The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1866-01-16
LETTER FROM AN EXILE.

Gov. Harriss, of Tennessee, has written
letter toa friend in Georgia, which is published
in the Atlanta Ney Era 1t describes how the
Governor made his way 20 Mexico, and gives
some interesting details concerning other promi-
nent Confederates. The letter is dated "Cordova,
Nov. r." We make the following extracts
Governor Harriss says he called on Macmillan
with Gen. Price and Gov. Polk, of Missouri, and
remarks:
.Our reception upon the part Of the Govern
ment officials here, was I'll that we could have
expected or desired We were invited to an
audience with the Emperor at the palace, the
far. tamed halls of the Montezumas. At the
time fixed We called and were there most kindly
received by the Emperor and Empress, and were
assured Of their sympathy in our misfortunes,
and of their earnest hope that we might find
homes for ourselves and friends in Mexico
The Empress was our interpreter in the inter-
view. She speaks fuently the French, Spanish,
German and English languages and is in all re-
spects great woman.
We overlook at the City of Mexico General
Magruder, Commodore Maury, Governor Allen.
of Louisiana, Judge Perkins, of Louisiana, Gov
ernor Reynolds, of Missouri, and Gov Murrah
| and Gov. CLARK, Of Texas, with many other and
lesser Confederate lights. On the 5th Of Sep
TENDER the Emperor published decree opening
all of Mexico to immigration aud colonization,
and Commodore Maury and myself and other
Confederates, were requested to prepare regula-
tions to accompany the decree, which We did,
| and which were approved by the Emperor on
the 9th The decree and regulations offer very
liberal inducements to immigration amongst
which are donation of public lands at the rate
of six hundred and forty acres to each head of
family, and three hundred and twenty to each
single man, free passage to the country to such
as are not able to pay their own expenses, free
dom from taxation for one year, aud from mill
tary duty for five years, religious toeration etc.
Commodore Maury has been appointed I'M
perial Commissioner Of Colonization which
makes his authority in the matter of colonial
| tion second only to that of the Emperor. Gen.
Price, Judge Perkins and myself were appoiuted
agents Of colonization, and requested to examine
the lands lying upon and near the line of rail
road from the city of Mexico to Vera Cruz, for
the purpose of determining whether they are
suited to American colonization. We are en-
gagged at this time in the discharge of that duty.
] have selected $40 acres about ten miles from,
here, where propose to surround myself with
coffee plantation, in the midst of which
will nestle down, constantly inhaling the odors
of the rich tropical fruits aud gaudy coored ard
fragrant tropical flowers 10 an atmosphere Of
perpetual spring; yet turning the eye to the
northwest you constantly behold the snow capped
peaks of Orizaba aud Pocatapelt, from which
can draw my ice at all seasons of the year.
There about thirty Confederates now here,
all of whom will locate their lands and COM
mence the work of settlement within a week or
ten days.
The place where We begin the first colony was
highly improved and in high state of cu!tiva-
ton a hundred wears ago. The extensive ruins
of what we're once magnificent structures show
that these haciendeas were highly productive
and the homes of wealth, luxury and refinement;
but about fifty years since slavery Was abolished
in the State of Vera Cruz, AMI the proprietors
of these magnificent estates left the country with
the large fortunes they had amassed. The
Church seized the lands and allowed them to lie
idle and 90 to ruin. The buildings upon each
of these places must have cost from Sl0O, 900 to
100000. The Church held the property until
about FIVE years since, when it was taken by the
Government, aud the Government now sells it
to us for colonization at one dollar per acre in
quantities of six hundred and forty acres to each
head of family and three hundred and twenty
to each single credit of one, two, three,
four aud five years. This is the beginning of the
FIRST Confederate colony in Mexico Amongst
those who propose to settle Immediately are
General Price and General Shelby from Mis-
souri,, Judge Perkins of Louisiana, and myself.
The resources of this country such as to TO-
sure fortune to the energy and industry that
have usually characterized our people The
wonder is that they have been permitted to re-
main undeveloped SO long, but this is the most
INDECENT lazy and worthless population On earth.
The Rev W H Milburu, known as the "blnd
preacher" has abandoned the Methodist for the