The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1866-08-22
Mezico-Letter from Gov. Harris.
CoRDovA, MEXICO, July ,, 1886.
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The lands that were owned by the government have
been taken up long ago.
The labor system here is difficult to the stranger
Yet time will remedy it and make it cheaper system
of labor than slavery. The old established haciendas
here are cultivated by natives who live upon them
under contract with the proprietor Of this character
The proprietor gives him the of two three
of land for his family cultivate, upon the condition
that he will work for the proprietor on the hacienda
when required so to do, at 43& cents per day Under
this arrangement YOU work him as many days IN the
year as you please and have nothing TO do with him
except to pay him for the number OF days he actually
works He finds and clothes himself, as well when he
works for you when he don't There IS no reason
why you may not settle any reasonable number oil
them upon your place under this form OF contract eX
cept that it takes some time to learn enough about
them to know who to take, and sometimes 1t is neces
sary for them to learn something about you.
expect to adopt this system and therefore secure
reliable supply of labor Up to this time, however,
have caught up aborers in the market places as have
needed them and occasionally had been somewhat
embarrassed in doing So by the demand and high
prices given by the railroad now in course of con-
struction
As to the country, need only say so far regards
soil climate and productions, it is the best country
YOU have ever seen, But do not be deceived time
and labor are necessary make you comfortable here
No famy can come here and settle without more or
less prvation and hardship. The same may be said,
however as to all settlements, and especially set
Elements in new countries.
We have to rely upon each other entirely for soce-
ty The difficulty in language prevents much social
intercourse between people and the better class,
and the lower classes are totally unworthy of associa
ton Once established and surrounded by the ordi
nary comforts of life may live here more lux
urantly and with less labor than in any country that
l have seen or read OF.
/ liberal commander took some twenty-five Ameri-
can prisoners, and detained them for some weeks
These Americans had settled Omealca, which wa:
liberal headquarters and their strongest strategic pon
for all this country. Some of their members bad dealt
very harshly and unjustly with the natives. These
natives complained to the berabs, and at their in
stance the Americans carried of. They have al
returned.
have nothing to say Of myself except that m,
health is excellent, and work harder every day THAI
any freedman that you nave. l hope and expect tt
make myself comfortable here ere long and expec
to live and die in Mexico l have nothing to regre
in the past except the bunder which lost our indie
pendence My own course was taken from ster
sense of duty and long and sober reflection confirm
and strengthens me in the correctness Of the opnio
! on which | acted.
4 sigh for those that love me,
A smile for those who hate
Most truly, your friend. ISHAM g. lRE.S.