Mr. Plumb to Mr.
Seward.
No. 198.]
Legation of the United States,
City of Mexico,
October 2, 1868.
Sir: While not desiring to give too much
importance to such indications, yet under the necessity which exists in
this country for the introduction of foreign capital, experience, and
skill, in industrial enterprises, no thoughtful observer of what is
passing in Mexico can fail to notice, and no well-wisher of this country
can fail to regret, the policy evinced in the first law passed by the
Mexican congress at the present session, in the restriction contained
therein that engineers to be employed upon a certain public work must be
Mexican.
This provision was adopted by a very large vote, although the special
attention of the chamber was called by a deputy to the impolicy of such
restriction.
I beg to inclose herewith translation of the bill referred to and of the
remarks made in congress upon this point.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.
[From the Diario Oficial,
Mexico, September 30,
1868.—Translation.]
Decree opening a wagon road from the city of Durango to that of
Mazatlan.
DEPARTMENT OF FOMENTO, COLONIZATION, INDUSTRY, AND
COMMERCE,—SECTION 3.
The citizen President of the republic has been pleased to address to
me the follow-ing decree:
Benito Juarez, consitutional President of the United Mexican States,
to all the Inhabitants of the same, be it known, that the Congress
of the Union has thought proper to decree the following:
The Congress of the Union decrees:
Article 1. A wagon road shall be opened
from the city of Durango to that of Mazat-lan, passing by the Sierra
Madre.
Art. 2. The expenses of the work shall be
covered by the federal treasury, fifty thousand dollars per annum
being assigned for that purpose, which shall be taken from the sum
specified for roads in the appropriations for the department of
fomento.
Art. 3. The executive will proceed
immediately to appoint a commission of Mexican engineers, who, after
a survey of the line, will form the plan of the work, and upon the
approval of the same by the department of fomento, the work shall be
commenced.
Hall of sessions of the Congress of the Union, Mexico, September 22,
1868.
JUSTINO FERNANDEZ, President.
Joaquim Baranda, Secretary.
Juan Sanchez Azcona, Secretary.
Wherefore, I order that it be printed, published, and circulated,
giving to it the due compliance. Palace of the
general government, Mexico,
September 25, 1868.
BENITO JUAREZ.
The Citizen Blas Balcarcel, Minister of Fomento, &c.
And I communicate the same to you for your knowledge and the
consequent ends.
Independence and liberty!
Mexico, September 25, 1868.
BALCARCEL.
[From the Siglo XIX,
Mexico, September 23,
1868.—Translation.—Extract.]
Congressional report–Session of the 22d of September, 1868.
The Secretary, Mr. Sanchez Azcona. The
debate will continue upon the project of a road between Durango and
Mazatlan.
Article second is under discussion. The article was approved by one
hundred and eight votes againt one.
Mr. Sanchez Azcona, secretary. Article 3.
“The executive will proceed immediately to appoint a commission of
Mexican engineers, who, after a survey of the line, will form the
plan of the work, and upon the approval of the same, the work shall
be commenced.” It is open to discussion.
Mr. Barragan. The article which is under
consideration, contains an exclusivism in the requirement that the
engineers shall be Mexican. I do not believe that we are prejudiced
against foreigners; but if we are, we should not say so. Nor should
we appear as if we desired to exclude them from our society, when,
on the contrary, we desire to attract them.
I beg that the committee will reform the article in the sense that I
have indicated.
Mr. Sanchez Azcona, secretary. Are there
any who desire to speak? Shall the vote be taken?
Yes.
The vote is upon the approval of the article.
It resulted—affirmative, one hundred; negative, fourteen.
