Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, Transmitted to Congress, With the Annual Message of the President, December 2, 1878
No. 328.
Mr. Foster
to Mr. Evarts
.
Mexico , September 28, 1877. (Received October 15.)
Sir: The opening of Congress, which should have occurred on the 16th instant, did not take place until the 19th instant on account of the want of a quorum in the senate. The usual ceremonies occurred at the latter date, with an address from the President of the republic, of which I inclose herewith a copy and translation.
I am, &c.,
ADDRESS OF PRESIDENT DIAZ, DELIVERED TO CONGRESS ON THE 19TH SEPTEMBER, 1877.
Citizen Deputies: Citizen Senators: If the installation of the legislative power ordinarily indicates the regularity of the march of the Government, it has, in the opening of to-day, a double and important signification; it not only fixes the dividing line between the irregular period which completely terminates at the present moment and the full constitutional order which is initiated, but it places definitely the seal of legality upon the acts of the revolution, as the constituent Congress placed it upon those of the revolution of Ayutla, from which emanates our grand code of 1857, I believe it therefore [Page 526] my duty, and it is pleasant for me to comply with it, to congratulate you upon your presence in this place; it inaugurates an epoch of regeneration and of prosperity for the republic.
Duly observing a constitutional precept, I proceed to inform you, on commencing your elevated functions, of the present state of the country.
With satisfaction I can announce to you, that our official relations with the friendly powers, after a brief interruption occasioned by circumstances, have been frankly and cordially renewed. And this satisfaction would be complete concerning this point, if it were not my painful duty to inform you that the United States of the north have not thought proper up to the present time to follow the conduct adopted by the friendly nations of Europe and America.
From the time of the past administration certain difficulties have existed, due to events which have occurred on the frontier, and to other incidents. The Department of Foreign Affairs will opportunely report to you in regard to these matters.
The executive has given constant and especial attention to these delicate questions, not only owing to the duty which devolves upon it to remove the fear that even the peace of the country may be disturbed, but in order to fully comply with the duties imposed upon it by international compacts.
It is to be presumed that the official relations between the two governments may soon be re-established and that the pending difficulties will be satisfactorily adjusted, resolved as the executive is, and as Congress doubtless will be, to act with full justice, and animated by a friendly spirit, although decided, at the same time, to admit nothing which may wound the dignity or the rights of Mexico.
With respect to the interior it is pleasant for me to inform you that peace exists from one extreme of the national territory to the other, without anything to disturb it. Under its beneficent influence public confidence is returning and business operations are being developed in a satisfactory manner. The country, understanding the value of peace, is on the side of the government in its endeavor to preserve it and insure it.
The elections for senators were held in almost all the States, without the authorities making use in them of force or violence, and they will soon be held in those States in which up to the present time they have not taken place.
The post-office department has been attended to as its importance demands; new offices have been opened in places which lacked them, and communication has been made easier. The charitable establishments have also been an object of especial care, their service being notably improved. The executive, which sees in these establishments an asylum for the orphan and the indigent, has endeavored in the past and will continue to see that the philanthropic ends of their institution are fulfilled.
In the Department of Justice a difficulty has existed owing to the declaration of the supreme court that the appointment of magistrates and judges of the federal order pertained to it; a declaration contrary, in the conception of the executive, to the text of our laws and the practice invariably followed. As the executive appreciates the difficulties which a conflict between two of the federal powers would occasion to the country, in view of the position taken by the court, it has postponed the decision of this question, submitting it to the wisdom of Congress; with this object the department of that branch will present you an initiative in regard to the debated point.
It will also propose to you various projects of law concerning the organization of the federal tribunals, reforms of the code of proceedings of the district, and of the law of amparo, in those points in which practice has demonstrated their inconvenience or inefficacy.
Public instruction has received from the executive the preference and attention which are due to it, making such improvements as the short period of existence of the present administration has permitted.
In the branch of public works (fomento) it has been endeavored to assist in the development of the spirit of enterprise which is manifested on all sides with the return of peace.
In order to attract immigration to the republic and satisfy thus one of our most imperious necessities, the executive is engaged in collecting the indispensable data upon which to base a system which will not present difficulties in its execution; and the Department of Public Works will report to you concerning its labors in regard to this point.
The same department will present to you numerous petitions for patents of invention, concerning which there will be addressed to you an initiative of a law to regulate the matter, in order to observe article 28 of the constitution.
For the purpose of terminating the evils which result to commerce from the differences in weights and measures, there will be submitted to you within a few days another initiative for the speedy and general adoption of the metric decimal system.
Public works and material improvements have been constantly attended to by the executive; in so for as the resources of the treasury permit work has been resumed on all the roads whose preservation pertains to the federal power, and the drainage of the city and valley of Mexico has been stimulated with equal activity.
[Page 527]A new contract with the railroad company of Toluca is to be entered into for the speedy termination of that important way, and the propositions made by various companies for the construction of like works are at present undergoing due examination. There will opportunely he submitted to your ratification the contracts which may be entered into relating to these affairs, which, with reason, occupy at present so much public attention.
The telegraph lines have been repaired, extended, and improved in many places, and measures have been dictated with respect to them which, within a few months, will make them much more useful for the public service, and, at the same time, less expensive.
The Department of Public Works has under consideration at present a contract for the establishment of a submarine telegraph line in the Gulf of Mexico.
Although the state of the public treasury cannot be considered as entirely satisfactory, it gives rise to the hope of improvement in the pecuniary situation of the republic. The payments of the civil and military lists in the district during the present fiscal year have not only been made with all regularity, and this without neglecting the expenses which the treasury incurs outside of the capital, but, in order to avoid the hard necessity of resorting to extraordinary taxes, partial quantities have been reserved for the purpose of opportunely paying the next installment of the American debt.
The Treasury Department will present to you certain important modifications concerning the initiative which it transmitted to you during the last period on the public debt. It will also submit to your examination other initiatives for the purpose of substituting the toll duties in the districts; in order to encourage the exportation of national products; suppressing the duties and other obstacles which at present act as a hinderance; and finally, in order to concede to the municipalities the product of confiscated properties, the dues from them to the national treasury having been paid, in accordance with the laws of reform.
The Department of War has devoted itself with assiduity to the reorganization of the army, in which considerable reductions have taken place. These being consummated, it has prepared new works for the improvement of the moral and material conditions of the army, in order that this institution may satisfactorily fulfill the noble mission which is confided to it as the guardian of the laws, and in order to give peace and security to the people who sustain it.
Citizen deputies; citizen senators: In going out of this place I carry with me the great satisfaction of seeing at last the republic and its government placed in the road which the constitution marks out for them. With your patriotism and wisdom you will know how to provide for all the necessities of the country, in which work you will lend to the executive your decided support; but permit me before terminating to make a special appeal to your wisdom, to your zeal, and to your perseverance, in order that, by putting them in operation, the promises of the revolution may soon be realized.