Office of the Historian

No. 443.
Mr. Foster to Mr. Fish.

Legation of the United States,
Mexico, June 17, 1875. (Received July 12.)
No. 305.]

Sir: I transmit herewith an official copy and translation of the law passed at the last session of the Mexican Congress to encourage immigration to this republic.

I am, &c.,

JOHN W. FOSTER.
[Inclosure 6 in No. 305.]

The colonization law.

[From the “Two Republics” of June 23, 1875.—Translation.]

The following is the colonization law passed by congress on the 31st of last May.

  • Article 1. The executive is authorized to issue a decree to definitely determine and arrange everything relative to colonization, to effect this by means of direct action, or by contracts with private companies, upon the following bases:
    I.
    To allow to companies a subvention for each family radicated, or another smaller for each family disembarked at any point; make advances of amounts, not exceeding fifty per cent. of the subvention; sell lands susceptible of colonization upon long terms and at moderate prices, payable in annual installments, subsequent to the land having been measured, surveyed, and valued; a bonus for each emigrant family; exemption from port duties for all vessels bringing to the republic ten or more families of such character; a bonus for each native family radicated in the emigrant colonies; a bonus for each Mexican family radicated in the frontier colonies.
    II.
    To exact from the companies sufficient guarantees for the fulfillment of their contracts, without omitting to designate the cases of forfeiture and the respective fines; security that the colonists will enjoy, as far as depends upon the contractors, all the privileges conceded by this law.
    III.
    To grant the colonists Mexican naturalization and citizenship when naturalized; advances on the expense of transportation and for subsistence for one year after their establishment, upon industrial implements, and upon materials for the construction of their habitations; the proprietorship by sale and at low prices, payable on long term’s, in monthly installments, which installments will commence after the second year of their radication, a stipulated extent of land for cultivation and a homestead; exemption from military service and all taxes, except municipal taxes, from the payment of all importation and interior duties on provisions, industrial implements, tools, machinery, fixtures, materials for the construction of habitations, furniture for use, and animals for work or breeding destined for the colonies; and also personal and untransferrable [Page 939] exemption from the export duties on fruits which they gather; free correspondence with their native country, or former residence, through the department of foreign affairs, or by means of, special seals; a premium on and special protection for the introduction of any new agricultural product or industry.
    IV.
    To exact of the colonists the fulfillment of their contracts in conformity with the common laws.
    V.
    To appoint and put in movement the exploring commissions authorized by section 26 of the prevailing estimate for obtaining lauds susceptible of colonization, with the requisites of measurement, surveys, valuation, and description.
    VI.
    To furnish public lands with the requisites demanded by the foregoing fraction; and whoever shall fill these requisites shall obtain the third part of these lands, or the value of the same, whenever acting with due authority.
    VII.
    This is the only authority of the executive, who cannot deny it to a State which demands it concerning land situated in its territory, remaining without effect and without the right of prorogue, the authorization which may be granted to States and individuals, when, at the end of three months after such grant, the necessary operations have not commenced.
    VIII.
    To acquire, in convenient cases, lands for colonization from individuals, by purchase, by cession, or by whatever other contract in conformity with the rules established for public lands in fraction VI.
    IX.
    To furnish for the lands of individuals, at their solicitation, the colonists that can be disposed of in virtue of contracts for emigration that may have been made.
    X.
    To consider the colonists in this character and with all their prerogatives during ten years, at the termination of which period all privileges will cease.
  • Art. 2. The executive is also authorized to disburse, during the next fiscal year, when regulated, the sum of $250,000 for the expenses exacted by this law, including the exploring commissions.