Year: 1859

TEHUANTEPEC CORRESPONDENCE.
The Ports on The Lsthmus-Immense Aduantages


to Commerce herefrom.


MISATITLAN, May 2, 1859.


Eds. Crescent: In former letter hinted that Mr..
MeLanes predictions in the formation of treaties
with Mexico seemed to me to take northern tend
ency, and would develope themselves in the acquisi-
ton of territories or advantages in the direction of
Sonora and Chihuahua for the benefit OF Arizona.
Whether this was a piece Of Machiavelsm, or
whether Mr. NcLane has since diverted his attention
from Arizona, or whether he has become more COM
prehensve in his plans, cannot pretend to warrant,
but feel well assured to-day that Mr.. McLane
takes more interest in the affairs OF the Isthmus of
Tehuantepec than previously gave him credit for {.
In fact he has already given word that he Intends if
possible, to secure advantages for American com
merce and American people on this isthmus.


do not pretend to be deep enough in diplomatic
secrets to inform you what these advantages will be
but can direct your attention to scheme Of i'm :
mense advantage to commerce which was initiated
by Mr.. A. G. Allen, of Texas, four years ago, and
which he has since unremittingly urged upon the
people and officers both here and at home. Mr..
Allen wrote letter to the Hon. Lewis Cass, dat ed
October LIST, 1858, in which he said:


"The rich States of Chiapas and Oaxaca are now
turning their attention to this point in the transit of
goods via this place from Vera Cruz and we look
forward to the day when very considerable trade
will be carried on between this place and those
statea and when this will be the port of export for
the gold, silver and cochineal OF Oaxaca.


"Now thatthe Louisiana Tehnantepec Company are
about consummating their great enterprise in COM
pleting the Transit Route across to the Pacific it will
give an immense field to the trade of this Isthmus
increase its population and be the means Of develop
ing its natural resources.


"That further impetus might also be given to the
trade and Importance Of this Isthmus, have been
striving for the last three years with the custom house
and chief authorities of the stbmus to use their in
fuence with the General Government to make Nina.
titan and La Ventosa free ports of deposit for goods
duties only payable when the goods are sold for con.
sumption in this country, and if sent to other coun-
tries the Pacific or rice versa to the Atlantic no
duties should be charged they being subject only in
the latter case to warehouse expenses The idea is
popular among the officials and people, but the un-
settled state of the government has prevented action
upon the matter.


If this could be accomplished, the United States
being in close proximity, it would in my opinion be
great advantage to our commerce. and be the means





and neghboring countries by establishing here and
at La Ventosa deposits of American goods, from
whence they could at moments notice. be re shipped
and sold to the adjoining ports of the Republic and
neighboring nations on the Pacific which are now
principally supplied uia Cape Horn. 1t appears to
me that this subject is Of sufficient importance to en-
gage the attention of government in its negotia.
tions with Mexico, and more especially as the Isthmus
IS 1enO prnn nf
fares, as it is the highway of nations.n


Mr. Allen is remarkably shrewd man, and his
plans generally successful through that unremt-
ting industry and sagacious intelligence which has
enabled him to rise from small position here to the
chief merchant and main business man of this 18th.
mus. He has worked very quietly at this scheme for
the last three four years, and to-day he seems to
be in fair way of seeing his scheme succeed It
will take this rather slow community by surprise to
see so great an improvement developed by man
whom they have looked upon with jealous and unfa-
yorable eyes.


The utility of this scheme can only be appreciated
by men who have seen and felt the immense advan-
tages that result to trade and commerce by releasing
it from the manacles of troublesome custom house
and restrictive tariff. The coast trade of Mexico
requires some central and healthy depot instead
of Vera Cruz, and if Mnatitlan shond become a free
port the demand would not only be satisfied but the
interior consumption of foreign goods would be in
creased at least hundred per cent Therefore it
is not only to the advantage of the foreign traders
here that this measure should succeed, but it will
directly to the benefit of the Mexican treasury
for where the country now pays duty on one hundred
dollars worth of imported goods, it would then pay
duty on two hundred dollars worth. Imported articles
are in the greatest demand in this republic but the
restrictions upon commerce, the aunoyances of the
present custom house SYSTEM and the tardiness with
which goods are passed through the customs, re.
Strains many foreigners from bringing merchandise
into the country.


But the scheme introduced by Mr.. Allen contem-
plates still greater benefit to Mexico and her people
in this wise. The states of Oaxaca aud Chiapas in
great measure, derive their imported goods from
Europe principally, by the way of Cape Horn Or over
the 1sthmus of Panama. A further drawback exists
in that these goods are not only sent around Cane
Horn, but they are sent into Guatemala pay duty
there and then second hand into the stores of
Mexico, when they again pay duty after being packed
ten days journey on mule back. Any sensible man
can see the disadvantage Of this round about opera
ton, and how important it is to all southern and
western Mexico that some arrangement should be
effected by which goods can be transported across
the Isthmus of Tehuantepec and thus not only be
brought close to their door, but also with one tariff


l cannot enter into this scheme any further at
present, but evidence that Mr.. Aliens talents
have not been in vain, send you COPY of phi
vae letter written by him after his return from Vera
Cruz, where he held long interview with President
Juarez.


"Some eight months ago, when at Vera Cruz, I
suggested to President Juarez this system of ware.
houseing on the Ishmus of Tehuantepec, which he
received with lively interest, in which showed to
him that these great depOts would enable the adoju.
ing States of the Isthmus to buy goods frequently at
greatly reduced prices it would often so happen
that the importer, when he found the market over.
stocked, would prefer selling those goods at cost.
rather than re-eSport them. AS confirmation of this
assertion referred him to the Island of ST. Thomas,
the great port OF deposit for European and American
goods destined for the South American and other
markets. and from the indications he manifested at
that time, | have no doubt something of the kind
may be adopted so beneficial to Mexico and the COM
merce of the world.'


Will the Crescent render us its assistance in direct.
ing the attention of the American Minister to this
important movement, that these advantages NAV be
secured by treaty rather than by the unstable Sc