Mr. Plumb to Mr.
Seward.
No. 180.]
Legation of the United States,
City of Mexico,
August 24, 1868.
Sir: With my dispatch No. 46, of the 12th of
December last, I transmitted to the department copy of a law issued on
the 27th of the preceding
[Page 573]
month, putting in practice the decimal system of coinage, and providing
that from the 15th of September of the present year the circulation of
money of the so-called imperial coinage, and of twelve and a half and
six and a quarter cent pieces, should be abolished.
As of some interest to commerce, I now transmit herewith translation of
an executive order published in the Diario Oficial of this government of
the 22d instant, continuing the former coinage in circulation until
further orders.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.
[From the Diario Oficial, August 22,
1868.—Translation.]
Executive Order continuing in circulation the former coin.
DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY AND PUBLIC CREDIT.—SECTION
5.
The citizen minister, in an official note of the 15th instant, states
to this department as follows:
“In reply to your attentive communication of the 11th instant, in
which you have been pleased to transcribe to me that which, under
date of the 5th instant, was addressed to you by the citizen
governor of the State of Puebla, inquiring what he had to do to give
compliance to the provisions of article 13 of the law issued by this
department on the 27th of November of last year, I have the honor to
state to you that although the government continues occupying itself
with what relates to the arrangement of the coinage, in my opinion,
it would be very convenient that by the department under your worthy
charge it should be provided by circulars to the governors of the
States that, until there should be published the dispositions
relative to the redemption of the so-called imperial coinage, and of
that which is not in conformity with the decimal system, it be
directed that the circulation be continued as until now, in order
that the poorer classes of society be not prejudiced.”
And I transcribe the same to you, by order of the citizen President,
to the end that you make known to the inhabitants of your State
(district or territory) that the coinage actually in circulation is
to continue in its legal course so long as the change is not made to
which the department of fomento refers.
Independence and liberty!
Mexico, August 21, 1868.
ROMERO.
The Citizen Governor
of the State of——.
Mr. Seward to Mr. Rosecrans.
No. 2.]
Department of State, Washington,
August 28, 1868.
Sir: On the 25th of June last, the United
States consul at La Paz wrote to this department that the present
military commander and political chief of that territory had just
then issued a decree imposing a tax of eight and a half per cent. on
the export of all bullion or uncoined silver, in place of the
previous tax of only two and one-half per cent.
The consul writes further that the military commander declares that
this proceeding was taken by order of the general government of
Mexico. The consul, however, gives us no evidence in support of this
statement. He writes that so heavy a tax must lead to great loss,
and that it is already causing a suspension of work; that nearly
one-fourth of the territory derive their support from two reducing
establishments which
[Page 574]
are
in operation in the territory, being the only ones there, and both
owned by citizens of the United States who have invested much
capital therein.
It is the undoubted right of Mexico to levy duties upon exports as
well as imports, provided that they are not levied so as to
discriminate injuriously to the prejudice of the citizens or
subjects of foreign countries. The custom of friendly nations allows
any one who suffers inconvenience by revenue legislation to make a
representation of that inconvenience.
You will, therefore, after entering upon the duties of your mission,
seek a convenient opportunity to converse informally with the
minister of foreign affairs upon the subject indicated.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
William S. Rosecrans, Esq., &c., &c., &c.
