cipal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, and leave with him a copy of this letter. G. M. Dallas, Esq. I am, &c. LEW. CASS. LAW of the Congress of New Granada, authorizing the Executive Power to allow the Exploration of the 1sthmuses of Panama and Darien, and to conclude a Contract for the Excavation of a navigable Canal between the two Oceans.Bogotá, May 6, 1859. (Translation.) THE Congress of the Granadian Confederation decrees: ART. I. The Executive Power is authorized to allow and to facilitate, as far as it rests with him to do so, the exploration of the Isthmuses of Paraná and Darien by those who wish to explore them for the purpose of finding and determining the most suitable line for the excavation of a navigable canal between the two oceans. II. He is also authorized, after hearing the proposals of the Companies and individuals who are willing to undertake the excavation of the canal, to contract for its execution with the Company that may offer the best securities for completing it, and the greatest advantages for the Confederation, and for the commerce of nations in general. III. If the concessions to be stipulated in the contract should not exceed those sanctioned by the law of 1st June, 1852,* which gives exclusive privilege for opening a canal between the gulf of San Miguel and the bay of Caledonia, the contract which is entered into will not need the subsequent approval of Congress; but if the concessions should exceed those sanctioned, or if the advantages stipulated in favour of the Confederation, should be inferior to those reserved to the Republic by the said law, the contract must be submitted for the approval of Congress. Given at Bogotá, 6th May, 1859. MANUEL JOSE ANAYA, President of the Senate. Let this be executed. Bogotá, May 6, 1859. MARIANO OSPINA, President of the Confederation. M. A. SANCLEMENTE, Secretary for Home Affairs and War. * Page 1238. DECREE of the Governor of Paraguay, declaring that all who are born in the Territory of the Republic are Paraguayan Citizens.-Assumption, July 10, 1856. (Translation.) THE Supreme Government of the Republic considering: 1. That all the nations of the civilized world consider and treat all who are born in their territory as their subjects and citizens. 2. That this principle obviates the inconveniences attendant upon denaturalization and the consequent exoneration from the duties and charges to which every citizen is liable. 3. That to admit and acknowledge that those who are born in the Republic of foreign parents, are to follow the nationality of their parents, would be to grant a privilege very prejudicial to the Republic, and which could not be conceded to one foreign Power, without the others claiming a like privilege for their subjects, which must either be granted or refused; the result being, that in the first case, so many other nationalities or foreign States would in a few years be established in the Republic, beyond the authority and jurisdiction of the Government of the Republic; and in the second case to refuse it to other nations after having granted it to one, would be to violate the principle which the Government has established by its Decree of 20th May, 1845,* that is, to maintain perfect equality with all the nations with which it should have to treat, without granting favours to one which should not be common to all under like circumstances. 4, and lastly. That if the children born in Paraguay of foreigners of any nation whatsoever should be allowed to follow the nationality of their parents, the consequence would be that some citizens would enjoy favours and privileges not enjoyed by their fellowcountrymen, and would be exempted and freed from the charges and duties to which the rest were liable. The President of the Republic has therefore determined, and decrees: ART. I. Every one who is born in the territory of the Republic is a Paraguayan citizen, and, as such, equal to every other citizen in rights and duties. II. The children of Diplomatic Agents or Consuls, who may be born in the Paraguayan territory, are excepted from the provision of the preceding Article. III. In conformity with the provision in Article I, the children of foreigners married in the country, cannot be inscribed in the register of any foreign Consul. IV. The present Decree shall be submitted to the deliberation of the honourable the National Congress. * Page 1146. V. For the information of all, let it be published in the newspaper "Semanario." Assumption, July 10, 1856. JOSE JALCON. CARLOS ANTONIO LOPEZ ADDRESS of the Congress of Yucatan, on promulgating the Constitution of 1841.-Merida, March 31, 1841. (Translation.) CITIZENS, THE time so much wished for by the worthy sons of Yucatan has at length arrived: the ardent wishes of the real lovers of republican liberty are fulfilled. This day the Yucatecan people enter upon the full and most perfect enjoyment of their imprescriptible rights. The long sufferings and the costly sacrifices cheerfully offered at the altars of our beloved and cherished country have not, then, been in vain. They have entitled the Yucatecans to the possession of institutions eminently liberal and protective of individual rights. Yes, here, in this little fundamental charter, which your representatives this day put into your hands, in return for the deep confidence which you have reposed in them, is contained all that you can desire for our happiness and common prosperity. It is a monument consecrated to the protection and safeguard of the rights both of the man and the citizen, which an arbitrary and despotic Power only would attempt to usurp from us, turning a deaf ear to the sacred voice of reason and of philosophy. Let us show, then, to the whole world that the Yucatecan people have accomplished their desire of reconquering their most precious rights, and of making them respected, and have treated with scorn the iniquitous threats of that disorganized metropolis. The free and sovereign State of Yucatan will not be again, as it has been hitherto, the sport and derision of a Government called, no doubt ironically, a popular Republican one. 600,000 free citizens, worthy sons of the State, will be its support and an inexpugnable bulwark against the tyranny of that Government. If, then, it wishes to establish fresh relations of union and concord, founded on just and equitable conditions, let it lay aside for ever that blind spirit of ambitious domination with which it has been for some time inebriated; let it respect the eternal and sacred principles proclaimed in this code of our public liberties; let it acknowledge, in fine, the actual political existence of the State and the other rights inherent in its natural sovereignty and independence; then-yes, and only then-will we give the lasting embrace of a legitimate and no spurious fraternity, consolidating a frank and liberal Government worthy of the enlightened age in which we live and establishing a durable and constant tranquillity which may put a happy end to the prolonged misfortunes and continual sufferings which we have undergone for more than 30 years. May Heaven, therefore, grant us the fulfilment of such flattering hopes. But, citizens, to have a Republican Constitution is not enough. We must aggrandize and adorn it with our virtues, and religiously venerate the righteous precepts which it imposes. Yes, Yucatecans, be assured that without a faithful and strict observance of the laws, without that respect which ought to be paid to the authorities, and without a fund of morality and propriety, the best institutions will be ineffectual and useless, your labours and your sacrifices will have been in vain, your name will be uttered with execration and contempt, and your ancient oppressors, scoffing at your disorders and your inconstancy, and taking advantage of your meanness and your infamous want of spirit, will again impose their rigorous chains, perhaps even still heavier than those which you have sueceeded in bursting with the heroism of an unequalled patriotism. In vain, yes, in vain would your representatives then have the unspeakable satisfaction of placing in your hands this day the fundamental compact of 1841, which might doubtless advance the everpeaceful Yucatecan people in the career of social happiness. But no, citizens, it will not be so. The supreme powers of the State confiding in the active and efficient co-operation of your refined patriotism, expect to finish and perfect the magnificent work which you began, when, with gallantry and enthusiasm, you uttered the glorious cry of federation, unfurling to the breeze with noble pride the standard of the free. Your distinguished virtues will cause the Yucatecan name to be everywhere pronounced with admiration and envy. Exert yourselves, then, in preserving the majestic dignity of a free people. Fidelity to the Constitution, respect for the authorities, and perseverance in the fulfilment of the laws, these are the virtues peculiar to real republican liberty. These will justly entitle the Yucatecans to the august designation of an enlightened and liberal people. This is the time, then, to inaugurate the glories of our mother country. Doubt it not, citizens, Yucatan will be happy. So it is written in the eternal volume of the destinies of nations. Let us begin, then, to enjoy the inestimable benefits which are always produced by a frank and paternal Government such as this new charter assures to us. Finally, let it be the religious observance of the code of 1841, that may everywhere show the happiness, civilization and justice of the free and virtuous Yucatecans. In the Palace of the Congress at Merida, in Yucatan, 31st March, 1841. ANDRES IBARRA DE LEON, President. POLITICAL CONSTITUTION of the State of Yucatan.Merida, March 31, 1841. (Translation.) SANTIAGO MENDEZ, Governor of the free and sovereign State of Yucatan, to all the inhabitants thereof, know ye that the Congress of the aforesaid State has decreed and sanctioned the following political constitution: We the people of Yucatan, grateful to Divine benevolence for having allowed us to organise such a Government as our particular wants require, exercising the right which the Sovereign Law-giver of the Universe has granted to all human communities, have decreed the following CONSTITUTION. Of the Yucatecans. ART. I. The Yucatecans are: 1. Those born and domiciled in the territory of the State. 2. Those born in a foreign country of a Yucatecan father by birth or naturalization, if, when they have a right to decide for themselves, they be already settled in the State, or give notice that they intend to be so, and carry out their intention within a year after having given the notice. 3. Foreigners who obtain letters of naturalization in accordance with the laws. Of the Citizens. II. The citizens in exercise of their rights are: 1. Those Yucatecans domiciled in any town of the State who are full 21 years of age, or 18 if they be married. 2. The natives or naturalized persons of the rest of the Republic who acquire domicile in the State. 3. Foreigners who obtain special letters of citizenship in accordance with the laws. III. The exercise of these rights is lost: 1. By becoming naturalized in a foreign country. 2. By settling out of the State without the licence of the Government. 3. By accepting employment, decoration or pension from a foreign Government without the licence of the Executive of the State. 4. By sentence imposing corporal or degrading punishment, unless rehabilitation be obtained. 5. By fraudulent bankruptcy, declared to be so. |