lated, forming elements for an explosion. Harmony between the president and congress appeared impossible; but as the former had taken no irretrievable action, the much-desired accord was happily brought about in a great measure by the 'ley de desamortizacion civil y eclesiástica,' enacted by the executive on the 25th of June, 1856, and which having been framed by Miguel Lerdo de Tejada, the secretary of the treasury,[1] came to be known as the ley Lerdo.[2]
This law, after a warm discussion, during which the radicals opposed it as insufficient and favorable to the clergy, was confirmed on the 28th by a large majority,[3] and became a bond of union between the executive and the representatives of the people. The president and his ministers received popular ovations. Beneficial results were expected from the law; and many believed that the enlightened portion of the clergy would look upon it as a beneficent measure, and be grateful to the government for having adopted it. This hope, however, was groundless. The partisans of the old blunder transmitted from colonial times, by which three fourths of the landed property in the
- ↑ 'Persona de mucho talento, y en materias de hacienda el hombre mas capaz que ha tenido Méjico; pero anticatólico.' Arrangoiz, Méj., ii. 348.
- ↑ It was accompanied with a circular of the minister, explaining in greater detail than appeared in the preamble of the law the reasons prompting its promulgation. The lack of free conveyance of a large portion of the landed property was declared to be one of the greatest obstacles to the prosperity of the country. The law authorized tenants to become owners of the estates they held in lease from civil or ecclesiastical corporations; the same authorization was given to those holding mortmain property in emphyteusis, capitalizing at six per centum a year the rent they were paying to arrive at the value of the property, which was secured at six per centum in favor of the corporation formerly owning it, and made redeemable at the purchaser's convenience. From the effects of this law were exempted the buildings immediately applied to the service of a corporation. The law contained other clauses which it is unnecessary to detail here; let it suffice that under it the estates thus conveyed were not to revert to the corporations at any future time, and the latter were furthermore inhibited from owning or administering upon landed property. The government was to receive a five per centum excise on each conveyance of property, payable part in specie and part in bonds of the internal debt. Archivo Mex., Col. Ley., ii. 187-93, 254-65; Dublan and Lozano, Leg. Mex., viii. 197-201; Méx., Col. Leyes, 1861, i. introd. xviii.; Diario de Arisos, Jan. 29, 1858; Buenrostro, Hist. Seg. Cong. Const., i. 3; Rivera, Hist. Jalapa, iv. 665.
- ↑ Ayes 78, against 15 nays. The debates may be seen in Zarco, Hist. Cong. Constituy., i. 597-615; Archivo Mex., Col. Ley., ii. 204.
