The New York herald., 1871-12-04

by the United states as grievance so great that
oe Sne % q any N
AJriON or THE MEXICAN CONGRESS-.
From 1860 to 1866 scarcely anything could be
done to check smuggling across the Rio
DSs So .sDs, a % @
attention OF President Juarez who had his secre.
retary Of the Treasury n. Romero, Introduce bill
Minister to the United States, ana advocated the
passage OF the measure, but the Mexican Congress
with this extended the free zone over the frontiers
OF Coahnlla Leon. The abolition OF the zone was
advoca.ed first on the ground tnat 1t an injury
cause Of continual complaint from the United States
that was losing patience with q system that cOnGt-
tuted fraud upon lis revenue and an evil TO both
THE FEELING IN TEXAS
For many years the honest and honorable mer-
chants OF Texas have complained OF being under
sold Dy smuRgleSs who bring goods across the from
tiers. The American custom houses and bonded
tary guardianship Of the frontier has been turned
into . nullry. In Brownsville and other towns
trade has fallen fallen away, " and the chief business has
been transferred 10 Matem0rOs where foreign goods
thence conveyed to- Tampico and other seaports
Tor tranSsnipment But the chief wrong is the for
warning OF contraband articles Into this country,
and which constitutes system That Is OF no benefit
class on both SIDES Of Inc RIO Grsnde
who live by defrauding the revenue OF the United
6tasee unnappny too, national animosities enter
into the difficulty 1he MeXlcanS are heartily Op-
posed 10 the advance OF Americans, and n0twitE-
standing that they indebted TO tins country Tor
tine expulsion OF the French from their son. no sent
ment like gratitude exists among them Tor the favor
II favor II may be called. For Kidding their
country OF the foreigner they claim all the merit
Tor themselves In this state OF things-in presence
OF the distracted state OF the republic OF
their persistence IN maintaining the free zone,
States- It is hard 70 see how some decided action
can he avoided. cession OF territory from the
Sierra Madre to the Rio Grande Is required.
REPORTED ATTEMPT 40 BRIBE A CONGRESSMAN.
During the debate In the Mexican Congress on
the free zone, in December, 1870 It was intlmated
by one OF the members tMr. Guzman) that the
purchase him and another Deputy to report against
Its continuance while serving on a committee hav.
this assertion, simply because there was no one en-
powered 70 do 30, or, what Is more likely, the per-
Guznan inquiries what wou!a happen If the free
zone were abolished. His answer shows degree OF
feeling In keeping with his dislike to Amerlc9n
progress 'sThe Inhabitants or that region," he
says. "wh0 have given such proofs Of their love for
liberty distinguishing themselves in the wars OF In
dependencc ana reform, would certainly oppose,
to deprive them OF their liberty and well-being.
am told that the government IS strong enough
TO conquer them with two divisions OF It's ARM. In
that case the people, Warike bg instinct, and resO
lutte IN the maintenance OF Their rights, would cross
Of their homesleads as trophies to their oppres-
s0rsn
REPLY TO THREAT OF PIGHr1Ne,
The free zone, as stated before was established In
1855 1t has been injurious TO the very State IN
which II exists and It was shown that its continu-
ance would be the ruin Of Tampico The
S0 n0ue one at hs last repnns nnsd
II is now in such state OF decadence on account
Of the Tree zone that 1t cannot pay the expenses O
the military force, which receives Its payment
through It. MIR. Romero, referring TO the threat OF
Would rebel against the au.nores @ Of
the republic, II Congress- should deprive them OF
the free zone has no weighs: The Congress Of tIle
threats OF this kind, and much less when there Is
reason TO believe that these threats proceed not
from the mass OF the people, but from iMpered ln-
terests Of few spectators.
PREsIDBNT LINCOLN AND MAMMALIAN.
Further on u was alleged that the United States
gatl0n of the zone. This was denied, for the simple
reason that It never had any relations with them.
y y true mat NJ Ey Minister 70 me Mexico n IN n
not DO 80 without instructions and soon after had
TO break on his relations with that administer
ernment or the United States recognized Juarez as
the constitutional President then ut Vera Cruz, and
maintained TAR relations win ,d1n hlm until the close
and it Is wonderful that there should
he any one in the Mexican Congress VINO did not
know that the United States never recognized the
intervention or the empire nor maintained rela.
tons with one or the osner. Yet members charged
Maximiiiar and was Wiling 70 change the policy Of
his government II the Tree zonc was abolished.
BENRFIT TO MEXICAN CITIEs
The benefits to Matamoros aud adjacent country
Is not denied. Alter 1855 European cargoes no
longer landed cn the left banks Of the river; Aex.
S@ in IL
s1iI iurrner Increased % the popuiaton III to isSoec.
and Of these 1900 still remains on the
frontier q amanIipas am !, Blt 70 oil TINS t y
to other parts OF the republics that such privilege
prohibited BY the constitution, and that the in
at the mercy OF the enactmcnts or q Legislature OF
single Stale. Beyond this the principles OF comfy
sno1d op.an ana mat as .ne uhca Sates
allowed IT should be abolished. The result how
ever, was that the Mexican Congress one year ago
refused to alter the law Of the tree zone but actually
extenuedit II over an addtl0pai portion OF the neigh
boring republic
THE UNIrHD STATES SENATE ON THR QUESTION.
In opposition TO change in the Iree zone Mr..
velasco, a member OF Congress, stated that after
the Treaty Of Guadaloape- -Hldago the Americans
object OF building up cOntraband trade with
Mexico the system OF bonded warehouses ami
to the expectation OF goods the frontier rem
dered II easy to defy the vigilance OF Mexican Gus
tom house officers. Mr.. veasco stated also that
band trade with the United States twenty three
years ago. IL would appear that before
be from ona to rnree millions or
goods constantly In deposit ut Brazos de santiago
a the cus Houses AZ hose
are now a source OF expense 10 the United States.
All this mercnandse II was errOneousy stated, was
intended for Mexico for the frontier towns had no
commerce, except across the river. Mexican Gus
tom HOuses at that iuie were not pall ing expenses.
which fact was sufficient TO show tnat millions OF
dollars in merchandise were being constantly ex-
ported intO Mexico without paying duty. Among
the arguments adduced In the Mexican Congress last
winter report presented short time before 10
the ned States senate. IL was stated that cit Is
Impossible TO prevent smuggling upon line Ike
tnat or the Rio Grande when there are any induce
mcnts II, and without doubt there before the
establishment OF the zone much smuggling rom the
American side OF the river to the detrimout OF line
customs revenue and OF the honest commerce OF
Mexico" But the Tree zone has changed This state
OF things by establishing on The right BANK OF the
RIO Grandc basis for contraband traffic, and has
brought 10 that particular locality degree or
prosperity that was unknown before, while the
American side has suffered decadence. which must
continue as long as the Texan merchants have TO
pay the duties established by law.
PA .IFIC VIEW.
The New Orleans republican takes pacific view
OF the question. 1t says that might rs well set
up the claim to supervise the Canada tariff and its
operations on the northern fr0nticr as to pretend
that because there Is difference between the re-
venue collected on merchandise imported into
Maramoros, and tnat imported into Brownsville the
United States should at once force Mexico to ADJUST
custom house rates by our own on our southern