establish harmony among the States, to extend that harmony to the centre of the Union, and to restore a cordial good-understanding among the Citizens of the Republic. Let all understand, that the true and unequivocal love of one's Country is shewn and proved by the most tenacious and strict adhesion to the Federal system, the only anchor which can save the State in the midst of tempests. Let all understand, that a Federal fraternity is that which, by making all the States one Family, unites them with the Paternal and Supreme Government.

Let all understand, that zeal and attachment to the Government is a duty, at all times, and under all circumstances; and that, if they allow these feelings to become lukewarm, or diminish, on any specious pretext, the Federation is lost, and our Independence endangered.

The Congress, therefore, in discharge of the second of its peculiar and important attributes, will put an end to the disturbances, and thereby obey the will of the Nation. It will labour to restore the public peace, the happiness of domestic society, and the sweet and desirable reconciliation of all Mexicans.

By the Finance Report, the Chambers will be fully informed with regard to the Receipts and Disbursements of the last Financial Year, which ended on the 30th of June 1828, of the Deficit in the Revenues of the Federation, and of the causes thereof.

Such unfavourable results have been a necessary consequence of the late political agitations, by which the Receipts of the Public Treasury have been directly affected, and whose prosperity or decline is regu lated by the prosperity or decline of Commerce, Agriculture, and Mining.

These channels of the public wealth have suffered considerable injury, and the reestablishment of public confidence, which will neces sarily ensure the future improvement of these branches of industry, will depend upon the wisdom of the Chambers.

The present state of the Treasury demands, in preference to any other subject, the attention of the Congress; and it will be highly expedient to consider of the magnitude of the evils to which the Republic will be exposed, if the inability of the Treasury to meet its engagements, should continue.

The Government exhibited in detail to the Chambers of the preceding Legislature, the real state of the Federal Treasury, leaving nothing unexplained; and it is my duty to recommend to those of the present year, that they be pleased to keep in view the contents of the representations which have been made; more especially of those of the 22nd of March, 9th of May, and 25th of November last, relative to the different obstacles, which experience has shewn to exist, to the operation of the new Tariff of Maritime Customs; and of those of the 25th of August, 20th of September, and 30th and 31st of October, of last year, in which the demands upon the Treasury, and the Receipts upon which it can rely, are clearly pointed out, and in which

the deficiency of many Items, and the resources which might be made to supply it, are explained.

In consequence of a recommendation to that effect from the Executive Government, the Legislature of the years 1827 and 1828 of the General Congress was engaged in the formation of a Law, to organize the District Courts of Justice, and Circuit Tribunals, in order to remedy the defects which experience had discovered in that of the 20th of May, 1826; and, although its labours advanced so far as to receive the approbation of the Chambers, the many articles which the new Law ought to comprehend, and the reforms which it will be desirable to introduce, have necessarily left this question undecided. By means, however, of the additional and more circumstantial data which the Department of that branch has been able to collect, it may now be better adapted to the exigencies of the Administration of Justice in Federal matters.

The regulation of the Administration of Justice in the District and Territories, will be likewise provided for in the Law which is to organize their Courts and Tribunals, and which has occupied the attention of the Chambers, during the ordinary Session of the above mentioned years. This regulation being, as it is, so necessary and important, could not be concluded in the Extraordinary Session of 1827, nor could it even be discussed in the following Session of Congress, because objects of still greater moment engaged the attention of the Supreme Government. It is to be hoped that more tranquil times will afford the new Legislature an opportunity of demonstrating their zeal upon this most interesting subject, in order that the constitutional duty may be exercised, of administering speedy and impartial justice, throughout the District and Territories.

Up to the present time, by supplying, in the best possible manner, the want of regulatory Laws, we have been enabled, with tolerable success, to preserve order, and to protect the properties and lives of the Citizens. This is, in a great degree, owing to the Law of the 3rd of March last, relative to the mode of taking cognizance, and judging, of cases of vagrancy, throughout the District and Territories of the Federation, which Law has been most punctually fulfilled, so far as regards the Government.

The Government was desirous of establishing its relations with Rome as speedily as possible, in order that our ecclesiastical affairs might be freed from the state of uncertainty, in which they are placed, owing to the want of a good understanding with the Apostolic See.

With this desire, and in consequence of the health of our Minister Plenipotentiary at that Court, the Government resolved to nominate another Envoy, but this appointment has not taken place, because, as it will be necessary to furnish him with pecuniary resources, this important step is necessarily deferred until the Treasury of the Federation

shall have discharged the numerous and immediate demands which press upon it.

Meanwhile our ecclesiastical affairs would be much improved by a Law which should constitutionally regulate the exercise of Church Preferment throughout the Federation; and the Government cannot omit to recommend this important subject to the zeal and wisdom of the Chambers.

The Ecclesiastical Dignitaries and the regular Prelates, in the midst of the commotions which took place in the Capital, have given the most convincing proofs, that, in the Ministers of the Altar, the National Independence and our adopted Institutions possess a firm and lasting support.

The Ratifications of the Treaty of Boundaries with The United States of the North, approved of by the General Congress, and ratified by the Executive Government on the 28th of April of the preceding year, could not be exchanged at Washington, because, on its arrival there, the period stipulated for that purpose had expired.

The Treaty of Amity, Commerce, and Navigation with those States has not as yet been submitted to the Government, who deem its conclusion, however, of the highest importance, both on account of the time which has already been lost, and the necessity which exists for at once determining the bases of our relations with them.

M. Obregon, who discharged the duties of Minister Plenipotentiary to those States, died on the 1st of September last. This lamentable event has not in any way prevented the exercise of the functious of the Mexican Legation at Washington.

The Secretary of that Mission had, a few days before, been presented and admitted, in due form, as our Chargé d'Affaires.

Our Relations with the Republic of Colombia continue upon the most happy footing of Alliance and Friendship. At the commencement of this year, its Minister Plenipotentiary, after a residence of 5 years at this Capital, retired. His recall was solicited by him from his Government, and he has not left any Person in charge of the po litical affairs of his Country. Before his departure, he presented 3 Vice-Consuls for the Ports of Vera Cruz, Acapulco, and San Blas; the first of them has since obtained from his Government a Commission as Consul, which has been duly recognized.

The Consul-General of the Republic of Chili has nominated a Vice-Consul for the Port of Acapulco; this appointment has been recognized. Our relations with this Republic are becoming daily more intimate; and Mexico owes a debt of gratitude to Chili for the generous services which it has rendered to it.

Our subsisting relations with the other States of the Continent are not so active as the identity of our mutual interests, and the wishes of the Executive, demand. In order to give to them force and consistency,

it will be necessary to nominate Mexican Agents to reside near those Governments. The Executive Government delays the nomination of them, only until the establishment of Legations be regulated by the General Congress.

The rejection, by the Chambers of the Union, of the Treaties concluded by our Plenipotentiaries at the General American Assembly, held at the Isthmus of Panamá, and the relative situation of the respective States, has occasioned the return of the Ministers from Colombia and Central America to their respective Countries, for which purpose they demanded their Passports. In consequence of this, the Assembly can no longer be held at the Town of Tacubaya. Before their separation, the above-mentioned Ministers declared the readiness of their Governments to send Ministers, so soon as they may be required, for continuing the Sittings, at the time and place which may be fixed upon by the Republics.

Our foreign relations having been established, in obedience to the Law, authorizing the Executive Government to promote and solicit the recognition of our National Independence, we continue to cultivate the friendship which happily subsists with Great Britain. Mexico, in consequence, retains her Chargé d'Affaires at that Government, and His Britannic Majesty also maintains, at the Capital of the United Mexican States, an Agent of the same rank; nothing having occurred to interrupt or alter their relations.

The Ratification of the Treaty concluded with His Majesty the King of The Netherlands, which the Executive Government expects to receive by the next Packet, when it will give to it in due form the requisite publicity, has confirmed, in the most positive manner, our relations with that Kingdom; one of the results of the Negotiations, being the arrangement, that that Government should receive the Person to be appointed, in the character of Chargé d'Affaires, and that the same rank should be given to the Person at Mexico, who has been discharging the office of Consul-General, with the retention of his Consular Functions. This Individual has been admitted to a public audience and is in the free enjoyment of his several attributes, and the Government hope that His Majesty the King of The Netherlands will also receive, as Consul-General, our Chargé d'Affaires in that Country; who has been appointed to that office, and the necessary constitutional steps previously taken for that purpose.

The Negotiatious entered into with Denmark and Hanover will be followed by a similar arrangement. The Treaties concluded with those Nations have received the approbation of the General Congress, and have been transmitted for their respective Ratifications.

With respect to France, the Republic remains on the same footing, so far as regards her Diplomatic and Commercial relations. The Government is informed of the appointment of a Cominissioner of His Most

Christian Majesty, the object of whose Mission will be made known on his arrival in this Capital.

Our relations with the Hanse-Towns will become more intimate, if the Treaty concluded between the two Countries, the decision on which is now pending in the Senate, be approved by the General Congress. The Executive Government has recommended that this question be taken into consideration in preference to other subjects.

The Helvetic Confederation has given a proof of its friendship and good-understanding with Mexico, by the nomination of a ConsulGeneral, to reside in the Capital, who is now in the enjoyment of his functions, the proper Exequatur having been granted to him.

The public tranquillity, which was disturbed during the last Year by the measures taken for the expulsion of the Spaniards, and by the plan called that of Montaño, has been perfectly re-established, by the events of Tulancingo, and the fulfilment of the Law of the 20th December.

The Government have carried into effect the Law of the General Congress of the 15th of April last, which decreed the banishment of the Persons implicated in the plan of Montaño, and has, in conse quence, sent them to those places which it thought expedient, keeping in view the circumstances of the case, and the rank of the Individuals concerned. The period of the departure of some of them was deferred, in consequence of its being impossible at the time to remove them; they were, however, removed as soon as it was practicable, and a very small number of the Persons comprehended in the Law, who have been prevented by physical incapacity from undertaking their journey, are still in the Republic.

The Report, with the opinion of the Government, relating to the non-execution in Durango of the Decree, which provided for the incorporation of that Legislature with the Senate, composed of Individuals qualified by the Legislature itself, in conformity with the Articles of its organic Laws, has been transmitted to the General Congress, and the decision of the Chambers thereupon is still under consideration.

The consent of the Congress to the Project of Law, providing that Natives of the Islands of Cuba and Porto Rico be not included in the Law of Expulsion of the 20th December, is also pending.

The new Law, for regulating the nomination of Juries, has been carried into effect, and a Law for the regulation of the liberty of the Press is much desired; the necessity for the latter is notorious, because that passed by the Cortes of Spain in 1820 is not applicable to Mexico, and the new Law contains only one Chapter for the regulation of the Press.

The Law, regulating the naturalization of Foreigners in the Republic, has been published, and is now in force.