Page:Mexico in 1827 Vol 2.djvu/137

Rh was no pledge that, when the capitals were repaid, some increase would not be made in the duties: but there is also no reason to suppose that they will ever again be raised to their former standard, because the interests, not of the foreign capitalists, but of the very influential class of Mexican proprietors, require that they should not be so. The amount of duties was formerly fixed by the Mother-country. It now depends, not even upon the Executive of Mexico, but upon an assembly of native Mexicans, amongst whom the great Mining Districts are sure to be adequately represented. It is, therefore, hardly natural to suppose that they will give their sanction to a measure by which they themselves will be the first to suffer; nor can they, in any way, in a country which pays for all its Imports in bullion, impose a duty upon the Silver raised in such a manner as to bear upon Foreigners, without affecting themselves. I leave good faith entirely out of the question in this view of the case, because, though always appealed to, it is, I fear, of but little weight with any Government in discussions of this nature. But I cannot refrain from adding that, in the whole course of my residence in Mexico, I have seen nothing on the part of the Government to warrant the supposition, (which those who wish to regard American affairs in the most unfavourable light, so gratuitously make,) that it would violate all its engagements with Foreigners, merely on the score of their not being natives, or seek to deprive them of the fair