438 



MEXICO. 



sassination ; Ministers Mejia and Komero, for 

 exceeding the authority granted them by the 

 Constitution or Congress ; General Huerta, for 

 conspiring to overturn the present Government, 

 and General Diego Alvarez, for a similar crime. 

 The charges in each case were dismissed, ex- 

 cept the first. General Cauto having heen sur- 

 rendered to the criminal courts for trial and 

 punishment, the laws granted to him invio- 

 lability of person and property as to mem- 

 bers of Congress until that body shall examine 

 the charges and pronounce thereon. In ad- 

 dition to other laws passed, two of the treaties 

 made and signed by Mr. Eomero and Mr. Sew- 

 ard were confirmed, thus settling the question 

 of claims for the present and also that of the 

 naturalization of people moving from one coun- 

 try to another. 



Congress passed also three railroad bills, the 

 most important of which relates to the con- 

 cession made to the English Mexico and Vera 

 Cruz Kailroad Company. It was finally ap- 

 proved by Congress, having been materially 

 modified. This great national enterprise had 

 been promptly acted upon by the Executive 

 under the authority of the "Ample Faculties," 

 but subsequently interfered with by Congress, 

 to such an extent as to materially injure all 

 parties interested, including capitalists, con- 

 tractors, and workmen. Congress finally be- 

 coming conscious of the necessity of the com- 

 pletion of the road, and convinced of the un- 

 wise policy of their interference and their 

 procrastination, although at a late hour, appar- 

 ently desired to make amends therefor, and on 

 the 10th of November passed the bill which 

 enabled the work to be recommenced. 



Next in importance was the passage of a bill 

 for the construction of a railroad from the Rio 

 Grande to Guaymas on the Gulf of California, 

 with a view of opening the agricultural and 

 mineral resources of the adjacent country. 



At the session of Congress commencing in 

 April, President Juarez was authorized, by a 

 vote of 100 to 12, to recognize the Cuban 

 revolutionists as belligerents. Congress closed 

 its session May 31st. The labors and the views 

 of the General Government, as well as the situ- 

 ation of the country at large, are given in the 

 following addresses of President Juarez to the 

 Mexican Congress and the President of Con- 

 gress : 



Citizen, Deputies: After having consecrated your- 

 selves to your elevated functions with laudable assi- 

 duity, and, for the public benefit, having previously 

 prorogued as far as possible the duration of those 

 labors, you have now reached the end of the last pe- 

 riod of your session. Believing that in accordance 

 with your opinion, not anticipating in the present 

 state of things that there is any grave motive which 

 makes an extraordinary session necessary during the 

 legal recess, the fourth constitutional Congress ter- 

 minates definitely its labors to-day. This new proof 

 of the regular course of our institutions is very satis- 

 iactory. At the same time there is no occasion to be 

 restless, "but rather to look with confidence upon the 

 future of the relations of the republic with the world 

 abroad. 



"With the United States we preserve the best rela- 



tions of amity and neighborly friendship, which must 

 always be beneficial for the better development of the 

 commerce of both countries. Although our relations 

 have been interrupted with European powers, in con- 

 sequence of the late war, yet, as soon as military 

 operations ceased, we immediately declared that if, 

 by reason of the war brought upon the republic, it 

 were not possible to consider the late treaties as being 

 longer in existence, still we should be disposed to 

 celebrate other new ones upon just and convenient 

 terms, whenever such nation should desire to propose 

 them. No other cause for dispute with those nations 

 has occurred, which can possibly give rise to further 

 difficulties. Their citizens have continued to live 

 with us without having any motive for complaint, 

 under the just protection of our laws. A new and 

 grand European power has already opened relations 

 with the republic, proposing the celebration of a com- 

 mercial treaty. The North-German Confederation 

 has sent a representative to Mexico, who has been re- 

 ceived with the proper consideration and good-will. 

 It has been justly observed that upon the termination 

 of the late warlike operations the administration of 

 the republic was soon reorganized, without having 

 suffered all of those evils which have befallen other 

 countries under similar circumstances. Unfortunate- 

 ly, several instances of crimes against individual se- 

 curity occurred, which have made necessary the recent 

 law of Congress, in order that such disorders may be 

 suppressed promptly and justly. The Government 

 has made use of the authority which this law con- 

 cedes, dictating such arrangements as it has believed 

 fit, for the purpose of securing efficacy in its enforce- 

 ment, and at the same time, the prevention of an abuse 

 thereof. The Government has already succeeded in 

 setting in operation all possible measures, in order 

 that there may be the least necessity for the severe sup- 

 pression of these crimes through the most earnest care 

 in its attempts to prevent their occurrence. Upon the 

 initiative or the Government, Congress has discussed 

 and decreed the establishment of juries in the Federal 

 district. This important measure of improvement 

 will facilitate the prompt and good administration of 

 justice very much. In accordance with the require- 

 ment of the Constitution, Congress has been engaged 

 during the session, by preference, in acting upon the 

 Appropriation Bill for the coming fiscal year. The 

 Government will see that the expenses of its adminis- 

 tration be in accordance therewith, promising that, as 

 heretofore, every thing shall be looked after with reg- 

 ularity. The rebellion which occurred in Sinalpa 

 against the authorities of the State having been suffo- 

 cated, there results the peace of the republic. There 

 are to be excepted some places in Tamaulipas, very 

 sparsely populated, where some rebels are still left, 

 whOj by the fewness of their number, and by their 

 moving about incessantly, have been able to escape 

 from the troops sent in their pursuit. The law in re- 

 gard to recruiting, which Congress has just passed, 

 will permit the preservation of a fixed number of the 

 forces of the army which, with valor and discipline, 

 has combated all of the rebellions showing that it 

 is the worthy defender of the Constitution and the 

 laws. It pleases me, citizen deputies, to repeat at the 

 end of your office the congratulations which I have at 

 other times offered you for the illustrious patriotism 

 with which you have fulfilled your high duties. You 

 have the satisfaction of meriting the national grati- 

 tude, because with your prudence and wisdom you 

 have contributed most efficaciously, after the pro- 

 found disturbance caused by the foreign war, to the 

 march of the republic upon the road of peace and true 

 liberty, which constitute the basis for its aggrandize- 

 ment and prosperity. 



The President of the Congress replied : 



Citizen President: It is highly satisfactory for the 

 Fourth Constitutional Congress to have reached the 

 regular end of its functions, and to retire, convinced 

 that its labors have not been sterile for the people, 



