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Year, all our obligations shall be fulfilled with due anticipation. I do not discover, Gentlemen, a single branch of the Treasury without an astonishing increase. The Department will shortly present unquestionable proof of this gratifying truth.

The friends of the Republick observe with the most lively satisfaction, that the majority of the mining undertakings, after having prepared the works which must precede the extraction of the metals, begin to obtain the fruits of their toils.

The Executive, persuaded that the honour of the Republick required the establishment of a Museum of Mexican Antiquities, which should merit at once the attention and regard of the Philosopher, the Naturalist, and of the general Observer, has arranged a collection of interesting objects, which will be completed when the Legislative Power shall have decreed that extension of it which is highly desirable.

Vaccination, which protects youth from the desolating small-pox, has been encouraged and spread throughout the Republick, especially since the disease appeared in Yucatan, in which its progress was happily arrested.

The beneficial Law for the construction of Roads is in operation; and the Government entertains a well founded hope that it will produce effects peculiarly favourable to manufacturing industry, commerce, and agriculture.

To add to the inexhaustible treasures which we possess, the riches of genius, which develope themselves in the great crisis of Nations, the Law of Publick Instruction is most necessary and urgent; in order that the elementary Schools may ameliorate the condition of the rising generation, and diffuse, with the maxims of virtue, the principles of liberty among our docile and happy People. The torch of civilization will shine with more splendour in the new World, and our efforts will be exerted to destroy the errors and prejudices which are always opposed to salutary reforms. Mutual instruction, so allied to morality and politicks, is becoming general in all the States. The Mexicans, with the blessing only of their happy dispositions, have overleaped the barriers of obscurity which surrounded their former system of Government: now, all is light, and Congress will draw down upon itself the benedictions of the Nation, by protecting and encouraging the study of the sciences, and especially economy, morality, and politicks.

The Depôt of Archives, which the Executive caused to be formed, contains innumerable Documents, which will serve to illustrate the Annals of Mexico.

Experience, Gentlemen, the instructress and guide of Nations, has taught us that Congress, by profoundly meditating upon the Law of the liberty of the Press, will be enabled thereby to check licentiousness, without detriment to that inestimable guarantee of fundamental institutions that liberty should be maintained by order.

The administration of justice is daily improving. By the Law of the 14th of February, which establishes the method and order in which the Supreme Court of Justice shall take cognizance of the matters, which the Constitution has entrusted to it, and by the provisional Regulations of the 13th of May, that Tribunal has been completely organized, and has entered upon the discharge of its functions.

In pursuance of the Law of the 20th of May, which makes a provisional division of Circuits and Districts, and regulates various Tribunals, the places have been designated, which are at present regarded as most fit for their residence, with liberty to change them as experience may suggest. Candidates have been invited for the Appointments, and for those of the Officers of Circuits; and they have been to a certain extent filled up, but, owing to the want of a sufficient number of Candidates, some are still vacant. In order to supply these vacancies, a new invitation has been given, and the most fit measures have been taken, for the early installation of the Courts, which will it is hoped produce the effect proposed. In the mean time, care has been taken to urge the Judges, who, under the former system, had cognizance of Revenue matters, to the early despatch of those which affect the general interest of the Federation.

It yet remains to complete the Administration of Justice in the Courts of First Instance, in respect of matters in which the District Judges have no jurisdiction: the want of this must produce great inconvenience, and this is therefore viewed by the Government as a subject worthy of preference.

By the Decree of the 23d of May, the Supreme Court was charged ad interim, with the duties of the Three Halls, belonging properly to the District and Territories of the Federation. This important Decree relieved the embarrassments which were felt in the Territories, from the want of the requisite superior Tribunals.

By the Decree of the 15th of April, the Courts which were before under the inspection of the States of Mexico, were made subordinate to the general Government. Justice is administered by them with regularity; nevertheless the wise improvements, conformably to the new system, which occupies the attention of the Chambers, are especially desirable for the Territories.

In consequence of the activity with which Robbers have been prosecuted and punished, violences of this kind have ceased, and the security of Persons and Property is provided for; and, if crimes of an atrocious character have been committed, which occur even in the best regulated Countries, publick vengeance has been satisfied by the most prompt and exemplary punishment.

The exercise of the patronage of the Church daily appears more necessary, in order to remedy the serious evils which all the Dioceses

suffer, especially those which have been the longest vacant, as well as to bestow a suitable recompense to the many meritorious Ecclesiastics who, to achieve the liberty of their Country, contributed their blood, their learning, and their glorious example; and to others, who, in the midst of great privations, have never lost the Apostolick character of Fathers and Pastors of the People.

The Army, a family of heroes, continues to improve in its subordination and superior discipline.

The Tribes who inhabit the banks of the Rivers Yaqui and Mayo, which traverse the extreme parts of the State of Sonora, have continued their hostilities. The Government has adopted measures to put a stop to these excesses, and the reinforcement which has been opportunely sent, will contribute to ensure the peace of the Inhabitants of that Country.

The Government awaits the determination of the Chambers, upon various subjects which have been referred to them: amongst others, the organization of the Corps of Engineers; the transfer to another place of the Military School of Perote; the approbation of the Estimates for Fortifications; the privileges and emoluments of the First Adjutants of Cavalry; the rewards to the Garrison of Vera Cruz; the organization of the active Militia; the privileges of the auxiliary Troops of the Bajio; the reform of the Army Contingent; the Assessors for the Commandancies General; the regulations respecting Deserters; and other matters; the decision upon which is very important, for the complete organization of the different branches of the Army.

The Navy performs its duty satisfactorily, by cruizing along the Coasts of the Gulf, to guard them, and to prevent contraband trade, which it has, to a certain degree, effected. This measure has prevented, during the last Summer, the appearance of Pirates, who at all periods had infested our Seas, to the great injury of our commerce. The Squadron of Vera Cruz has proceeded to sea with secret Instrnetions of the Government.

Schools, under the direction of Naval Officers, without burthening the Treasury with any further expense than the pay of those Officers, furnish to the Nation well-instructed Naval Officers.

Order and tranquillity are preserved throughout all the vast extent of the Republick. If some warmth was observed during the period of the Elections, it was what always appears amongst a Free People, when in the exercise of the sacred rights of their Fundamental Law.

Fellow.Citizens! may God protect you; may the prosperity of our Country be ever the principal object of our common wishes, and efforts. GUADALUPE VICTORIA.

MESSAGE of the President to the General Congress of Mexico, on the Closing of the Ordinary Session.

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FELLOW CITIZENS OF THE SENATE AND OF THE CHAMBER OF

REPRESENTATIVES.

THE august ceremony, at which, at the commencement of the Year, we were assembled in this sanctuary of the Laws, afforded me an opportunity of witnessing the intense joy, and the satisfaction depicted in the countenances of the people, arising from their conviction that your anxious and lively zeal in the cause of the Republick, would secure to them, both an increase of their happiness, and the continued preservation of the numerous benefits, which have been purchased by such great sacrifices. The same People and every individual of the Nation, bearing testimony to the wisdom, the prudence, and energy, which you have displayed, amidst circumstances of some difficulty, join with me this day, in expressing the gratitude of the Nation, because in your hands the sacred deposit of our liberties has been inviolably preserved.

The best harmony has reigned amongst the Authorities, who are invested by the Constitution with the Sovereign Power of providing for the Publick exigencies, by just and salutary laws. The Enemies to the aggrandisement of this magnanimous Nation have seen the fresh proofs which it has given, in the course of the Year, of its power and of its lenity, of the force of publick opinion, and of the common union of all its Citizens, towards sustaining the awful vows which they pronounced at the Altar of their Country. I promised, Gentlemen, to cement its Independence and Liberty with my blood, if necessary, and this vow, which my heart has constantly repeated, has directed my operations, during the period that I have had the glory of governing Mexicans. You will perceive, Gentlemen, that other Nations are just towards us; you will see that Heaven protects us.

The relations which have now for some time existed between His Britannick Majesty's Government, and that of the Republick, have been strengthened during the present Year. Our Chargé d'Affaires in that Kingdom brought with him the Treaty of Friendship, Navigation, and Commerce, which was happily concluded by the Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of the Republick, and signed in London on the 26th of December last; it has been approved of by the Chambers, and, after having been ratified by the Government, it has been returned to that Court to be exchanged. The People, Gentlemen, bless you for having consummated this interesting negotiation, which will influence in so great a degree the extent of our credit in the civilized world. We have been promised, that a Minister

Plenipotentiary will be sent to this Republick, when the Treaty shall have been returned; and that of the Mexican Nation who will be duly appointed, will enjoy the same honourable rank, in the Capital of that Nation which so powerfully operates upon the destinies of Europe. In the meanwhile, the Secretary of Legation of Great Britain has continued accredited as Chargé d'Affaires, and the Mexican Government has given the same character to its Agent in London.

An Agent General of Commerce from the Republick has been admitted by the Government of His Most Christian Majesty to the exercise of his functions in Paris; but the mode and form of his reception, as well as the final arrangement of other important points, has been delayed until the arrival in France of the before-mentioned Envoy Extraordinary; to whom the necessary Passports have been forwarded by the French Government, and who left London for that Court on the 19th of March. The Mexican Agents of Commerce continue to enjoy the same consideration in the Ports of that Kingdom.

The free City of Lubeck has admitted a Mexican Commercial Agent, who discharges the duties of his Office, independently of the Individual, who formerly resided in the same character in Hamburgh.

The Governor-General of the Danish Antilles has nominated a Consul from Denmark to this Republick, in consequence of the express orders of his Court, but, as his Commission has not received the indispensable formality of the King's immediate sanction, the granting of the Exequatur has been deferred, until the same shall have been procured. It is to be hoped that the Danish Government will not find any difficulty in making the Appointment conformably to generally received usages; and that of Mexico, when this shall have been done, will hasten to demonstrate the sincerity of its sentiments towards all Nations.

His Majesty the King of Hanover has invested an Individual with the character of Consular Agent, to reside in the Republick. His Commission, which, it is understood, is drawn up in the usual form, will be attended to as soon as it is presented.

The Treaty of Amity, Navigation, and Commerce, with The United States of North America, has been approved by the Senate of that Republick, but with certain amendments and modifications, which will lead to a renewal of the Negotiations, in which will be kept in view the wishes of the Chamber of Representatives, which has dedicated to this matter as much time as other weighty and urgent business permitted. The greatest harmony continues to exist between the two Governments, and they have agreed to arrange, as soon as possible, the Treaty of Boundaries, which is so necessary for the preservation of a good understanding between two neighbouring and friendly Nations.

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