PREFACE. Two years ago th8 Subscriber issued a Pamphlet, the object of which was to bring before the Congress of the United States, certain facts having a direct bearing upon his proposed line of Mail Steamers from New Orleans or Mobile to Mexican ports in the Gulf of Mexico, and in support of his application to the Government of the United States for such reasonable compensation, in view of the mail service to be performed, as would justify him in establishing said line of Mail Steamers. Since the period referred to, important changes in Mexico, and important changes in our relations with that country have taken place. The Mexican question is rapidly becoming the leading question in our national politics, and in again bringing the subject of the proposed line of United States and Mexican Mail Steamships before the Congress of the United States, the subscriber has been induced to issue a publication having the same end in view as his previous pamphlet, and which, in addition, will give to the public, such general information and facts as will be likely to lead to a better understanding as to the importance of inaugurating a new commercial system or policy, not only with Mexico but with all the Spanish American countries. The particular enterprise herein proposed, is considered the first and most important step on the part of private individuals, towards acquiring those vast commercial advantages with Mexico, which only await our action in the premises. CARLOS BUTTERFIELD. Postal Contract concluded with Mexico, 6th December, 1857, 9 Terms of the Contracts, 10 Mexico to pay $120,000 per Annum,.......... 10 Table showing the route of the proposed Steamers and the Ports at which they are to touch,.... 11 Proposed dates of departure of the Steamers, time of their voyages, &c...... 11 Cause of the failure of an appropriation in 35th Congress, 14 Present position of our commerce with Mexico, and necessity for steam communication, Commercial transactions between Mexico and the United States,... Our exports to Mexico for the year ending September 3, 1858, England has acquired these advantages through her sagacious policy of sup- 15 16 do. do. and Great Britain, 16 Effects of Steam communication upon the commerce of Great Britain, ... 18 20 Result of Steam communication between Great Britain and United States,.... 21 Annual gain to Great Britain since the introduction of steam,. 22 Cost of Steam Mail Lines, 23 Total trade of Great Britain with North and South America, 23 Increase of commerce universal when Steam communication is introduced,.... 24 English Steam communication to the west coast of Africa, exports, &c........ British exports to China, Egypt and India before and after the subsidy of Steam Mail Lines, Policy of the United States with reference to Mexico and other Spanish American countries, Who controls the commerce of Mexico, and why, Protection of the English Government to its commerce with Mexico,... 29 27 6 CONTENTS. Page. Distances from Vera Cruz to N. Y. and to England by the various routes,.... 30 31 Commerce of the Spanish American countries on this continent, .33 Table showing the population, area, and average density of population to the square mile of the principal countries of this continent,. 33 Table showing the foreign commerce of the principal countries on this continent, &c., &c.,..... 35 Per capita imports of Mexico, Cuba, &c.,............. 37 Table showing the commerce of the principal countries on this continent with the United States, for the year ending June 30th, 1858,.......... 38 Entire absence of steam communication between the United States and the Spanish American countries,.. 40 Report of Post Oflice committeo, House of Rep., on the subject of S. S. lines to the W. Indies and Brazil,. 44 Elaborateness of the English Steam Packet system to Spanish America,............ 45 Ramifications of the English Steamers,.... 47 English steamers run to over 60 different Spanish American ports,. 48 Increase of our Trade with Cuba since steam communication---- 50 Mineral productions,. Basis for an increase of Trade with Mexico------- Trade of Mexico in cotton goods might be controlled by New England, Letter from our consul at Tampico,.. Importance of the trade of Tampico and Vera Cruz,. Capacity of Mexico to sustain a large foreign commerce,. Interior commerce of Mexico,.... Value of real estate,... Manufactures,.. Agriculture, Views of business men in reference to communication with Mexico,.......... 67 General effect upon trade in the United States of the full opening of Mexico to our commerce,.. 51 53 55 56 58 62 63 63 63 64 69 The United States can establish a large entrepot trade with Mexico,.......... 71 Tablo of goods, the produce of the United States, imported into Mexico from the United States in the year 1857,.. 72 ...... Table of produce of Foreign countries imported into Mexico from U. S. in 1857.. 73 74 76 79 81 83 Remarks of senator Wilson of Massachusetts, . 86 Remarks of senator Benjamin of Louisiana,. 87 Contest between Senate and House, and loss of Appropriation bill,.... UNITED STATES AND MEXICAN MAIL STEAM SHIP LINE. §1. FROM a long residence in the Republic of Mexico, and an intimate acquaintance with its commercial and other resources, the undersigned has for many years been deeply impressed with the importance of opening direct and regular communication by steam, between the United States and the several Mexican 'ports embraced within the circuit of the Gulf of Mexico. To this end, he early conceived the idea of the establishment of a regular weekly line of Steam Ships from New Orleans or Mobile to the several Mexican ports of the Gulf, making the entire circuit thereof, for the purpose of mail service. Impelled solely by his convictions of the great public need of this service, as forming the basis of most important developments in the commerce between the two. countries, the undersigned first brought the subject to |