Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-02-16
LETTER FROM MEXICO.

The following letter from Col. Richard L.
Maury, son of Commodore NJ. F. Maury,
was addressed to gentleman of Richmond,
Va, and recently published in one of the
papers of that city;
MEXICO, Nov Ia, 1865.
My DEAR Sir: i remember meeting YOU
in the street in Richmond, and that YOU
asked me to write to You aiser had looked
around in Mexico, and let you know can
didly the result Of my observations and
opinions upon affairs here, from "poor
Confederate point of view. / gladly seize
the present opportunity to do so, the more
particularly because l hope that my views,
as here expressed may, through you, be dis
seminated among many of my dear friends
in old Virginia, and that they may be in
duced seriously to think over the idea of
emigrating and coming here
The great difficulty with many, is how to
raise the money to get here. That stone has
been removed out of the path of every one
by the Imperial Decree Of September 9TH,
for the government will pay your passage.
But you may say, what am to do when |
get therew | answer, anything YOU
choose almost" True. YOU will not make
your fortune in week, but you viii make
expenses until you can look around and
settle yourself
There are many Confederates here, and all
of them have or can get occupation, ii they
want it. In the first place, there are some
ten or fifteen millions oil acres offered TO
colonists by various landhOlders here at
various rates, the least advantageous of
which are as much land as you will take
the eolonist furnishes the labor-the holder
everything else-will lend you provisions
till you make your own, and viii furnish
seed, stock, farming implements, and every
thing and divide equally the profits Win
also furnish flocks and herds for stock breed
ing, on the same terms. And then the yield
of spot of ground, farmed on Virginia
principles, would be perfectly fabulous
indeed, there would be scarcely an end to
the harvest. You may form an idea of what
it would be from this fact, that land culti-
waited on the Mexican system of farming,
probably the most slovenly in the world,
for they never touch the. field after the seed
is planted, except to harvest the crops,)
yields from one to three or four hundred
fold and that too, two, three and four times
annually. Think of il, a bushel of corn
ylCiuo lOdA DuSilSin lOuI tllicS u
year,
The productiveness of the country is GER
tainly one of the seven wonders of the world.
You know that it must &c so because nobody
works and everybody lives. / know Of lady
here who lives off of the natural products Of
her farm. She is considered rich, too-she
has not a hand on the place except an agent
who sells the natural, spontaneous products
of the ground on the spot-the buyers come
for it-take it away and pay their money.
But there are other occupations here
which will give more immediate though
by no means so rich reward. General
Magruder is at the head Of the Mexican
land ofice-the lands of Mexico never have
been surveyed-he needs assistants every
day, and pays from 500 to $3.50 month.
This you may imagine is an endless job.
don't know whether you are surveyor, but
if you or any one else who is will come out
here, you won't starve, particularly If you
bring your instruments with you.
| am delighted with the whole country.
1t is certainly the most favored in the world,
and most certainly the place for you and me,
and all like us. What can we do in Virginia?
People abroad have no idea whatever of
Mexico-all their knowledge is obtained
from Northern newspapers.
The country is far better settled than the
United States. There are many robbers, it
is true but these always abound where the
people make no resistance, but hand over
quietly all they have without word. 1t is
notorious fact that the robbers never attack
where they have any idea of meeting re-
sistance.
There is no opposition whatever to the
Government The Liberals are more dead
than the Csnfeds, and the Empire is gaining
strength, popularity and support every day.
1t is the greatest mistake in the world
to think that the Empire il not stable,
popular aud secure. l say to you what
would say to all my friends: DO what
| have done--come 10 Mexico. If you
should come before an agent is appointed
in Richmond, who would give you trans
portation, have authority for stating
that your passage expenses will be
refunded you on your arrival here.
In the meantime, il you want any infrma-
ton, or if any one else does, let them write
to me-"Office Colonization, Mexico" "-and
l will most cheerfully and gladly tell them
what | can.
General Price is getting a splendid settle
ment under way near Cordova, place that
formerly before the darkeys were set free,)
was the garden Of Mexico, but since, it has
been entirely neglected, where lands are
given the emigrsnt by the government.
Governor Harris, Of Tennessee, and Judge
Perkins, of Louisiana, are with him.
Generals Hardeman and Terry are doing
likewise in Talisco, and there are others
being established all around OF course,
there is no limit to the size Of these settle
ments; the more the better If / had only
forty good negroes here from Virginia,
could make my fortune in two years.
would not want more money than l could
make in that time.
y
Most truly,
RICHARD L. MAURY,