple that the
former pays duties aud the latter does not 1t Will be
Ooected to assertion that In The tree zone there
are vglant authorities who VIII prevenC fraud: nut
auntlng that they do tnelr duty, It remains 10 oe
seen whether they can enforce the law throughout
an extensive, open and sDarsely populated border.
Another more dangerous feature IL, tnat according
70 the law tue importer may land his goods III
Camargo, and, nndlDg no market for them there
ne may take them inland lar as Victoria or
monterey. which towns are also included In this
fatal franchise That IS TO saw tne honorable trader
Will traverse wide tract OF uninnabiUed country 20
reach ms destination aud II on the road, forgetting
nis proDly," 80 common among those VINO come
TO Mexico 10 seek fortune, he changes MS mind and
goes into the States OF Zacatecas Durango and San
LUIS, where are no custom houses wnere ls ne go
landing his gcOds9
On whatever side this privilege is examined there
VIII be perceived the Injuries resulting TO the ex-
cnequer and The stimulus on red to contraoand
trade ana immortality. Mexico will ind herself
oDliged 10 consume 'oreign merchandise that has
not PAID . cent on Its importation. The Inequality
vi condition between the different inland markets
supplied through ports mere legitimate trade is car
rled on VIII NOT be able to compete with the Others
We believe, however, tnat Notwithstanding what
we have Indicated, the possibility OF carrying ON con-
traband trade will be placed very much In DOUBT
Nevertheless we are sure that the Inhabitants Of the
border and the merchants OF San Luis ana ZacaCe.
Cas- Will say. a. we do that smuggling has been
done and that 1t viii continue still larger SCALE
ported under the proIection OF the free zone are so
seventy-dve per cent lower than those which come
through Mexico. English queensware which Is sold
IN this market at two dOlars dozen. Is sold In
Zacatecas as only one dollar and In the way all
otner goods introduced through the frontier.
assurance that the institution of the free zone In
lured the commerce OF the United states, and for
TINS reason favored the interests OF Mexico. We
admit the former proposition but are lar from ex-
pecting that the latter Will prove true We 90 be-
neve. after having studied the question, that the
because all That frontier being tree port the mer.
cnants OF the American side Will come TO terri
tory to store their goods and watch for an oppor.
tunity to introduce them In clan0estine manner
into Texas. Thus Mexico will I've IN the position Of
person who injures himself aud at the same time
Injuries his neighbor. II was said In Congress that
Mexico was free to dictate her own laws. Nobody
can doubt that Sue has this right, bat neither
disregard the obllga'Ion imposed upon nations Dy
tue Natural law not 70 make themselves bad neigh
O0rs one 10 the other.