Papers Relating to Foreign Affairs, Accompanying the Annual Message of the President to the Third Session of the Fortieth Congress

Mr. Plumb to Mr. Seward.

No. 126.]

Legation of the United States, City of Mexico, May 12, 1868.

Sir: One of the embarrassments to which commerce is subjected in this country is the exaction of local duties upon merchandise passing from the ports, or place of its introduction, through the different States to its destination in the interior.

This is especially felt at the points as at this capital, where the means of transportation are changed and merchandise is delayed by the necessary arrangements for its further conveyance, or other reasons, for periods of greater or less duration.

On the 1st instant a law was passed by the Mexican congress which should obviate this difficulty, as it provides that no duties shall be collected by any State upon the simple transit of merchandise through its territory.

On the same day, however, an executive order was issued through the department of treasury, which prescribes that the period for which merchandise passing through this capital, and being delayed, shall be entitled to exemption from local duties, shall be limited to ten days; and that, passing that period, those duties shall be collected upon such merchandise, although the same may not be destined for consumption at this place, and will have again to pay similar charges at the place of its final destination.

I have the honor to transmit to the department, herewith, translations of the law of congress, and the executive order referred to.

I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

E. L. PLUMB.

Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.

Transit duties on merchandise.

[From tho Diario Oficial, May 7, 1868.—Translation.]

Department of Treasury and Public Credit.–Section 1.

Under this date the citizen President of the republic has been pleased to address to me the following decree:

Benito Juarez, constitutional President of the United Mexican States, to the inhabitants of the same, be it known that the sovereign congress of the Union has thought proper to decree the following:

The congress of the Union decrees:

Sole article. No State can collect duties for the simple transit of merchandise, nor impose under any denomination, upon the products of other States, greater contributions than those exacted upon its own products.

Hall of sessions, Mexico, May 1, 1868.

FRANCISCO TRAREO, President.

Guillermo Valle, Secretary,

Joaquin Maria Alcade, Secretary.

Wherefore I order that it be printed, published, circulated, and that due compliance be given to it.

National palace in Mexico, May 2, 1868.

BENITO JUAREZ.

The Citizen Matias Romero, Minister of Treasury and Public Credit.

And I communicate the same to you for the corresponding ends.

Independence and liberty! Mexico, May 2, 1868.

ROMERO.

[Translation.]

Department of Treasury and Public Credit.–Section 1.

Having been taken into consideration the reasons manifested first by Mendoza and Sobsino, and afterwards by Kauffman, Grane & Co., merchants of this place, in soliciting that upon merchandise introduced into this capital, in transit for points in the interior, there shall not be exacted the duties known as local duties, when neither the whole nor a part of the same are caused; and taking into consideration also certain reports that the supreme government has thought proper to ask with reference to the affair to aid in forming its judgment, the citizen President of the republic has thought proper to determine, in conformity with the provisions of article 12 of the law of the 16th of December, 1861, when treating of the place where the duty of counter register shall be caused, that upon effects introduced into this city in transit there shall not be collected any duties except upon the effects that may remain here, permitting that the whole or the part continue on to its destination, with only the corresponding note upon the respective passes; but with the understanding that the time conceded for such effects as are to continue on, to remain in deposit here, shall be ten days, counted from the date of their entrance, and that they shall remain in the custom-house warehouses; and that passing that term it shall be considered that duties become due, and that in such case the effects may be taken out or left, under the obligation of paying the local duties and storage established or that may be established.

I state the same to you for your information and the consequent ends.

Independence and liberty! Mexico, May 1, 1868.

ROMERO.

The Citizen Collector, Charged with the collection of the revenue of the federal district.