SPEECH of the President of Mexico, on the Opening of Congress.-Mexico, April 1, 1874,

(Translation.)

CITIZEN DEPUTIES,

IN obedience to the fundamental law, you return to the discharge of your high functions in the midst of the peace enjoyed throughout the Republic. The Mexican people sees with satisfaction that the ordinary course of your legislative tasks is pursued with entire regularity in the constitutional periods.

Our relations with the friendly Powers fortunately continue to be sincerely cordial. Representatives of Mexico have been appointed for Germany and Spain, whose presence will contribute to augment the friendship which unites us to those nations.

The investigating Commission for the States of Coahuila, Nuevo Leon, and Tamaulipas has terminated its important labours. The interesting report in which it has rendered account of its intelligent and useful researches will very soon be published.

The other investigating Commission, for the frontier of Chihuahua and Sonora, is already engaged in the performance of its duties.

In consequence of the law passed by Congress to quiet the disturbances which occurred in the State of Coahuila, complete tranquillity has been restored therein, thus permitting its legal reorgani zation, which will be effected within a few days.

Through the efficacy of the special law of Congress, aided by the peace which we enjoy, crimes against the security of persons and property have diminished to the degree that but few have been committed, and these have been promptly punished. They, however, prove the necessity of further prolonging the existence of the said law, which the Executive will submit to the enlightened consideration of Congress.

The inquiry which the Executive made in the previous Session, as to whether the faculty of modifying the organization of the tribunals of the Federal district is included among the powers conferred by law for the purpose of promulgating the Code of Criminal Procedure, is also worthy of attention. Upon the decision of this inquiry depends the promulgation of this Code, which is as necessary as the other reforms, which experience has shown to be very necessary for the better administration of justice.

The judicial reorganization of the territory of Lower California, proposed by the Executive, having been enacted by Congress, the new tribunals have been established, so as to realize this improvement in an important branch of the public administration.

The attention which Congress has already devoted to the amend [1875-76. LXVII.] 2 P

ment of the law upon secondary instruction in the Federal district will serve to facilitate the conclusion of this interesting subject. The initiative concerning obligatory primary instruction, so as to extend to all classes of society the benents of education, affords equal interest.

Zealous efforts are being made to form the statistics of public instruction throughout the country. This is the more useful, since it is, without doubt, an efficacious means of ascertaining the advance of enlightenment, as well as a stimulus to all the authorities to labour for popular education.

In the formation of the annual Estimates, the chief object of the Session commencing to-day, Congress will be able, by its wisdom. and patriotism, to make the most adequate provision for the various necessities of the public Treasury.

The payment of the ordinary expenses of the Administration has continued with entire regularity. At the same time, care has been taken to regulate and improve the collection of the imposts for the better service of the public interests.

It is our duty to provide the means of attending to the public debt, legally recognized and liquidated. For this purpose, it may, perhaps, become necessary to increase the present imposts, which suggestion Congress will take into its enlightened consideration, so as to prudently combine all the interests involved in a manner compatible with justice.

During the years which have elapsed since the passage of the law for establishing military colonies, these could not be founded for various reasons, only a limited force having been supported, which was employed in repressing Indian incursions. The Executive believes that the system of colonies might now be commenced, by forming them gradually in the frontier States, which are so worthy of being favoured in this important particular, which Congress will be able to consider in connection with the Estimates.

It having been found necessary to build the coast-guard vessels decreed by Congress, they are now being constructed, and within a few months will begin to render important service.

The importance of amending the Law of Patents being notorious, the Executive will present a Bill in harmony with the provisions of the Constitution.

A new law upon colonization, which the Executive has proposed, might be found of very great advantage, and a new one will be presented to facilitate the division and sale of the public lands in Lower California.

The Commissions created by Congress for the survey of certain rivers in the State of Vera Cruz, and of a road from Jalisco to Zacatecas, are engaged in the performance of their duties.

With the object of constantly extending our telegraphic lines, the material on hand is being employed, and another considerable quantity has been ordered. Special attention has been and will be given to the construction of the extended lines from Michoacan to Jalisco, San Luis to Durango, Durango to Chihuahua, Mazatlan to Guaymas, Tampico to Matamoros, and Tobasco to Chiapas. We may anticipate that within a very short time the city of Mexico will be in telegraphic communication with all the State capitals, extending the wires also to Lower California by the route which may be designated by an exploration already begun.

Yesterday was inaugurated the section of railroad from Mexico to Halnepantla, soon to be extended to Cuantitlan and Tobuca. The Executive takes pleasure in the success of this road, which will be so beneficial to the country in general, and especially to the States of Mexico, Queretaro, and Michoacan.

We may enjoy a well-founded confidence that the rapid development of the fruitful elements of our country's riches guarantees us a prosperous future, under the auspices of a peace solidly based upon the general good sense of the people, and the discipline, bravery, and loyalty of the national army.

Be assured, Citizen Deputies, that the Executive will zealously second all the measures which your wisdom and patriotism may enact for the welfare and aggrandizement of the Republic.

[SEBASTIAN LERDO DE TEJADA.]

SPEECH of the President of Mexico, on the Opening of Congress.-Mexico, September 16, 1874.

(Translation.)

CITIZEN DEPUTIES,

You have returned to the discharge of the high duties which the Mexican people have committed to your illustrious patriotism and to your zeal for the public good.

Our relations with friendly Powers continue happily preserved with cordial goodwill.

A Representative of the Republic of Guatemala having been recently accredited to Mexico, negotiations have been begun with him upon the long-standing and important subject of fixing the boundaries between the two countries. This will result not only in determining exactly the boundaries, but in preventing that ill-feeling which, through some uncertainty respecting them, has been occasioned between neighbouring peoples, and in strengthening the friendly relations which exist between the two Republics.

After exchanging the ratifications of the Treaty of the Extradition of Criminals, there were also exchanged those of the Treaty of Commerce,t also concluded with the King of Italy, within the time fixed for that purpose, which Congress was pleased to approve. These two Treaties have been published as laws of the Republic, which afford new reasons for strengthening and encouraging commercial and diplomatic relations with that nation.

The investigating Commission which was appointed for the States of Sonora and Chihuahua, after having finished their investigations in the former State, are continuing them at present in Chihuahua. As the six months designated were not sufficient, the Executive extended the time six months, according to the law. The labours of this Commission, as also those which the Commission appointed for the State of Coahuila, Nuevo Leon, and Tamaulipas, concluded successfully, will be very fruitful in the just defence of the rights and interests of the inhabitants of the frontier.

The contracts subsidizing two lines of steamers for service at regular intervals between several of our ports on the Pacific have become involved in difficulties, which the Executive has sought to remove. The contracts having been renewed, the service of the steamers has been continued with decided benefit to several of our States which have an important commerce with those ports. In due time there will be submitted to Congress the extension which is thought to be necessary in the term of one of the contracts, in order that, if it be thought proper, it may give its approbation.

It has been announced that the service of a line of steamers between Vera Cruz and New Orleans, touching at Tuxpan and Tampico, will not only be begun within the stipulated time, but that the beginning will be anticipated in October next. This service will be very useful to the commerce of those three ports, by reason of the greater frequency of communication and greater accommodation of travellers.

A contract has been made, subsidizing a new line of diligences from Tepic to Guaymas. This line will extend about 300 leagues through the whole length of Sinaloa, and a considerable extent of Sonora, with great benefit to the commerce and travel in those important States, and to the frequency and expedition of the mails, since, instead of two, there will be three weekly passages, reducing the delay to half the time until now employed.

In order to facilitate commerce in an important part of Sonora, a Custom-house has been established at the port of Libertad; as, also, one has been established for the same purpose at Tijuana, on the frontier of the territory of Lower California.

*December 17, 1870. Vol. LXV. Page 954.

December 14, 1870. Vol. LX. Page 1016.

There has been completed, for presentation to Congress, the plan of reform of the mineral ordinances, which is now in press. Once decreed as Federal Law, besides its beneficial application to the territory of Lower California, it may be adopted by our mining States, in so far as it may contribute to the development of this interesting branch of the national wealth.

As the publication of the Code of Procedure in criminal cases is connected with some modifications in the organization of the district tribunals, this subject will merit, to the extent Congress may think best, its intelligent consideration.

Several States have adopted the views of the proposition which the Executive addressed to Congress respecting compulsory primary education. The advantage of attempting this in the district and Federal territory will be considered by the representatives of the nation, since so much good is to be expected from the development of primary instruction, the inexhaustible fountain of the intelligence of the people, and an element most efficacious for the consolidation of democratic institutions.

Diligent care has been taken to better, so far as possible, by useful instruments and necessary apparatus, practical instruction in those branches which require it, in order that the ample theoretic instruction in the national schools of the second grade may be made the most beneficial.

The experiment has also been tried of introducing into both the primary and secondary schools of instruction suitable exercises for the physical development of the pupils. The wisdom of Congress will determine what it may think best touching the pending reforms in the law of public instruction.

The time of the lease of the Mint of Chihuahua having expired in August, arrangements were made at the proper time to receive it, so that, with the exception of the one in Mexico, the termination of whose lease still is delayed, the other ten Mints of the Republic are already administered by the Government.

The re-coining of worn money has commenced, in order to remedy the evils caused by its circulation. Efforts should be made at once to withdraw the old silver coinage of the smaller values, to the end that all the money may be uniform in the decimal system.

Recently the cable communicating with the Island of Carmen has been laid, connecting the telegraph line of Mexico, by Tabasco, with Campeachy and Yucatan. The Executive omits no exertion that each day may advance more and more the lines under construction, and provides the materials for the extensive lines proposed, that will unite the capital of the Republic with those States where telegraphic communication does not yet exist, so useful to commerce, industry, and all the branches of public service.