Page:Mexico in 1827 Vol 1.djvu/504

474 should regard it almost as a desirable event if the present Tariff were allowed to remain a little longer unchanged. The commercial interests of the country will be better understood in 1828 than they are in 1827; although, since 1821, great progress has, undoubtedly, been made: and as, when a reform is effected, it is to be wished that it should be permanent, the more time that is allowed for reflecting upon it the better.

The revenue of Mexico, however, (of which the Customs form so important a branch,) will never attain its full extent, until the system has received all the ameliorations of which it is susceptible.

If changes are judiciously made, and the duties so reduced as to bring the imports more within the reach of the great body of consumers, (who are now either excluded from the market, or forced to purchase their supplies from the illicit trader,) I am inclined to believe that the whole expenses of the Republic may be provided for by the produce of the Customs alone. Under all the disadvantages of the present system, they have yielded, in ten months, 7,043,238 dollars, and I have estimated their produce for the ensuing year at eight millions.

Without pretending to fix the ratio of increase afterwards, or to determine the period within which it may be expected to take place, (for both of these depend upon the proceedings of the legislature,) the facts contained in the preceding pages will, I think, demonstrate its possibility. The rest,