MEXICO. 



Religions institutions cannot possess prop- 

 erty. 



A simple promise to speak the truth, and to 

 comply with obligations contracted, under pen- 

 alties in case of violation, is substituted for the 

 religious oath. 



No one is compelled to render services of 

 any kind without just and equitable compen- 

 sation. 



Contracts infringing upon personal liberty, 

 whether in matters of work, education, or re- 

 ligious vows, are illegal; consequently monas- 

 tic orders are not allowed by law, nor is their 

 establishment permitted, under auy pretext, or 

 by any denomination whatever. 



LEIUIO DB TEJADA, SB. DON SEBASTIAN, Pres- 

 ident of the Republic of Mexico, was born at 

 Jalapa, State of Vera Cruz, on the 25th of 

 April, 1825. He studied Latin, philosophy 

 and theology, in Puebla, and afterward entered 

 the College of Ildefonso, in Mexico City, where 

 he received his diploma of lawyer in 1851. 

 The following year he was appointed rector of 

 thut institution, at the early age of twenty- 

 seven. In December, 1855, he became magis- 

 trate of the Supreme Court of Justice, shortly 

 after the suppression of the special tribunals 

 by virtue of the Juarez law, find held that post 

 until the middle of 1857. During that inter- 

 val he aided his brother Miguel, then Minister 

 of Finance, in the decision of important ques- 

 tions requiring superior diplomatic skill, and 

 affording him an opportunity to display the 

 brilliant parts which have never failed to se- 

 cure for him the admiration and applause of 

 friends and enemies throughout his political 

 career. 



Called by President Comonfort to the port- 

 folio of Foreign Affairs, he entered upon his 

 duties on June 4, 1857; but resigned the 

 office on the 15th of September following, in 

 time to escape sharing in the downfall of the 

 administration, an issue which, if Comonfort 

 had given ear to the timely premonitions of 

 Sr. Lerdo, might easily have been prevented. 

 The reactionary party, who, as the enemies 

 of the Constitution of 1857 (which they still 

 refuse to accept), had been mainly instru- 

 mental in the overthrow of Comonfort, now 

 elected to the presidency General Zuloaga, who 

 had sedulously defended, and ultimately pro- 

 claimed, the "Plan of Tacubaya." But Sr. 

 Lerdo, to whom the reactionary principles 

 have ever been repugnant, retired from public 

 life, to devote his attention anew to Ildefonso, 

 and the exercise of his profession as a lawyer. 

 After the refistablishment of the constitutional 

 government, he was elected member of the 

 <'c>riL'rc?n which commenced in May, 1861, and 

 lasti-d until September 25, 1862, during which 

 period he was three times President of the 

 Chamber ; and he likewise formed a part of 

 the Congress of October of the latter year, 

 and of May, 18f3. Having removed to San 

 Lnis Potosi with the national Government, 

 which was compelled to abandon the capital 



MICHIGAN. 



499 



by the advancing French army, he was ap- 

 pointed Minister of Justice September 15, 1863, 

 and nine days afterward Minister of Foreign 

 Relations, which post he held uninterruptedly 

 until January 17, 1871, and in which he served 

 the republican cause with the utmost zeal and 

 patriotism, contributing to the preservation of 

 Mexican nationality, and the final defeat of the 

 imperialists. When the United States Gov- 

 ernment interceded in behalf of the Emperor 

 Maximilian, he declared loudly and steadfastly 

 against the interference of a foreign power 

 with the internal administration of the coun- 

 try, and went so far as to say that the pardon 

 of the ill-fated Archduke might prove last- 

 ingly prejudicial to the republic. 



Sr. Lerdo was one of the chief advisers of 

 Juarez in the reorganization of the Govern- 

 ment after the return of the latter to the capi- 

 tal and the author of several wise reforms. 



In 1867 he was, by a large majority of votes, 

 elected President of the Supreme Court of 

 Justice, a post equivalent to that of Vice-Presi- 

 dent of the Republic ; and, accordingly, on the 

 decease of Juarez, in July, 1872, he succeeded 

 the latter in the Executive chair, in which he 

 was confirmed by the national voice in Novem- 

 ber of the same year. 



Of easy and unassuming manners, and pro- 

 found diplomatic ability ; often eloquent, and 

 always brilliant and persuasive in the tribune ; 

 a faithful and constant defender of the Consti- 

 tution, without a single instance of vacillation 

 through his whole political career as minister, 

 deputy, chief of the cabinet, or President of 

 the Republic ; and, above all, the sincere friend 

 of popular education, as the surest foundation 

 of enduring national prosperity such is the 

 present ruler of the Mexican people. 



MICHIGAN. Among the most important 

 acts of legislation was one for the appointment 

 of a commission to propose a revision of the 

 constitution. The commission was to consist 

 of eighteen members, appointed by the Gov- 

 ernor. Two were appointed from each con- 

 gressional district, and they convened at Lan- 

 sing, August 27th, and chose Sullivan M. Cutch- 

 eon president, and Henry S. Clubb secretary. 

 On the 1st of December they reported to the 

 Governor the amended constitution proposed 

 by them. The changes proposed are not very 

 radical. The most important are the follow- 

 ing: 1. Prohibiting the Legislature from pass- 

 ing local or special laws in any of the following 

 cases: divorcing parties; changing names of 

 persons or places ; regulating the practice of 

 courts, or the jurisdiction and duties of justices 

 and constables ; providing tor change of name; 

 providing for election of supervisors ; summon- 

 ing and impaneling grand or petit jurors ; reg- 

 ulating interest; authorizing sales, leases, or 

 mortgages on behalf of persons under disabili- 

 ty, nr religious corporations or societies ; char- 

 tering or licensing ferries or toll-bridges ; re- 

 mittingfines, penalties, or forfeitures; changing 

 the fees of officers; changing the laws of de- 



