Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1866-04-21
IMnIGRATION TO MEXICO.
= ---I--- - ..E'5-' ---.--II IL
GENERAL. j. A. EARLY'S LETTER.

Gen. J. A: Early. late of the Confederate
States army, who has lately visited Mexico,
writes letter, which We think will efectually
.:cose up the talked Of Immigration to Mex
20. We make the following extract:
condition, and but few men know the bounda
Goverument its If in regard 70 the lands to
which it has Claims that, in making contract
with General Hardemap, ofTexas, for the sur
yey Of the public lands in Durango, the whule
risk and expense Of discovering those lands
have been thrown on him, and he is to receive
compensation only 10 the event Of his being
able to find and survey the lands, the Govern
mint not even undertaking to furnish him
protection against guerrilIas and robbers, while
be is engaged ia fulfilling his contract. The
lands offered by private individuals in alternate
sections to G, lonists, so far as am informed,
ore in remote districts, where the Liberals or
D,ssidsnts, as they are called, have control, and
the Government can afford no protection
The very highly col,red accounts OF the country
and it, resources which have been published,
and pxpectat: ons of large infux of emigrants
which have been excited, have caused proplie-
tors having lands for sale to increase enormous
" the prices asked for them, and many persons
Tho hav, recently arrived in the country have
been unable to procure lands, either from the
Government Or from prlva'e individuals. The
legitimate conseauen ,e OF all this has been, that
many are returning in great state OF dlssatls-
faction, while others. who relied on the delu-
sive promises Of aid from the Government.
ind themselves not only without the means of
obtaining lands but of returning to their former
homes. II is. exceedingly difficult for those
who have succeeded ngetting lands to procure
labor to put them m a state GOT cultivation, as
the native populatiomcanno be relied on tor
that purpose. All idea ofprocuiing assistance
from the Government must be abandoned by:
those who desire to emigrate to the country.
have no doubt that Mexico has resources
which. under static government and with
capi. al AMI labor sufficient are susceptible Of a
very considerable Development, but those who
90 here excepting TO find the beautituland fruit
ful land which is described in some tfrhe pub
lished accounts, will be doomed 10 as sad disap
pointment as hat experienced by! The old Span-s
ish coDqurror> in their search the fable dEldo
RADIO Onthe railroad which, beng ronstructed
from Vera Cruz to the Ci,y of Mexico, prac,i-
cal and experienced engineers, Contractors and
mechanics may fnd emp oynent, tur o. berwise
very few positions are open to tho:e who do
not vi, b to cultivate the; s il. Physicians who
call speak the language, can get pc mission TO
practice their professions. but t.eyoId his here
is no opening whatever for ady OF the learned
profession a.1as = - 1.] as
As to the stability Of tho Government, ! will
state tn It 1 have n, information, except whit
may b. o'tain ~ any Sojourner in tbe coun-
try Who,esnnot speak helanyuage. Though !
remained in The na'ionsl capi al for nearly
three months, did not see, even casually, so'
tar as / know, he Emperor, Empress, or any
minister Of lhA Government, nor did SEEK t
see them. think. however, am warranted
in saying that any one who de-ireS to make
Mexlco his permanent home, must do SO with
out reference to tn. duration Of the present
Government. lnformatioa as to the length
Of time which that Government is to be NAM
tanned IN the country is not to be obtained in
Mexico no .990E -@ "a
have not advised any Of my personal friend
to e,nigrate to the country, and my knowledge
is MT sufficient 10 justify me in now giving any
positive advice either way, but, though my own
determination to remain in esile is un hanged.
feel deep interest in the welfare of all my
countrymen Of the Southern States, and the
knowledge which | obtained from my own ob-
servafion, a. Well as from the information of,
others, is sufficient not only to authorize me,
bnt, in my estimation, to make it my duty to
advise all those who are de>irous of seeking
new homes not to give up their present ones
and emigrate to Mexico, until they shall have
examined the cauutry in person, or ascertained
through some friend on whose judgment and
experience they can rely, that their situations
will be betrered Above ALL let no man who
has a wife aud children carry them to Mexico
until he has secured cerain home and tair
prospect Of support for them By observing
this caution much Disappointment and suffer
ing will De avoided