The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-01-25 00:00:00

I. 1W REGARDING ALIENS IN MExlco.

pi::.euT OF THE ComMissioN OF THE SENATE. CONCERN-
IND TIIG ADNIA!IUX, ritEE PASSAGE, AND SETTLEMENT

4.71 FOLLEit,NEItS ix THE TERRITORY OF TIIE REFEBLIC.
Tee Commission charged with presenting to the Chamber the
prooot t• 1 law ceowernitig the admission of free passage and settle.
soei•t of foreigners in the territory of the Republic, have thought
they should fulfil their object by embracing in their report two
principal points. First, the establishment of passports. Second,
ti•e• security to he provided for foreigners to enjoy the fruits of any
breech of industry which the law may allow them to practise.
won respect to the hist of these objects, the Comniissirm have rata-
liitetol such regulavoi aas appeared to it necessary for the secu.
• • ,f the Suite, having so framed them that the Government
rt.)
11:1r hr able to escreise its powers in the state of war in which the
nitt;on is at present situated, nevertheless not being such as cause-
lossie to mincst foreigners, and much less those belonging to
tit•td,e rations, who require from us diffitent considerations Irons
the ot‘iers.
won respect to the second point, it has framed thearticles 'wee-
ders to !ontrantee such right as foreigners ought to enjoy, resolving
also. is manna that the Commission has thought Just, the cele-
bra ed questtuo so notch agitated of late—whether they can acquire
lei, tors I ',wetly. lit the opinion of the Commission this gee,
his to Ilitheoo been placed in its true point of view. On the
qa.stion et naturalnied foreigners, there can be no doubt of
ttic:r rola to acquire territorial property, since it is a right
ii,here„ in „i„,,,nj dion. lf, however, the question be of fo-
reigners not neutralized, it would he an absurdity to euppuse that
the spanish laws. which arc quoted in its favour, sees:: of
foreigners who either do not reside in the country, or. if they do
reside in it, it is only fur a short time, at the end o' which
tin 7 r•-urn to their ow::, wit 're they have established the •r
residence. The question. then, in tact, ought to be, whether for
the future it would is: cspcdient to permit foreigners to have the
tight to acquire landed property,.
The Commission have not hesitated in deciding in the negative,
foe. considering the circumstances of the nation, the giving such
a right would he the hest means to raise a contribution trout a
largo portion of it in favour of foreigners. It is true that sonic po.
!Weal economists do not consider it an evil for the rents of the
land porchised by foreigners to he carried out of thu country. A
erotetwon of the Chamber of Deputies coming to a diffirent opi-
r,:on from mire, cited the words of Say :—•'• It need not be feared,
thee, that foreigners would acquire funds, as, if they have sufficient
judgment. they will employ their value reproductavely." But in
Ott it should not be in our power to fulfil the vague condition
which din political economist judges recessary„ in order to grant
fureien-ra the privilege of acquiring landed property, it is proper to
observe that Say has not analyzed with so much exactitude
MI he EMS some others, the consequences which nifty be deduced
I,,tm s.:ch premises. In the same page with what we have goofed,
he says that the foreigner who purchases lands in a state has given
a moveable capital, and one capable of dissipation, for a fixed and
durable one. This difference is essential, and therefore ought
to have consequences of the same nature; but as the mutable and
seaceptible of dissipation character which is attributed to the ea.
pital which is•received in exchange for land, tot only consists in
the judgment with which it is converted, but in many other circum-
stance* whith arise from the nature of the use itself. however judi-
cious it slay be, in one case this difference ought to he noted, that
it is not proper to add only, e• with which should lie have sufficient
judgment."
Thu other Political Economists merely examine the question
under the head. and in the point of view to which it Moor. that
Is to say, by the influence which the eccptisition of land by fo-
reigners will have on the riches of the minify ; but legislators
ought to examine it in every point of view, investigatieg the ad.
vantage@ or disadvantages which might politically affect us, and if
the general principles of economy are or are not applicable
according as circumstances change. In consequence of the destruc.
tion anti poralyzation of' business occasioned by the Revolu•ion,
landed property has fallen to the lowest ebb; but also in come.
quence of the prodigious impulse which industry had and would in
the future receive, its value ought to be doubled or tripled, and in
such circumstance we woald ask whether the above-tamed princi.
pies of political economy would be applicable ? Will this, of a
capital which will only yield a correspooSing interest, compensate
for the other, which produces double and triple its value in a short
tinie ? if such powerful reasons should nut have sufficient weight
to throw obstacles in the way of foreigners buying landed property,
it might at least be hoped that no distant circumstances will pro.
portion the eoncourseo( buyers, and with it the tin in the price of
the lands.

it ought also to be held in mind that the landed property is with
us accumulated in a very few hands, and the extent of landed
mate. has in consequence increased so excessively that there are
many which equal or exceed various kingdoms of 'Europe. Will
it offier no difficulty politically to permit foreigners not naturalised,
an.! who do or ought to reside in foreign countries, to buy domains
which do not exist together without the most serious inconveniences
even is the bands of natives? When a division of these immense
properties may be called for will not new embarrassments prevent
its being put in execution ? Have the consequences, which such
conduct would draw upon national independence and the Minim.
tions we have adotsted, been examined ? The Commission would
have analysed these questions had it not known they could not
have remained concealed from the penetration of the Chamber.
But in order to enrediate both extremes—that Is to facilitate
the colonization end division of these desert and vast domains, and
to raise the necessary incentive to rural industry, the Commission,
eter having laid it down as a principle that foreigners not mita.
ralised cannot acquire lardA property, have made to this principle
the exceptions they have thought advantageous and agreeable to
the interest of the nation, with that of those speculators who intend
t.. buy and colonise the property of private individuals, as will be
e'en in the following propositions, with which the Commission
conclude their Report, submitting it tc the superior wisdom of the
Chamber._ _ _ _

1. Foreigners cannot enter or traverse the Mexican territory
wit out a passport from the Governor-General.
2. Toe Government will, by means of a Decree, prescribe
the regulations which it may think proper for the grunting
and revision of passports; and shall also point out the officers
who shall grant them.
3. Foreigners who may have route into the country without
s passport shall present themselves within ten days, counting
from the time of the publication of the law in their places of re-
siilenee, to the first political authority of the town, to whom he
shall give an account of the object of his coming, aad the business
he carries on.

4. The political auihorities shall give in a report to the Governors
of the federal states, dirricts, or territories, who shall send to the
foreigners whose names are in the report the passport proper
for them, which shall be conformable to the regulations prescribed
by the General Government ; to which shall be given the indi-
vidual remota' of the foreigrers who n.ay have presented them.
selves, the object of their coming, of their business of the pompons
they may have required, and also an account of the foreigners
to whom none may hale been granted according to the regula-
tMns of the Government.

5. Foreigners not complying with the tenor of the law will be
expelled the Republic.
O. During the war with Spa'n, the powers • f expelling say
foreigners it may think proper shall be confided to he Govern.
ment, provided they do not belong to any of the nations who bare
acknowledged the independence of the Republic.
7. Foteignert introduced or established conformably to the re-
gulations that are now or may in the future be pre.cei ted, are
under the protection of the laws, and enjoy the civil rights af-
forded by them to Mexicans, with ti e exception of that of ac-
quiring landed property, a hich, according to law, cannot be ob-
tained by persons not natural z d.
8. The law of the 7th Oct. 1823, concerning the acquisition of
Property in mining shares, remains in full force.
V. Foreigners not naturalised may obtain landed property, if
speculators in a colonising establishment on the national domains.
according to the laws now existing, or that may be ma le by the
General Congress, or that of any particular State.
le. Colonists who may conic to inhabit the said domains are, by
the act of establishing themselves, naturalised in tl e republ e,
receiving the lot which may fall to their share, complying with 0 e
stipulated conditions, and swearing the due obedience to the consti-
tution and the laws.

11. Fore:gnere not naturalised are authorised to buy and colonise
the doinaMs of private int' ii bloats ; but In this ease special permis-
sion must lo! had of the fleieral Congress, if it be in the territusies,
and of the p.rtieular Congresses, if it be in the States.
12. lhe puticula Congresses may or may not refuse their per-
minuet), should t ley do so they may impose the conditions they
may think props, stipulating the following, whit h may serve as a
basis to every c intract, the meaning of which the legislatures are
authorised to curtail, but not to augment. Ist. That the fourth
part of tivt• oh:mists idiould be Ale:teens. 2d. That the land be
divided within three years into lots, which shall not exceed
one pure leagise on extent, such league to consist of live thousand
Spanish rods. 3cl. 'I hat the naturalized Speculator shall not re.
serve an erste exceeding sixteen square leagues, which shall be
alienated within twelve years, counting from the time at which the
land ought to be divided into lots. 4th. That the few which may
be imprsed upon the Colonists shsll not be so more than twenty'
years. counting from the time in which they may obtain their lots.
13. Should any scheme for colonization, or any other establishment
Wise, which by its impottance may deserve to have the preceding
conditions dispensed with, the General Congress must consent to it.
I I. Two years will be granted for the sale of the property which
tiny now belong to hircignem not naturalized;' and, for the future,
the 'nine period- will be granted for the sale of such as they may
aril 'me by inheritance, or any other means not prohibited by law.
s item expired, they shall be sold by Government
err by the Governors of the states, those not sold by their Ownelfi
bc.nK an by the public.
The value of such property shall be paid to their owner.,
es !acting the cote of the sale, except such as may belong to sub-
J'et' of Nail/. whose proceeds shall remain in deposit till the reso-
lution which Congress may according to circumstances pass.
17. Property acquired by foreigners, not naturalized according to
law, may be denounced by any Mexican, with whom it must be
proved that the law has Wen evaded.
It The General Government, and the Governors of tlfe States,
,hall religiously observe all the provisions of this law, and also any
Prmitans which may be made in the treaties now or at any future
pentad lobe entered into wi:h Foreign Powers.
PER DUZCO.
PA R
HEJINANDEZ CHICO.

Ott 7, 1825.

Letterstrom Madrid of the 9th inst. state that an addi-
t lona espirt duty of 20 dollars the butt has been imposed
un XntS, ur Sherry wine.