Page:Vol 6 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/559

Rh unusual to see large ships landing smuggled goods on the island of Sacrificios. Government had to relax its prohibitory system and wink at trade with neutrals. Smuggling became comparatively easy, as the customhouse officers were not too strict in their inspection of papers. In 1803 the government made use of the consulado to check the evil, but all efforts proved unavailing. In spite of watchfulness and severe penal enactments, illicit trade continued to thrive through connivance of poorly paid officials. The same state of things prevailed after the independence, and as long as the Spaniards held possession of San Juan de Ulúa smuggling operations were carried on through the castle. Very stringent laws were passed, but without effect. Officials were eager to be bribed; and if any such attempted to do his duty honorably, he either lost his position through the influence of the smugglers, or was driven from it by maltreatment and threats of death. A custom-house or revenue officer had to be accommodating. For half a century law after law was passed, each more rigid than the former, but only with very brief success. The last and most stringent one was enacted by congress in 1879, which besides inflicting mulcts, or imprisonment, declared that any commercial house or firm established in the republic, which was discovered to be engaged in smuggling, should have its signature nullified for all transactions with the public treasury, by not being accepted in any