No. 682.
Mr. Russell to Mr. Fish.
Legation of
the United States,
Caracas, May 26, 1875.
(Received June 24.)
No. 71.]
Sir: I have the honor to inclose a printed copy of
a decree regulating the rights of persons who have come to Venezuela under
the laws of immigration, with translation of the same. The translation omits
part of the preamble. By this decree it is provided that all immigrants who
have taken advantage of the laws granting favors to such persons, must
remain in Venezuela one year, or repay to government their passage-money;
and Venezuelan consuls abroad are directed to give information of this to
immigrants destined for Venezuela.
I am, &c.,
[Inclosure in No.
71.—Translation.]
Decree regulating the rights of
immigrants.
I, Antonio Guzman Blanco, constitutional President of the United States
of Venezuela, &c., &c., &c. Considering that experience has
shown in some cases that the liberal provisions [Page 1373] which government has made to promote education
are abused; that by favor of these many individuals are brought from
Europe, without intending to remain in this country, nor to act in
accord with the protecting views of the government, &c.,
&.c.
Decree:
- Article 1. Immigrants who come to
the county availing of the grants which are made by the decree
of the 14th of January, 1874, and other provisions as to
immigration now in force, shall have no hinderance in going from
the territory of the republic after one year of
residence.
- Art. 2. Those who wish to go away
before the term fixed by the above article shall be obliged to
repay [literally, “to the repayment of”] the cost of their
passages.
- Art. 3. Every immigrant shall obtain
from the central commission in the federal district a personal
schedule, in which shall be set forth his name, age, and
birthplace, state, and profession; date when he is enrolled as
an immigrant, and name of the vessel in which he came, his
departure, and, the port of the republic where he landed. This
schedule shall be issued by the president of the central
commission, authorized by the secretary, and shall bear the
proper consecutive number.
- Art. 4. The president of the central
commission, or those of the subordinates, shall issue a
certificate to the person concerned, who asks it, stating that
the immigrant has spent the term fixed for his residence in the
country, or, in default thereof, repaid the cost of passage paid
by the government. Said certificate ought to be authorized by
the secretary of the commission, [or shall be certified.]
- Art. 5. Immigrants, before they
depart from the territory of the republic; shall go to the civil
authority of the place and present the documents issued.
- Art. 6. The civil authority, to whom
the immigrant personally presents his schedule and the
certificate issued by the junta, shall note on the registry all
the facts which the first document expresses; and in the second,
shall officially refer to the folio and date on which it is
recorded, and also the name of the vessel, and the destiny
whither the immigrant is bound abroad.
- Art. 7. If the immigrant cannot
obtain promptly the certificate of compliance with term of
residence, because of there not being in the locality a
subordinate commission of immigration, the civil authority, by
the personal schedule which the immigrant presents, shall
compute the time of his residence so as to be able to issue the
official certificate of that which is noted on his register, [or
which may be noted.]
- Art. 8. The civil authorities that
inscribe the immigrants who are about to go out of the territory
of the republic, shall send monthly a full report to the
minister of fomento, for the materials of immigration
statistics.
- Art. 9. The presidents of states,
the collectors of maritime custom-houses, and port captains
shall watch over the performance of the above directions, not
permitting departure to any immigrant who does not prove to have
complied with the requisites, which are demanded by this decree
in order to leave the country.
- Art. 10. The consuls of the republic
abroad shall instruct emigrants before coming to Venezuela as to
the obligation which this decree imposes.
The minister of fomento is charged with the
execution of this decree and with communicating it to those to whom
it is proper. Given, signed by my hand, and countersigned by the
minister of the proper branch at the federal palace, in
Caracas, May 3, 1875, year twelve of the law and
seventeen of the federation.
GUZMAN BLANCO.
Minister of Fomento, VICENTE
CERONADO.
