Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-4rdpn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-06T12:12:16.780Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The Evolution of a Mexican Foreign Trade Policy, 1821–1828

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 December 2015

John E. Baur
John E. Baur*
Affiliation:
Los Angeles, California
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Extract

In 1821, an independent Mexico, developing a national conscience and abundant enthusiasm, planned to declare its independence economically and socially as well as in political affairs. Unfortunately, many prominent Mexicans were unable to realize that their new nation could escape neither the Spanish past nor its Mexican present.

Mercantilism had been the prime characteristic of colonial commerce. During the colonial period, only two Mexican ports were provided for importation and exportation. These were Vera Cruz, for Atlantic trade, and Acapulco, for the Manila shipments. The whole export-import commerce of the New World was forced to pass through Spain's ports of Cádiz and Seville, and only in Spanish ships. Licensed vessels embarked at certain prescribed periods when they traveled with a convoy.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Americas , Volume 19 , Issue 3 , January 1963 , pp. 225 - 261
Copyright
Copyright © Academy of American Franciscan History 1963

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1 Ward, H. C., Mexico in 1827 (London, 1828), 1, 423.Google Scholar

2 de Alcedo, Antonio, The Geographical and Historical Dictionary of America and the West Indies (London, 1812–1815.), 5, 212.Google Scholar

3 Smith, Robert Sidney, “The Institution of the Consulado in New Spain,” HAHR, 24 (Feb., 1944), 61–83.Google Scholar

4 von Humboldt, Alexander, Political Essay on the Kingdom of New Spain [Black, John, trans.] (London, 1882), 3, 466–470 Google Scholar on manufactures, 492 on roads.

5 Alcedo, op. cit., I, 409–410.

6 Smith, Robert Sidney, “Shipping in the Port of Veracruz, 1790–1821,” HAHR, 33 (Feb., 1943), 13.Google Scholar

7 Alcedo, op. cit., III, 166–167.

8 Humphreys, Robert Alexander, ed., British Consular Reports on the Trade and Politics of Latin America, 1824–1826 (London, 1940), p. 301.Google Scholar

9 Ward, op. cit., I, 427.

10 In the Huntington Library one may find several of these, as Pérez, Florencio y Comoto, , Representación que a favor del Ubre comercio dirijerion al Excmo. Sr. Juan Ruiz Apodaca (Mexico, 1818)Google Scholar and Infante, Joaquín, Solución a la cuestión de derecho sobre la emancipación de la América (Mexico, 1821).Google Scholar

11 Macedo, Pablo, La evolución mercantil (Mexico, 1905), p. 47.Google Scholar

12 Webster, C. M., Britain and the Independence of Latin America (London, 1938), 1, 443:Google Scholar Lionel Hervey to George Canning, January 18, 1824.

13 Ibid., I, 444.

14 The Quarterly Review (London, 1824), XXX, 156.

15 Niles’ Weekly Register, XXV,. November 8, 1823.

16 Bulloch, W., Six Months’ Residence and Travels in Mexico (London, 1824), pp. 11–13.Google Scholar

17 Ibid., pp. 494–495.

18 Poinsett, Joel R., Notes on Mexico Made in the fall of 1822 (London, 1825), p. 17.Google Scholar Poinsett, Ward, Bulloch, and others saw the fortress first hand.

19 Niles’ Weekly Register, XXXV, November 8, 1823.

20 Ibid., XXVI, April 17, 1824.

21 Robertson, William Spence, France and Latin American Independence (Baltimore, 1939).Google Scholar See also, Webster, op. cit., I, 438–439.

22 Poinsett, op. cit., appendix, pp. 70–71. Forty days were given if the ship was from an American port and four months if from a European point. See also, Beltrami, J. C., Le mexique (Paris, 1830), 2, 353,Google Scholar wherein the author tells of the prosperity of Vera Cruz before this time. Beltrami says the people of Jalapa believed that the merchants from the United States and Great Britain were responsible for the Vera Cruz tragedy because they permitted San Juan de Ulúa to prosper and did business with it (II, 348).

23 Annual Register (London, 1826), p. 307.

24 Voz de la patria (Mexico City), IV (February 26, 1831), 4–7. This article is entitled “Reflecciones sobre el Comercio.”

25 Robinson, William Davis, Memoirs of the Mexican Revolution (London, 1821), 2, 310, 315.Google Scholar

26 Humphreys, op. cit., p. 338: Eustace Barron to George Canning, Tepic, January 1, 1825.

27 Ibid., p. 338.

28 Macedo, op. cit., p. 47.

29 Alamán, Lucas, Historia de Méjico desde los primeros movimientos que preparen su independencia en el año de 1808 hasta la época presente (México, 1848–1852), 5, 417.Google Scholar

30 Palacio, Vicente Riva, México a través de los siglos (Barcelona, 1889–1890), 4, 38.Google Scholar

31 British and Foreign State Papers (London, 1846), XIV, 865.

32 Ibid., XIV, 863–864.

33 Ibid., XIV, 864.

34 Robinson, op. cit., II, 129.

35 Bullock, op. cit., pp. 227–229.

36 Alcedo, op. cit., V, 214.

37 There are references to this in Basil Hall’s book and in the Balanza del comercio.

38 Ward, op. cit., I, 431.

39 Ibid., I, 438.

40 Ibid., I, 445. See also, Balanza for 1828, giving ships of each port. By this time, Vera Cruz had revived and Tampico slightly declined, due to natural geographic conditions.

41 Ibid., I, 433.

42 Ruschenberger, W. S. W., A Voyage Round the World in 1835, 1836, and 1837 (Philadelphia, 1838), p. 526.Google Scholar

43 Hardy, R. W. H., Travels in the Interior of Mexico in 1825, 1826, 1827, and 1828 (London, 1829), p. 403.Google Scholar

44 Ibid., p. 404.

45 Ibid., p. 522.

46 de Escudero, José Agustín, Noticias estadísticas de Sonora y Sinaloa (México, 1849), pp. 125–126.Google Scholar

47 A Sketch of the Customs and Society of Mexico in a Series of Familiar Letters and a Journal of Travels in the Interior during the Years 1824, 1825, and 1826 (London, 1828), p. 161. See also, Thompson, G. A., Narrative of an Official Visit to Guatemala from Mexico (London, 1829), pp. 9–10,Google Scholar telling of San Blas’ Oriental shipments.

48 Poinsett, op. cit., p. 134.

49 Hall, Basil, Extracts from a Journal (Edinburgh, 1824), 2, 175.Google Scholar

50 Humphreys, op. cit., p. 333; C. T. O’Gorman to Joseph Planta, Mexico City, August 10, 1824.

51 Mitchel, Julio, “Pergeño histórico respecto al comercio maritimo y puertos del pais hasta 1858,” Divulgación histórica (México), 1 (July, 1940), 398–402.Google Scholar

52 Ward, op. cit., I, 432.

53 Alamán, op. cit., V, 414–415.

54 Manning, William R., Diplomatie Correspondence of the United States Concerning the Independence of Latin America (New York, 1925), 3, 1613:Google Scholar James Smith Wilcocks to John Quincy Adams, October 25, 1821.

55 Humphreys, op. cit., p. 324.

56 Alamán, op. cit., V, 418.

57 Poinsett, op. cit., p. 10. Poinsett heard this from the United States vice consul at Vera Cruz too.

58 Humphreys, op. cit., p. 338.

59 British and Foreign State Papers, XII, 968–970: Memorial of the Minister of Finance, July 4, 1925.

60 Annual Register, 1826, p. 112.

61 Ibid.

62 British and Foreign State Papers, XIV, 856: Report of the Minister of Finance.

63 Macedo, op. cit., p. 47.

64 Ward, op. cit., I, 457.

65 Colección de los decretos y órdenes del Soberano Congreso Constituyente Mexicano … 5 de noviembre de 1823 hasta 24 de diciembre de 1824 (México, 1825), pp. 153–154.

66 Ward, op. cit., I, 458.

67 Bolton, Herbert E., “General James Wilkinson as Advisor to Emperor Iturbide,” HAHR, 1 (1918), 174.Google Scholar

68 Poinsett, op. cit., appendix, p. 117.

69 Contestación al artículo inflamatorio contra la República Mexicana (México, 1828), p. 8.

70 Ward, op. cit., I, 458. See also, Guía de hacienda de la República Mexicana (México, 1825), p. 177.

71 British and Foreign State papers, XII, 968: Memorial of the Minister of Finance.

72 Humphreys, op. cit., p. 340.

73 Ibid., p. 325.

74 Idem.

75 Bullock, op. cit., pp. 492–493.

76 Lyon, G. F., Journal of a Residence and Tour of the Republic of Mexico (London, 1828), 2, 265.Google Scholar

77 Bolton, op. cit., pp. 168 ff.

78 de Ayala, Tadeo Ortiz, México considerado como nación independiente (Burdeos, 1832), pp. 351–352.Google Scholar

79 Ibid., pp. 353–360.

80 Ward, op. cit., I, 463.

81 Madure, William, Opinions on Various Subjects, Dedicated to the Industrious Producers (New Harmony, Indiana, 1831), 1, 450.Google Scholar

82 Humphreys, op. cit., p. 328. See also, Alamán, op. cit., V, 418; he says there were few goods except tobacco, raw cotton, and wax mentioned.

83 Ibid., p. 326.

84 Alamán, op. cit., V, 418.

85 Macedo, op. cit., pp. 47–48. See also, Niles’ Weekly Register, October 9, 1824.

86 Ibid., p. 49.

87 Poinsett, op. cit., p. 129.

88 Hunt’s Merchant’s Magazine, 1844, p. 131. Short article entitled “Commerce and Resources of Mexico.”

89 Espinosa, Carlos, Esposición que sobre las provincias de Sonora y Sinaloa (México, 1823), p. 20.Google Scholar

90 North American Review (Boston, 1825), XI, 429. See also, Hall, op. cit., II, 228, and Madure, op. cit., p. 354, who speaks of the great respect among Mexicans for hard money.

91 Beaufoy, Mark, Mexican Illustrations, founded upon facts … of the Republic of Mexico … during part of the Years 1825, 1826, and 1827 (London, 1828), p. 115.Google Scholar

92 Ortiz de Ayala, op. cit., pp. 362–366.

93 Espinosa, op. cit., p. 20.

94 Annual Register, 1829, p. 254.

95 Hall, op. cit., II, 227.

96 Lerdo de Tejada, Miguel M., Comercio estertor de México desde la conquista hasta hoy (México, 1853), #32, n. p. See also, Macedo, op. cit., p. 47.Google Scholar

97 Orozco, Luis Chávez, Historia económica y social de México (México, 1938), p. 119.Google Scholar

98 Colección de las leyes y decretos expedidas por el Congreso General de los Estados-Unidos Mexicanos en los años de 1829 y 1830 (México, 1831), pp. 100–102.

99 Macedo, op. cit., p. 61. The coinage was up again in 1824 to $6,036,828 or about double the 1823 production, prehaps good reason for the decision to erase the prohibition.

100 Lerdo de Tejada, op. cit., #31, n. p.

101 Macedo, op. cit., p. 47.

102 Poinsett, op. cit., p. 138.

103 See Lerdo de Tejada, op. cit., for yearly figures of the Balanza.

104 Beaufoy, op. cit., p. 39.

105 Maclure, op. cit., I, 241.

106 Humphreys, op. cit., p. 302.

107 lbid., p. 318.

108 Hall, op. cit., II, 185.

109 A Sketch of the Customs … , p. 68.

110 Annual Register, 1825, p. 205.

111 Manning, op. cit., III, 1684: Joel R. Poinsett to Martin Van Buren, March 10, 1829.

112 de Iturbide, Agustín, A Statement of Some of the Principal Events in the Public Life of Agustín de Iturbide (London, 1824), p. 70.Google Scholar

113 Colección de los decretos y ordenes … 1823–1824, n. p.

114 Smith, , “The Institution of the Consulado …,” HAHR, 24, 80–82.Google Scholar

115 Niks’ Weekly Register, XXXIII, November 17, 1827, p. 182.

116 Annual Register, 1829, pp. 251–252.

117 North American Review, XXXI (1830), 135.

118 Maclure, op. cit., I, 210.

119 British and Foreign State Papers, XIV, 614-629, gives the full text of this treaty.

120 Tudor, Henry, Narrative of a Tour in North America, including Mexico (London, 1834), 2, 186.Google Scholar Tudor observed (p. 157) that foreign merchants were ill-treated by the lower classes in several towns.

121 Beaufoy, op. cit., pp. 285, 293.

122 Colección de leyes … 1829 y 1830, p. 191.

123 Jordan, John, Serious Actual Dangers of Foreigners and Foreign Commerce in the Mexican States (Philadelphia, 1826), pp. 8 ff.Google Scholar

124 Bolton, op. cit., p. 174.

125 Voz de la patria, IV, November 17, 1830.

126 Humphreys, op. cit., p. 339.

127 Burkart, Joseph, Aufenthalt und Reisen in Mexiko in den Jahren 1825 bis 1834 (Stuttgart, 1836), 1, 31.Google Scholar

128 Maclure, op. cit., I, 293.

129 Ward, op. cit., I, 475.

130 Humphreys, op. cit., pp. 301 ff.: Charles Mackenzie to George Canning, Jalapa, July 24, 1824.

131 British and Foreign State Papers, XIV, 862.

132 Ibid., p. 862.

133 Maclure, op. cit., I, 264.

134 British and Foreign State Papers, XIV, 862.

135 Porter, David D., Memoir of Commodore David Porter (Albany, N. Y., 1875), p. 352.Google Scholar

136 Thompson, G. A., Narrative of an Official Visit to Guatemala from Mexico (London, 1829), p. 51.Google Scholar

137 Maclure, op, cit., I, 330.

138 Porter, op. cit., p. 352. As late as 1834, Henry Tudor said an estimated $4,000,000 to $5,000,000 in goods was smuggled in along the Gulf annually (op. cit., II, 248).

139 Maclure, op. cit., I, 263.

140 Forbes, Robert B., Personal Reminiscences (Boston, 1876), p. 98.Google Scholar

141 Beaufoy, op. cit., p. 114.

142 Lyon, op. cit., I, 35.

143 Guía de hacienda de la República Mexicana (México, 1825), p. 24.

144 Ibid., p. 14.

145 British and Foreign State Papers, XIII, 1072–1073.

146 Porter, op. cit., p. 352.

147 Hardy, op. cit., p. 402.

148 Lerdo de Tejada, op. cit., # 35, n. p.

149 Annual Register, 1825, p. 34.

150 Ortiz de Ayala, op. cit., p. 378.

151 British and Foreign State Papers, XIII, 415–416.

152 Webster, op. cit., I, 495–498: George Canning to James Morier and H. G. Ward.

153 Annual Register, 1825, p. 205.

154 British and Foreign State Papers, XIV, 614–629.

155 Annual Register, 1827, p. 227.

156 See Robertson, op. cit., pp. 542–544.

157 Lyon, op. cit., II, 197.

158 Ward, op. cit., I, 438.

159 Hall, op. cit., II, 189.

160 Contestación al artículo inflamatorio …, p. 5.

161 Lerdo de Tejada, op. cit., # 34-35 n. p.