Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-04-24
MEXICAN COLONIZATION.
Lands aud Land Titles-Adyice to Emigrants-
Letter from Gen. Early.

Lands aud Land Titles-Adyice to Emigrants-
Letter from Gen. Early.
HAVANA, April Is. 1866.
To the Editor Of tie Ne,o York Times:
SIR: / have just returned from Mexico,
after a sojourn of three months in that
country. Having received from Virginia
several letters of inquiry in regard to tie
prospects for emigrants 10 Mexico, and hay
ing learned that many persons in that as
well rs the other Southern States desire to
emigrate / will state, through your col
umns, the result of my own observation and
the information received from others on
whose judgment i could rely. l must state,
in the first place, that my personal observa-
ton Of the country was confined TO what
saw in passing and repassing over the stage
route from Vera Cruz to the City Of Mex
leo; the greater part of my time having
been spent in the latter city. The lands in
the Cordoya district and about Orizaab,
through which the stage route passes, are
PROFESSIONALLY rich, and intelligent gentle
men, who had seen other parts of the coun-
try, informed me that there were other dis
tricts in which the lands were very rich, and
capable of being made very productive by
the proper use Of capital and labor.
But colonists will have many difficulties
10 encounter in all of them. There has been
no systematic effort TO survey or ascertain
the locality of the public lands, until that
recently made under the superin ,endence of
General Magruder, chief of the Land Office.
All the lands at Cordova which have been
surveyed as public lands have been already
parceled out and have supplied but a small
number Of colonists. Land titles in Mexico
are in a very unsettled condition, and but
few men know the boundaries Of their own
lands. So uniformed is the Government
itself in regard to the lands 10 which it has
claims that, in making contract with Cen
eral Harleman Of Texas for the survey Of
the public lands in Durango, the whole risk
and expense Of discovering those lands have
been thrown on him, and he is TO receive
compensation only in the event Of his being
able 10 find and survey the lands, the Gov
eminent not even undertaking to furnish
him protection against guerrillas and rob
bers, while he is engaged in fulfilling his
contract.
The lands offered by private individuals
in alternate sections 10 colGnists, so far as /
am informed, are in remote districts, where
the Liberals, or Dissidents, as they are
called, have control, and the Government
can afford no protection. The very highly
colored accounts Of the country and its re-
sources which have been published, and the
expectations of a large food Of emigrants
which have been excited, have caused prop
rietors having lands for sale to increase
enormously the prices asked for them, and
many persons who have recently arrived in
the country have been unable 10 procure
lands, either from the Government or from
private individuals. The legitimate conse-
quence Of all this has been that many are
returning in a great state of dissatisfaction,
while others, who relied upon the delusive
promises of aid from the Government, find
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 in getting
lands 10 procure labor to put them in a state
OF cultivation, as the native population can
not be relied on for that purpose.
All idea of procuring assistance from the
Government must be abandoned by those
who desire TO emigrate 10 the country. l
have no doubt that Mexico has resources
which, under stable government and with
capital and labor sufficient, are susceptible
of very considerable development; but
those who 60 there expecting 10 find the
beautiful and fruitful land which is describ-
ed in some of the published accounts, will
be doomed 10 as sad disappointment as
that experienced by the old Spanish CON
querors in their search for the tabled Edo
RADIO. On the railroad which is being con-
structed from Vera Cruz TO the city of Next
co. practical and experienced engineers, con-
tractors and mechanics may find employ
ment, but otherwise very few positions are
open 20 those who do not wish 10 cultivate
soil. Physicians who can speak the language,
can get permission to practice their profess
sions, but beyond this there is no open
ing whatever for any Of the learned profess
sions.
As to the stability the Government, | will
state chat | have no information, except
what may be obtained by any sojourner in
the country who cannot speak the language.
Though | remained in the national capital
for nearly three months, | did not see, even
casually, so far as | know, the Emperor, En-
press, or any minister of the Government,
nor did seek to see them. / think, how
ever, am warranted in saying that any one
who desires 20 make Mexico his permanent
home, must do so without reference to the
duration of the present Government. In
formation as 20 the length Of time which
that Government is to be maintained
in the country is not TO be obtained in
Mexico.
] have not advised any of my personal
friends TO emigrate TO the country, and my
knowledge is not sufficient 10 justify me in
now giving any positive advice either way
but, though my own determination TO remain
in exile is unchanged, | feel deep interest
in the welfare Of all my comtrymen of the
Southern States, and the knowledge which
obtained from my own observation, ms well
as from the information of Others is sufficient
not only TO authorize me, but, in my estima.
ton, TO make il my duty 10 advise all those
who are DESTROYS Of seeking new homes, not
10 give up their present ones and emigrate
to Mexico, until they shall have examined
the country in person, or ascertained, through
some friend on whose Judgment and expe
rience they can rely, that their situations
will be betiered. Above all, LET no man who
has a wife and children carry them to Mex
leo until he has secured certain home and
a fair prospect of support for them. BY OBJ
serving this caution much disappointment
and suffering will be avoided.
] send this communication 10 your paper
for publication, as L have no doubt that in
that way Il win sooner reach the mass of the
readers for whom it is intended than in any
other. Respectfully,