GOLD AND SILVER IMPORTED INTO THE UNITED STATES FROM MEXICO. By this, it will be observed that, from having a trade worth upward of $9,000,000 in 1835, we have been reduced to a comparatively insignifi cant commerce of $1,000,000, at the extreme, in 1843! If peace be restored in Mexico and mutual confidence re-established, we can see no cause why our interests may not become replaced on their ancient basis, and a natural alliance firmly established between the two sister republics, who, in addition to a community of political tendencies, are the closest neighbors. England has striven for a twofold object in Mexico. She has always looked to her debt from that country as the great means of affecting her commerce and manufactures, and ultimately, perhaps, of affording her a claim for its satisfaction in territory. If our government was always careful to have herself properly represented in that republic by vigilant persons, whose eyes were constantly open to the encroachments of foreign powers, and especially to the grasping tendencies of England; and if, at the same time, it took occasion, upon every fitting opportunity, to sustain the rights of our citizens by enforcing the reasonable and friendly appeals of its representative, in a few years, Mexico would awake from the spell of her foreign delusions, and remember the hand that was first stretched forth to welcome her into the family of independent nations. She would have every reason to do so. The political feelings of the mass of her intelligent men are decidedly republican. Her own independence would be assured to her. The constant alliance of the United States would protect her in the event of a hostile foot being set upon her shores. She would secure the integrity of this continent, and free her people from the dan gers that menace them from abroad, whenever a minister is obliged to dun her for her debts, or threaten her with the "last argument" known to diplomats and nations. A favorite mode of raising loans in Mexico, for the benefit of government, has been that of granting permits to merchants (chiefly Englishmen) to introduce cotton twist into the republic. This is a prohibited article--prohibited for the purpose of cherishing the manufacturing establishments of the country. That these have progressed to a very considerable extent, and have entirely outstripped the production of the cotton planters of Mexico, will be seen by the annexed table, which I have obtained from the most authentic sources:— It must be remarked that there are three manufacturing establishments in the department of Durango, the number of spindles in which are not included in the preceding table, because the Junta de Industria had not received very definite information respecting them. They may, how. ever, be calculated at about 4,000, which, added to the 131,280, will give a grand total of 135,000, at least. The number of looms, also, in the republic is not presented, because data have been furnished only in relation to those moved by machinery. An immense number of hand-looms are in constant occupation throughout the republic. I. The cotton factories of the republic consume, daily, with the Which, converted into mantas and rebosos, have a value of... II. The same factories, after the 23,940 spindles in erection are in operation, will consume, daily,...... 48,622 Each spindle will produce, of thread, 43,760 Which, converted as aforesaid, will amount in value to........ 48,037 III. The consumption of cotton in the year, of three hundred work ing days, with 131,280 spindles, will be.. 14,586,666 The produce in thread,... 13,138,000 The produce in manufactured value, as above,.... 14,440,800 IV. The 131,280 spindles, working day and night, will consume... 24,797,332 The 131,280 spindles will occupy, (working only by day,).... (working day and night,). Number of operatives employed by day,...... It will require for the 131,280 spindles working by day,................... Leaving a deficit of...... * But if the spindles work day and night, they will require.. Produce of the country, as above,...... The value of the Mexican manufacturing establishments may be stated, in round numbers, at $10,000,000. Hitherto the cotton crop of the republic has not greatly exceeded 50,000 quintals; which, calculated at a mean of $35 the quintal, will give a total valuation of the produce at $1,750,000. The estimate we have present * At the town of Lowell, alone, they make nearly a million and a quarter yards of cotton cloth per week, employ about 9,000 operatives, (6,375 females,) and use 433,000 lbs. of raw cotton per week. The annual amount of raw cotton used is 22,568,000 lbs., enough to load 50 ships of 350 tons each; and of cotton manufactured, 70,275,910 yards. 100 lbs. of cotton will produce 89 yards of cloth. ed in the foregoing tables shows, however, that the spindles, working day and night, will require 247,937 quintals, or, in other words, that there is a deficit of 197,9734, which, valued at the same rate, will amount to $6,929,072. It is true, that many persons have been induced by this condition of the market, and the prohibition of importing the raw material, to commence plantations of cotton; but we doubt whether the habits of the agricultural population will permit their prosperity. They dislike to adventure in new branches of industry. If their ancestors wrought on cotton plantations, they are content to continue in the same employment; but it will be difficult to train the new laborer to the newer cultivation. They adhere too closely to traditional occupations, and I have heard of some most signal failures, which have forced persons to abandon their establishments, after a considerable outlay of money in land and implements. Under these circumstances, we may well ask our countrymen whether Mexico might not be looked to as a market for a portion of our crops, and if the government should not be required to turn its attention to this vast interest, for the purpose of attempting to obtain a removal of the inhibitions on that valuable article of commerce. If England were a cottongrowing country, or had an adjacent colony producing it, I am confident that the opportunity would be promptly and advantageously improved. Under any circumstances it is worth the trial; and, especially, at this moment, when Great Britain is interfering in the quarrel between Mexico and Texas, and seeking either to produce a peace or to form an alliance with the revolted province, which will either extinguish slavery and cotton planting, or make Mexico the buyer of her offspring's productions, to the detriment of our Union. The cotton crop of Mexico has been very variable in value. At Tepic, on the west coast, it has been as low as $15 the quintal; at Vera Cruz, on the east coast, $22 and $34; while at Puebla and in the capital, it has risen to $40, and even $48. In spite of all the efforts of English capitalists and diplomacy, the government has steadily persevered in fostering the manufactures of the republic, except by the occasional allowances of the importation of twist. The administration of Santa Anna, however, has been energetic, I am informed, both in its opposition to the introduction of this article, and in its effects to suppress the smuggling of English and American fabrics. The manufacturers, therefore, regard their establishments as perfectly safe, and their future success as certain. The average price of mantas (cotton cloth,) of one vara width, in 1842, was about 25 cents the vara; and of twist, No. 12 to 22, about 75 cents the pound. It was estimated that, if cotton fell in consequence of importations being allowed, or a large crop, to $25 the quintal, these articles would be reduced to 18 cents the vara for the first, and to 50 cents the pound for the second. This condition of the market would prevent all importations from abroad, even aided by smuggling. An intelligent merchant of the city of Mexico, who has resided long in the country, and has an extensive acquaintance in the republic, informs me that there are about 5,000 hand-looms throughout the departments, which will work up all the spun yarn into mantas and rebosos as fast as it can be made. Many of these looms are entirely employed in the manufacture of the common rebosos, the consumption of which is so great among the poorer classes. The value of these looms is estimated at between 6,000,000 and $7,000,000. The number of persons employed, in every way, in manufactures, cannot be much short of 30,000. The power made use of for the movement of the factories is water; which is abundant, for that purpose, all over the country, proceeding from small streams falling from the mountains into the neighboring plains or barrancas. Owing to the scarcity of wood, and the costliness of its transportation, steam cannot be advantageously applied. There are several manufactories of cotton balls, or thread, in Mexico, but they are not of very great importance. Paper factories are working with considerable success. There are two near the capital, one at Puebla, and one in Guadalaxara. Their productions are very good, but by no means adequate to the consumption of the country. The quantity of this article used for cigarritos, or paper cigars, is inconceivable. The best coarse wrapping or envelope paper, I have ever seen, is made in Mexico from the leaves of the Agave Americana, the plant which yields "pulque." It has almost the toughness and tenacity of iron. Both at Puebla and Mexico there are several glass factories, making large quantities of the material for windows, and common tumblers. Their produce is, nevertheless, insufficient for the wants of the country. Woollen blankets, and some very coarse woollen cloths or baizes, are also manufactured in the republic. The blankets are often of beautiful texture, and woven, with the gayest colors and patterns, into a garment that frequently costs a fashionable cavalier from two to five hundred dollars. As this is as indispensable an article for the comfort of a lépero as of a gentleman, and as necessary for a man as a reboso is for a woman, you may readily imagine how great is the consumption. Such is a sketch of this branch of industry, to which the government and people seem to have devoted themselves with a hearty will. We have dwelt at considerable length upon it, as evincing an energy and temper not usually attributed to Mexicans, and for the purpose of exhibiting a phase of character at once creditable to their resolution, and manifesting a degree of independence and thriftiness worthy of imitation. THE REVENUE AND RESOURCES OF MEXICO. The income of the Mexican government is derived from revenues on foreign commerce, imposts on internal trade, imposts on pulque, export duty on the precious metals, lotteries, post-office, stamped paper, taxes, tobacco, powder, salt-works, and several other sources of trifling impor tance. In 1840, these revenues are stated in the report of the minister of the treasury as follows:: NETT PROCEEDS, after Deducting EXPENSE OF COLLECTION. Imposts on foreign commerce,... $7,115,849 Extraordinary subsidy,. interior 4,306,585 Arbitrio estraordinario,......... Exchanges, &c.,.... Creditos Activós,... 307,427 Donations,... Balances of accounts,.... 355 Total,.......... $103 78,177 483 13,662 $12,744,157 In 1839, the revenues amounted to $11,215,848. The income from the post-office department (which is not included in the statement for 1840) was $178,738, in 1839. In 1840, the lotteries produced the gross sum of $215,437; but, as the expenses connected with their management amounted to $158,485, it left a balance of but $56,952 for the government. The "sealed paper," or stamp tax, produced $110,863, but as this impost has been nearly doubled during 1842, the revenue must at present be proportionally greater. We have been unable to obtain any of the official documents of 1841 and 1842, (in consequence of the disturbed condition of the country,) with the exception of the custom-house returns for the former year : It will be perceived that the custom-houses of Tabasco, Campeche, Sisal, Isla de Carmen, and Bacalar, are not included in the preceding statement, in consequence of the separation of the first (during the period) from her allegiance to the republic, and on account of the rebellious condition of the rest. At the date of the statement, reports from Goatzacoalco, Alvarado, Tuxpan, Huatulco, Manzanillo, La Paz, Pueblo Viejo, Altata, Loreto, San Diego, San Francisco, Soto la Marina, and from the frontier posts of Paso del Norte, Comitan, Tonala, Santa Fe de N. Mexi co, y Presidio del Norte, had not been yet received at the treasury office in the capital. The costs of the collection of this revenue amounted to $52,886, and the salaries of officers to $295,404. I regret that I was unable to obtain any very accurate date of the Santa Fe trade, which, under judicious management, might no doubt be very advantageously conducted for the interest of both countries. In the present distracted state, however, of Texas and the northern provinces of Mexico, little is to be hoped, until better feelings and better regulations are firmly established. Santa Fe and Chihuahua divide the trade; the latter, since the year 1831. The subjoined rough estimate has been given me of the value of our trade at both places since that period : No one who has resided any length of time in Mexico, either connected or unconnected with commerce, can fail to have heard of the extent to which smuggling has been and still is carried on in the republic. This infamous system, alike destructive of private morals and public integrity, has become a regular business in portions of the country; and, after hav |