Page:Mexico (1829) Volumes 1 and 2.djvu/390

 350 MEXICO. principally of Cotton goods, having entered the ports of Veracruz, and Tampico, in October and November of that year. But, at the very moment when these vessels were about to clear, a question was raised in the Senate, respecting the legality of the reduced valuations adopted in 1824 ; and the Minister of Finance was desired to state, by what authority British Cottons had been allowed to be imported on terms more favourable than India cottons, for which alone a valua- tion was fixed by the Arancel ? The Minister, in lieu of explaining the circumstances of the case, and pointing out the impossibility of levying the same duties upon articles, the intrinsic value of which differed so materially, threw the whole responsibility of what had been done upon the Custom-house officers on the coast, who, in self-defence, were compelled to inform the merchants, that no Cottons would be thenceforward admitted, but upon the pay- ment of the full duties, in lieu of those payable upon the reduced valuations. The injustice of such an innovation, (amounting in fact to a prohibition) at the very moment when great importations were about to be made, in full confidence that no change could take place in the established Tariff, without due warn- ing being given, was strongly represented to the Mexican Government ; and the Executive was so far convinced of the impolicy of the measure, that an appeal to Congress was made against it, and the goods recently imported were allow- ed to remain in Deposit, until the point at issue should be decided. The discussion was protracted, and the result long doubt- ful, for the question involved private, as well as public, inte- rests. Nothing was determined by the Congress of 1826, nor was it until the end of February, 1827, that a return to the old duties of two and three reals per vara, was decreed by the Chamber of Deputies. The concurrence of the Senate