Page:Vol 5 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/593

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COLONIZATION.

573

This lack of success suggested the planting of military colonies by the government, which were to serve also as bulwarks for other settlements.^[1] Recruits were received for a service of six years, after which they obtained a tract of land, together with certain privileges, as exemption from taxes and aid to till the soil and erect a home. The chronic lack of funds interfered as usual to prevent enthusiasm for the plan; and although a thousand recruits were sent to the front in 1849, with the full staff of inspectors, paymasters, and so forth, they formed rather flying or roaming columns than fixed settlers.^[2] In the fol-

Coloniz., Doc. que pub. la Direccion., 1848, 1-46; Pap. Var., cxiv. pt 5. Decree against illegal settlements. Dublan and Lozano, Leg. Mex., v. 572-3. The clergy naturally raised the objection of intolerance, which was maintained. Coloniz., Inconvenientes, 1-24; Pap. Var., xi. pt 5, cxiv. pt 4; Correo Nac., Aug. 18, 29, 1848.

↑ By decree of July 19, 1848, such colonies were ordered to be formed, at a cost not exceeding that of the presidio companies, created by law of March 23, 1826, and with all privileges that may be granted to colonists in general. To this end the northern frontier was divided into three sections, the Oriente, embracing Tamaulipas and Coahuila; the Chihuahua, for the state of this name; and the Occidente, including Sonora and Lower California. For gifts to friendly Indians $10,000 a year were assigned. Each section was placed under a colonel, as inspector, who must visit every colony at least once in two months. A lieut-col took charge of two to three colonies, as sub-inspector and jefe político subalterno, and a captain commanded at each settlement. The enlistment was voluntary, with a bounty of $10 for six years' service. At the end of this term the soldier might retire and settle on the land granted him, the grant being doubled for twelve years' service; no pension could be obtained. The land so given varied from half a fanega de sembradura to three fanegas. On planting a colony on tracts purchased from private owners or otherwise obtained, the recruits were to receive six months' pay in advance, and the necessary tools, beasts, and material for houses. Married settlers were exempted from every tax, even parochial. A justice of the peace in each colony had cognizance in first instance. Méx., Legisl. Mej., 1848, 261-9; Dublan and Lozano, Leg. Mex., v. 422-6, 747-50. Military colonies were proposed as early as 1828.
↑ Méx., Mem. Guer., 1850, 14-18, docs 3, 5. Of the recruits the Oriente, Chihuahua, and Occidente sections had 434, 296, and 340, respectively. The original plan called for 2,426 troops, whereof 1,751 cavalry, with 3,502 horses and 49 cannon, the pay list being estimated at $717,572, of which the officers took $211,000. Of the 18 colonies there were to be 3 in Tamaulipas, 4 in Coahuila, 5 in Chihuahua, 5 in Sonora, and 1 in Lower California. A number of suggestions appeared for promoting their formation and efficiency. Colonias Milit., 1848, 1-6; Id., Proyecto, 1-4, and docs; Plan para Defensa, 9, etc.; Pap. Var., lxxxix. pts 9-11; and a law was issued April 24, 1849, appointing a council of two members of congress, from the states suffering under Indian raids, to frane a plan for defence. Dublan and Lozano, Leg. Mex., v. 551-2; Escudero, Not. Son., 80-1; Universal, Aug. 12, Sept. 23, Oct. 6, 1849. Rules for the colonies, in Méx., Legisl. Mej., 1849, 154-6, 184-5; 1850, 136; 1851, 342; 1853, 347-53. Comments in Sartorius, Import. Mex., 26, 32, etc.

[1] By decree of July 19, 1848, such colonies were ordered to be formed, at a cost not exceeding that of the presidio companies, created by law of March 23, 1826, and with all privileges that may be granted to colonists in general. To this end the northern frontier was divided into three sections, the Oriente, embracing Tamaulipas and Coahuila; the Chihuahua, for the state of this name; and the Occidente, including Sonora and Lower California. For gifts to friendly Indians $10,000 a year were assigned. Each section was placed under a colonel, as inspector, who must visit every colony at least once in two months. A lieut-col took charge of two to three colonies, as sub-inspector and jefe político subalterno, and a captain commanded at each settlement. The enlistment was voluntary, with a bounty of $10 for six years' service. At the end of this term the soldier might retire and settle on the land granted him, the grant being doubled for twelve years' service; no pension could be obtained. The land so given varied from half a fanega de sembradura to three fanegas. On planting a colony on tracts purchased from private owners or otherwise obtained, the recruits were to receive six months' pay in advance, and the necessary tools, beasts, and material for houses. Married settlers were exempted from every tax, even parochial. A justice of the peace in each colony had cognizance in first instance. Méx., Legisl. Mej., 1848, 261-9; Dublan and Lozano, Leg. Mex., v. 422-6, 747-50. Military colonies were proposed as early as 1828.

[2] Méx., Mem. Guer., 1850, 14-18, docs 3, 5. Of the recruits the Oriente, Chihuahua, and Occidente sections had 434, 296, and 340, respectively. The original plan called for 2,426 troops, whereof 1,751 cavalry, with 3,502 horses and 49 cannon, the pay list being estimated at $717,572, of which the officers took $211,000. Of the 18 colonies there were to be 3 in Tamaulipas, 4 in Coahuila, 5 in Chihuahua, 5 in Sonora, and 1 in Lower California. A number of suggestions appeared for promoting their formation and efficiency. Colonias Milit., 1848, 1-6; Id., Proyecto, 1-4, and docs; Plan para Defensa, 9, etc.; Pap. Var., lxxxix. pts 9-11; and a law was issued April 24, 1849, appointing a council of two members of congress, from the states suffering under Indian raids, to frane a plan for defence. Dublan and Lozano, Leg. Mex., v. 551-2; Escudero, Not. Son., 80-1; Universal, Aug. 12, Sept. 23, Oct. 6, 1849. Rules for the colonies, in Méx., Legisl. Mej., 1849, 154-6, 184-5; 1850, 136; 1851, 342; 1853, 347-53. Comments in Sartorius, Import. Mex., 26, 32, etc.

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