A political difficulty has occurred in the State of Oaxaca, which has
resulted in the separation of the legislature into two distinct bodies,
composed respectively of nine and seven members. The governor of the State
refuses to recognize the larger body, claiming that it has been illegally
constituted. The public peace has not as yet been disturbed, but much
ill-feeling exists between the adherents of the two bodies, and the subject
is exciting general discussion in the press of this capital.
The Mexican minister to the German Empire, General Benavides, has tendered
his resignation from Paris, while en route to his
mission. His resignation has been accepted, but no successor has as yet been
named.
President Lerdo has appointed a commission of scientific gentlemen to witness
the transit of Venus at Peking, and the commission is expected to proceed at
once to that city.
The Apache raids from Arizona Territory into the State of Sonora continue to
be reported, and are said to result in the additional loss of lives of
Mexican citizens and of property. The Mexican commission which has been
engaged in receiving the claims of the citizens of Sonora for damages
resulting from these Indian raids from the territory of the United States,
has concluded its labors in that State, and is now in session for the same
purpose in the State of Chihuahua.
The 16th of September, the anniversary of Mexican independence, was
celebrated with the usual civic and military ceremonies.
[Inclosure 1 in No.
185.—Translation.]
President Lerdo’s address to the Mexican
Congress.
[Diario Oficial, Mexico, September 16,
1874.]
Congress of the Union.
To-day at 4 o’clock p.m. the opening of the third period of the sessions
took place. The citizen President of the republic said:
Citizen Deputies: You have returned to the
discharge of the high duties which the Mexican people have committed, to
your illustrious patriotism and to your zeal for the public good.
Our relations with friendly powers continue happily preserved with
cordial goodwill.
A representative of the republic of Guatemala having been recently
accredited to Mexico, negotiations have been begun with him upon the
long-standing and important subject of fixing the boundaries between the
two countries. This will result not only in determining exactly the
boundaries, but in preventing that ill-feeling which, through some
uncertainty respecting them, has been occasioned between neighboring
peoples, and in strengthening the friendly relations which exist between
the two republics.
After exchanging the ratifications of the treaty of the extradition of
criminals, there were also exchanged those of the treaty of commerce,
also concluded with the King of Italy, within the time fixed for that
purpose, which Congress was pleased, to approve. These two treaties have
been published as laws of the republic, which afford new reasons for
strengthening and encouraging commercial and diplomatic relations with
that nation.
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The investigating commission which was appointed for the States of Sonora
and Chihuahua, after having finished their investigations in the former
State, are continuing them at present in Chihuahua. As the six months
designated were not sufficient, the executive extended the time six
months, according to the law. The labors of this commission, as also
those which the commission appointed for the State of Coahuila, Nuevo
Leon, and Tamaulipas, concluded successfully, will be very fruitful in
the just defense of the rights and interests of the inhabitants of the
frontier.
The contracts subsidizing two lines of steamers for service at regular
intervals between several of our ports on the Pacific have become
involved in difficulties, which the executive has sought to remove. The
contracts having been renewed, the service of the steamers has been
continued with decided benefit to several of our States which have an
important commerce with those ports. In due time there will be submitted
to Congress the extension which is thought to be necessary in the term
of one of the contracts, in order that, if it be thought proper, it may
give its approbation.
It has been announced that the service of a line of steamers between Vera
Cruz and New Orleans, touching at Tuxpan and Tampico, will not only be
begun within the stipulated time, but that the beginning will be
anticipated in October next. This service will be very useful to the
commerce of those three ports, by reason of the greater frequency of
communication and greater accommodation of travelers.
A contract has been made, subsidizing a new line of diligences from Tepic
to Guaymas. This line will extend about three hundred leagues through
the whole length of Sinaloa, and a considerable extent of Sonora, with
great benefit to the commerce and travel in those important States, and
to the frequency and expedition of the mails, since, instead of two,
there will be three weekly passages, reducing the delay to half the time
until now employed.
In order to facilitate commerce in an important part of Sonora, a
custom-house has been established at the port of Libertad; as, also, one
has been established for the same purpose at Tijuana, on the frontier of
the territory of Lower California.
There has been completed and in press, for presentation to Congress, the
plan of reform of the mineral ordinances. Once decreed as federal law,
besides its beneficial application to the territory of Lower California,
it may be adopted by our mining States, in so far as it may contribute
to the development of this interesting branch of the national
wealth.
As the publication of the code of procedure in criminal cases is
connected with some modifications in the organization of the district
tribunals, this subject will merit, to the extent Congress may think
best, its intelligent consideration.
Several States have adopted the views of the proposition which the
executive addressed to Congress respecting compulsory primary education.
The advantage of attempting this in the district and federal territory
will be considered by the representatives of the nation, since so much
good is to be expected from the development of primary instruction, the
inexhaustible fountain of the intelligence of the people, and an element
most efficacious for the consolidation of democratic institutions.
Diligent care has been taken to better, so far as possible, by useful
instruments and necessary apparatus, practical instruction in those
branches which require it, in order that the ample theoretic instruction
in the national schools of the second grade may be made the most
beneficial.
The experiment has also been tried of introducing into both the primary
and secondary schools of instruction suitable exercises for the physical
development of the pupils. The wisdom of Congress will determine what it
may think best touching the pending reforms in the law of public
instruction.
The time of the lease of the mint of Chihuahua having expired in August,
arrangements were made at the proper time to receive it, so that, with
the exception of the one in Mexico, the termination of whose lease still
is delayed, the other ten mints of the republic are already administered
by the government.
The re-coining of worn money has commenced, in order to remedy the evils
caused by its circulation. Efforts should be made at once to withdraw
the old silver coinage of the smaller values, to the end that all the
money maybe uniform in the decimal system.
Recently the cable communicating with the island of Carmen has been laid,
connecting the telegraph line of Mexico, by Tabasco, with Campeachy and
Yucatan. The executive omits no exertion that each day may advance more
and more the lines under construction, and provides the materials for
the extensive Hues proposed, that will unite the capital of the republic
with those States where telegraphic communication does not yet exist, so
useful to commerce, industry, and all the branches of public
service.
Successful measures are being taken to finish the mole of Tampico, and
the canal between the lakes of Chijol and Tamiahua, which will
facilitate commerce between many towns of the States of Vera Cruz and
Tamaulipas. Also, the necessary provision has been made to commence the
canal between the river Armeria, and the lake of
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Cuyutlen, at Manzanillo. The realization of this
work will he very important to the health of that port, which will
attain thereby the importance its situation merits.
The executive regards it his duty to recommend the proposition for the
survey and adjudication of the wild lands in Lower California, as well
as the bills pending on colonization, from which we may expect so much,
and which is without doubt one of the objects that ought to be
considered with special interest.
The proposition to reform the law on concession of privileges is worthy
also of being recommended, which, when they are granted as a reward due
to intelligence and to labor, are a most efficacious stimulus to the
progress of science, industry, commerce, and the arts.
A commission, appointed of intelligent and competent persons, has been
intrusted to make arrangements for the national exposition next year,
and for the part which Mexico may take in the international exposition
at Philadelphia the following year. We have full confidence that the
republic will continue to avail herself of the benefits of peace, which
will permit her to gather the rich fruits of these assemblies of
industry and civilization.
The expenses of the public administration have continued to be met with
perfect regularity. The executive has taken especial care to continue to
invest as much as the treasury would permit, in ways of communication
and in various branches of public improvements, so necessary to the
support and development of the public wealth.
Conformably to the authorization of Congress, the modifications necessary
in the stamp-law have been made. The machines necessary for the stamps
being already established, their use can be commenced in January
next.
The construction of the line of railway from Vera Cruz to Mexico by way
of Jalapa continues advancing, to which latter city it is expected it
will be completed before the time specified. This new route will
encourage an important commerce between rich and fertile districts and
with the chief of our ports.
It was opportunely communicated to Congress at its former session, that
it had been necessary to declare terminated the last concession for the
interoceanic and international railroads. Doubtless the short time
intervening afterward was not sufficient to complete the organization
which was announced of a new enterprise; but the executive will omit
nothing that may depend upon him to facilitate any plan of equitable
conditions, endeavoring to establish the base of an immediate guarantee
of realization. The railroad to the interior is worthy of the greatest
interest for a very just reason to many of our most important States, in
order that they may participate in all the benefits of a railway, which
ought to result in a fruitful movement embracing all the elements of
national wealth.
I congratulate you, citizen deputies, because you come anew to seek with
your wisdom and patriotism the well-being and prosperity of the
republic.
