Page:Mexico in 1827 Vol 1.djvu/495

Rh The mischief done by such a regulation as this, in a country where, both to the East and West, the population is scanty, and the extent of the line of coast enormous, is incalculable: A cargo, for instance, part of which, if landed at Tampico, or Refugio, might be disposed of to advantage, becomes of no value if landed in toto, at Veracruz, and sent inland to the already glutted market of the Capital; and yet the same vessel may have other goods on board, totally unfit for the Northern market. But, after once breaking bulk, she is not allowed to reembark any part of her original cargo, and is, therefore, compelled to re-ship one portion of it on board a Mexican coasting vessel, which process is attended not only with great loss of time, but considerable additional risk.

On the Western coast, another regulation prevails, of a still more oppressive nature: merchant vessels proceeding from Europe round Cape Horn, generally carry out an assorted cargo, calculated to answer the demand of all the different ports at which they may touch. Many of the articles prohibited in Mexico are not contraband in Chile, Peru, Colombia, and Guătĕmālă, all of which have ports upon the Pacific.

A vessel may, therefore, naturally have on board goods for all these different markets; and if there be no attempt at concealment, these goods cannot fairly be assumed to be brought into a Mexican port with any fraudulent intention. But such is not the spirit of the present code of Mexico; for, should a