496 



MEXICO. 



by all good citizens, who calculate that hopes for 

 the future of Mexico lie only in peace and legal order. 

 The army has fought with loyalty and valor, and do- 

 serves the national esteem. After having destroyed 

 the principal forces of the revolutionists, it has ac- 

 tively pursued those which remain and some small 

 bands which still sustain themselves under the 

 shadow of rebellion. Congress conferred upon the 

 Executive various important powers, and decreed 

 the suspension of some guarantees for a proper period, 

 in order to secure the reestablishment of peace. Up- 

 on now returning this trust to Congress, it is a satis- 

 faction to the Executive to manifest that he has made 

 the least possible use thereof, endeavoring to fulfil 

 his duty faithfully. The Executive is able to say 

 that he has only made use of these powers in mat- 

 ters relative to the organization of the army and in. 

 declaring the criminality of the rebels. At the 

 same time he has been careful to respect individual 

 rights, and has maintained intact full liberty of the 

 press, not even directing, in the case of some abuses 

 thereby, the proceedings authorized by law. It was 

 necessary to establish military authority, declaring 

 the States of Jalisco, Quere'taro, and Zacatecas, to be 

 in a state of siege ; but it has now been raised from 

 thse States and the people directed to proceed to the 

 election in the States of Queretaro and Zacatecas of 

 officers duly nominated there. 



"With reference to the public Treasury^ the Execu- 

 tive has not made use of the powers which Congress 

 conferred upon him nevertheless, during this time 

 all the various brancb.es of administration have been 

 properly conducted, without making any irregular 

 exactions, without anticipating the imposts and taxes, 

 and without making any contracts or compromises 

 which leave a burden upon the Treasury. 



The public improvements provided for in the ap- 

 propriation bill have also been continued as far as 

 possible, and the payment of the subventions decreed 

 has not been suspended, as, for example, that on be- 

 half of the Mexico and Vera Cruz Kailroad. At the 

 same time the proper amounts for the establishment 

 of new telegrapn-lmes have been set apart, as, for ex- 

 ample, those of Guerrero, Mprelia, and Durango. In 

 order to meet these obligations, among the greater 

 of which have been those required for military 

 operations, the fortunate circumstance has occurred 

 ot their having been demanded during those months 

 of the year in which the greatest amount of impost 

 duties is received. 



The equalization of the national revenues with th% 

 national expenses will merit, without doubt, the 

 principal attention of Congress in this period of its 

 sessions, which is especially designed for the discus- 

 sion of the appropriation bill. The grave importance 

 of this matter and the necessity of not disregarding 

 the various branches of administration are increased 

 by the danger of new disturbances being occasioned, 

 which will bring about immediately most painful sacri- 

 fices for the people, and all kinds of evils for society. 

 The law passed by Congress a year since for the pros- 

 ecution of highwaymen and kidnappers has served 

 effectually in diminishing very much the number of 

 these grave crimes. Unfortunately, there yet occur 

 some cases of kidnapping, and, therefore, the Presi- 

 dent has thought it might accord with public opinion 

 that he should recommend the continuance of the 

 law for another year. 



Among the projects of general utility, that which is 

 of the greatest importance is the opening of a canal 

 through the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, for the purpose 

 of opening communication between the two oceans. 

 A report nas already been presented on this subject, 

 and the Executive especially recommends Congress 

 to take this into consideration during the present 

 period of its sessions. 



If it be possible, also, for Congress to occupy itself 

 upon the report which has been presented with ref- 



erence to constitutional reforms, the Executive be- 

 lieves it will benefit much the consolidation of our 

 institutions and aid in securing the peace of the 

 republic in the future. 



Keceive, citizen deputies, my sincere wishes for 

 prudence in your deliberations, in order that great 

 good and national prosperity may be obtained. 



The financial report of Minister Eomero con- 

 tained the following passage on the "free 

 zone " (zona libre) question : 



Congress saw proper at the last session to approve, 

 in the form of a resolution, not merely the continua- 

 tion of the free zone in the State of Tamaulipas, but 

 its extension into the States of Chihuahua and Coa- 

 huila. The opinion of the Executive on this delicate 

 subject was minutely set before Congress during the 

 discussion which took place at that time. The Ex- 

 ecutive still hopes, from the patriotism and sound 

 judgment of the House ; that, upon a renewed discus- 

 sion of the matter, it will determine to reconsider its 

 former resolution, and will think proper to decree 

 the abolishment of the " free zone " in Tamaulipas, 

 or at least to limit that privilege in such manner as 

 the interest of the Treasury and legitimate trade 

 require. 



On the subject of claims against the Treas- 

 ury, Senor Romero announced that, since the 

 28th of February, the total amount presented 

 for liquidation and payment had been $29,- 

 913,827, of which there had been recognized 

 $5,954,947, and rejected $5,396,395, leaving 

 pending $18,562,484. The above claims did 

 not include the foreign debt. 



Congress passed the law, by a vote of 95 to 

 32, in conformity with a recommendation of 

 the President, granting an extension for one year 

 of the law suspending the writ of habeas corpus. 

 The president, in urging this measure upon 

 the attention of Congress, stated that, although 

 the revolutionary movements had been sup- 

 pressed for the time being, the situation was 

 still very critical. Commerce and industry 

 were everywhere prostrated, and travelling 

 was becoming more and more insecure. Stages 

 were robbed almost every day, and passengers 

 left naked on the road. Under these circum- 

 stances, public credit was at the lowest ebb, 

 and the Treasury was unable to meet the most 

 pressing demands. The local and State govern- 

 ments in various parts of the republic were 

 enforcing what they called "voluntary con- 

 tributions." 



On April 18th the authorities of Mazatlan 

 seized the steamer Forward, on the plea that 

 she was employed by the revolutionary Gen- 

 eral Vega. The captain protested, and claimed 

 $1,000 a day for her detention. On May 19th 

 the steamer was seized by General Vega. 



An amendment to the Constitution, creating 

 a Senate, passed Congress, on April 28th, by a 

 vote of 105 yeas to 49 nays, and was submitted 

 to the States for ratification. 



The revolutionist General Garcia Cardena, 

 after again organizing a numerous band, at- 

 tacked the town of Tuchipila, on May 7th, and 

 was repulsed ; the Cuernavaca insurgents were 

 also defeated, and fled into the State of Puebla. 

 The forces of General Martinez, about five 



