Polynesian. [volume], August 17, 1844, Page 52, Image 2

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T ii K V O L V N K S I A N .
August.
52
Ush a revenue for his country, on a sure
foundation, and to render it solvent, than all
the Congresses and Senates that have exis
ted since 1323. To the above decrees are
added many exceptions from the taxes impo
sed, explanations, directions for collection,
he. Sec. In the preamble to the decree,
first quoted, His Excellency founds it upon
the necessity of changing the old vicious
system injurious to commerce, and mons
trously expensive in collection, and the duty
of every citizen to contribute to the support
of government, according to his means.
With respect to the "monstrous" charces
of collection, under the old system, I think it
right to quote here what Don Francisco
Lombardo says in his "mcmoria" of 1039.
While speaking of the injurious and demor
alizing effects of the internal duties on com
merce, he remarks: "The cost of collec
tion may be calculated at 19 percent, which
no civilized nation spends in the collection
of its revenues, while even amongst ourselves,
it is observed that the branches of the first
class depending upon tho maritime custom
houses, which assuredly are organized with
little economy, have only absorbed about 10
per cent in their collection.
If the latter absorb 10 per cent, it is clear
there must be expenccs, not stated in the
44 memorias," from which table (r) was
formed. It will be seen, that I estimated
the whole cost of collection, at only 3 J per
cent vide note 4.
It will be no lcs9 curious than interesting
to know the result of the new nnanciai
scheme, adopted by Santa Anna. If the du
ties imposed be faithfully paid, I have no
doubt, the amount will be very large, ana it,
His Excellency would only try during the
term of his presidency, a reduction of im
port duties to U2 or 123 per cent, ad valo
rem, in the whole, as recommended by the
Minister of Finance Don Francisco Arillagu,
so far back as 1823, and the total abolition
of all internal duties on goods which have
paid those of importation ; also, the abolition
of all duties whatever on the export of Gold
and Silver Coin, and of all on bats and in
gots beyond what duty would equal the, Mint
charges for coinage, I feel confident that the
civic crown of His Excellency would eclipse
his military laurels, that he would really
regenerate his country, purge it of contra
band and its perjured supporters, promote
industry, wealth and contentment every
where, and hand his name down to posterity,
not only as the asseiter of Mexican Inde
pendence, but as the founder of Mexican
greatness and prosperity.
I now come to a sub:cct where I think
the advisers of His Excellency have recom
mended to him a course neither promotive
of his glory, nor of the prosperity of the
7,433,7i:4 fellow citizens, who have to re
spect and obey him as their Chief Magis
trate. What I allude to is the prohibition of those
coarse cotton and woollen goods that are
most used by the poor, in order to promote
domestic manufactures of the same articles
made here, at treble the price, by foreign
machinery, and under the direction of foreign
workmen, and carried on, in several in
stances, on foreign account.
It will scarcely be believed in Europe,
that Mexico, with a littoral of land, on
both its extended coasts, of from 10 to 520
leagues, as fertile and productive as any in
the United States, or India, and as lit for
the cultivation of the richest tropical produc
tions, known in those countries, with labour
cheaper than the slave labour of the United
States, should not pursue a policy tending
as its first and greatest interest, to call into
existence a wealth immeasurably beyond
what it has ever derived from all its mines,
in the epoch of their greatest prosperity,
and capable of turning what is called the
balance of trade, in its favour, with all those
manufacturing nations who can supply its
hall-clad population at the lowest prices.
Yet such is the case !
TABLE NO. 2 Referred to in ouk No. 11.
Datie on sundry British Manufactures of chief consumption in .Mexico, at the epoch of the following Tariff.
Internal.
1827. 1837. 1840&41. 1842. 1843.
1844.
Duties at
Cotton Shirtings or Madapollams 33 in. 1 va. wide 100 ps. a 30
yds. 3000 yds. 3240 ps. cost in Manchester, 8s 6d per
piece, - - -- -- -- X 12 10
Import duty,
Additional duty,
Rail-Road duty, -Internation
duty,
Consumption duty,
Printed Cambrics 9-8 Prints 1 va. wide, 100 ps. ea. 24 yds.
2400 yds. 2592 va. cost in Manchester, 10s Gd, 52 10s
Import duty, - - -
Additional duty, -------
Rail-Road duty, -------
Internation do., ------
Consumption do., ......
Colored Cotton Handkerchiefs 33 in ps., 1 yard wide, 100 doz,
18c. va.
$
G07
15
75
75
774
15$c
25
cost in Glasgow 5s,
Import duty,
Additional duty,
Rail-Road duty,
Internation do.,
Consumption do.,
100 pieces Hempen Linen 33 inches in width each 40 yards
4000 yards 4320 va. cost in Manchester, say Dundee,
.1 1 rl s-
- - ------
75
Import duty,
Additional duty,
Rail-Road duty, -Internation
duty,
Consumption duty,
Flaxen Linens of coarse texture, 33 in. wide 1 va. wide 100
ps. ea. 35 yds. 3500 yds. 3780 va. cost in Dundee 7d per
102 Is 8d
405
10
50
50
516
Import duty,
Additional duty,
Rail-Road duty,
Internation duty,
Consumption duty,
Woolen Broadcloth, 58 in. wide-! va. wide-20ps. ea. 28 yds
660 yds. 605 va. 1059 va. cost in Leeds, 8s 6d yd. 238
Import duty, - - . .
Additional duty, -
Rail-Road duty, '
Internation duty,
Consumption duty, - . . . w
17r
93
o
11
11
119
He
ct
50
19
94
94
57
va
12c.va.
12
62
62
36
dz
75
34
72
53
va
3G0
9
45
45
405
13
G7
G7
459
10ic
393
9
49
49
502
1500
37
187 53
187 53
va
75
84
act
-
03
va
25
51
553
12c
324
10
51
54
412
12 rs
150
5
25
25
205
8c
345
II
57
57
472
ct
50
50
50
50
Increased
Cons. Duty
80
80
dz
GO
52
GO
GO
32
$
405
13
67
202
633
c
c
324
10
54
162
550
V.
c
o"0
a
"l50
5
25
75
255
9c
340
11
56
56
464
1059
35
176
176
20
34
70
70
94
30
50
50
C
315
11
57
172
587
V)
c
O N
3
a
340
11
56
170
ct
50
50
50
50
80
80
60
52
60
80
52
578
o t
c
1059
35
176
629
1912 82 1447 30" i800
20
31
70
10
34
10 c.
$
324
12
25
64
64
492
9c
233
9
18
4G
46
354
72c
72
o
5
14
14
109
5c
216
8
17
43
43
323
6c
847 20
30 33 89
67 78
50 169 44
50 169 44
ct
96
92
30
80
43
28
33
GG
G6
66
99
dz
83
76
40
40
44
64
28
20
20
32
80
07
14
36
36
73
30 1237 75
15 c.
86
3
6
17
17
131
6c
259
10
20
51
51
393
7c2
1016
20
41
203
203
A n e"
y. .. U U U L J ' ' ' I www j ww U4I I yJ l'lt9 o 1017! 9 U
was an indirect reduction of the duties. r " rtm ,lul" n anvanco cash down which
ct
44
88
20
20
72
96
43
96
39
39
18
dz
40
46
92
28
28
34
20
16
32
84
84
36
16
89
78
43
43
69
64
66
32
33
33
23
15 c.
$
48G
16
32
81
81
696
13c
336
11
56
56
432
1$56
156
5
10
26
26
223
8c
315
11
23
57
57
495
9c
1059
35
70
176
176
1517
ct
20
40
60
96
23
46
16
16
97
dz
20
40
GO
GO
52
04
GO
GO
36
20
34
68
70
70
62
30
60
50
50
90
table-No. 3.
Referred to in our No. 12.
POPULATION OF THE REPUBLIC OP MEXICO,
AS RENDERED BY THE NATIONAL INSTI
TUTE op Geography, and Statistics to
the Supreme Government, in 1839.
Dvjartmtn!$.
Inhabitants in 1839.
Mexico,
Jalisco, . . . . . .
Pucbla,
Yucatan, . . . . . .
Guanaxuato,
Oajacaxo,
Michxoocan
Jan Luis Potosi, . .
Zacatecas,
Vera Cruz,
Durango
Chihuahua
Sinaloa,
Senora,
Chiapas,
Querrtarxo
Nucvo Leon,
Tamaulipas, .....
Coahuila,
Aguas Calicntes, . . .
Tabasco,
Nucvo Mexico, ....
Upper and Lower California,
I exas
Total, . . .
1,389,520
679,111
661,902
530,984
513,606
500,278
497,906
321,840
273,575
254,380
162,618
147,600
147,000
124,000
141,206
120,560
101,103
100,0C8
75,340
69,6f)3
G3.530
57,026
33,439
27,800
7,044,140
Xotrs. As the members of the Institute fix the vearlv
increase of population at 1 aiul 4-Cths per 100, or I27.52S
mid U-lOOthx yearly, adding that augmentation for the
jears H10. 1941, find KI2, the whole population moy
now he fairly considered to be 7,433,721 and 33-100ths
or upwards.
It has been always observed, that in the Departments
nearest the Equator, or where the heat is greatest, the
numl er of females exceeds that of the males, and the
number of males exceeds that of the females, as vou pro
ceed North K. C. WYtLIE.
Mexico, November 1S43.
TABLE No. 4.
Referred to in our No. 12.
Estimate of the Wealth of the Mexi
can Republic, as it appears in Bulle
tin No. 1, of the National Institute
of Geography and Statistics, pre
sented to the Supreme Government,
in 1839.
Bv a Statistical Renort. hv Cnni
Jose Maria Qniros, Secretary to the ("Con-
suiuuo ; L-namnor ot Commerce of Vera
Cruz, and read to a '.Junta" of the Govern
ment, on the 24th of Jnnunrv. 1S17 tho
yearly production of the National Industry
us cuicuiaica as lonows, viz :
Aifrioul- ( Products consumed in the interior, 133,S52,f.25
hire, I do. exported 4.007.496
11mcs 27,951,000
Total, . . 6227,812,033
But the authors sav. that n flip vnlne
of lauds, houses, trade and commerce, has
greatly increased since 1817, they calcu
late the whole yearly production of the
national industry to he (in 1839) at least
$300,000,000," representing at 5 per cent,.
a cupiuu oi six mousana millions ot dollar.
itrs. 111 Proof of this vrvat iiirrnxcn in tin. -.ln
of property, thev odd the niirticulnra fif four ct!al..c t.ilH
in 1790, mid valued in 1829, as follows, viz.
folates Sold
in 1700.
Tree
Price. Rental
1 63.000 -1,160 No. I
2 47,600 3 300 2
3 36,000 2.500 3
4 2C.S00 1,649 4
8105,300 SI 1,600
Do. Valued
in 1829.
Vnlua. Frc
tion. Rental.
105.000 7,CiO
6,600 5,630
56.000 4.200
46,000 3,960
$275,600 121,170
The authors add, that "the Government, with such ample
means to work upon, might easily adopt a system of con
tributions which would with great advantage supercede
the ephemeral ami discredited system to which they were
then reduced."
This is, indeed, very evident, for a tax of 5 per cent,
upon 300.000.000 of yearly income, or of 1-4 per 100
on 6 000 0(10,090 value of property, would produce
$15,000 000 yearly, which amount, in time of peace ought
to he sufficient for the whole expenditure and interest
r.f K1 ..,,1.1;. J. I . .1. '
j'uuiii: una oi me nunon.
Mexico, Novemher 1313.
R. C. VVVLLIU.
(To bo Continued.)
To the Editor or the Polynesian:
Sir, The poetry of Allegiance is that
" no man can throw off his native country',1
but, the stern fact and the Law of Nations
as recognized at the present day, is far oth
erwise in the strict sense of that expression.
It would be more consonant with the law
and the fact, to transpose that ancient adage
by saying,'1 tome countries cannot throw of
their native subjects under any circumstances
and, 44 tome countries cannot throw off thtvr
subjects, except for the commission of certain
crimes,
In republics like those of the United States
and Switrrrland, where tho indf frasibl