MISCELLANEOUS.
MEXICAN COLONIZATION; AND SUGAR, COTTON, AND RICE CULTIVATION, BY FREE LABOR.
To American Philanthropists, and Men of Capital, Industry, and Enterprize, generally.
Having recently explored the eastern parts of the Republic of Mexico, and obtained an extensive grant of land, in the State of Tamaulipas, for the purpose of establishing a Colony, I am desirous to invite the public attention to it, particularly that of enterprizing planters, agriculturalists, manufacturers, mechanics, and laborers.
The State of Tamaulipas borders on the Gulph of Mexico, and adjoins the south-western boundary of Texas. The great River, 'Rio Bravo del Norte,' runs through the north-eastern part of this state, watering one of the most beautiful, fertile, and healthy regions, on the continent of America. Its climate is the most pleasant, through the year, that can well be imagined. Situate between the degrees of 23 deg. and 28 deg. north latitude, the heat of summer is agreeably tempered by the sea breezes, and the rigors of winter are entirely unknown. This section of country is adapted to the culture of sugar, rice, corn, indigo, tobacco, and cotton; also the various culinary vegetables, generally produced in our middle and southern states. Fifty or sixty miles in the interior, wheat, rye, oats, barley, &c. may also be raised to advantage. The soil is, invariably, a dark rich loam. The face of the country is, in general, level near the sea coast, and more and more rolling as we proceed from it. Limestone abounds in the elevations, over the whole country. Many parts are timbered, sufficiently to answer general purposes, and others exhibit dense forests. A large portion, however, is open plain, clear, and ready for the plough. Nearly the whole produces a most luxuriant, perpetual pasturage, for horses, cattle, sheep, &c. &c.
By a treaty, concluded and ratified between the Governor of the State and myself, the grant of land, above mentioned, is to be secured to me, in fee simple, on condition of my introducing a certain number of settlers, within a stated period. The contract stipulates for the introduction of Two Hundred and Fifty; but the terms are such, that, the settlement of one fifth part of that number will secure a large tract (in fee simple, as aforesaid,) fully adequate to their liberal accommodation:—and, on the other hand, when the full complement shall be settled, any number more, who may choose to locate themselves in places adjoining, will be furnished with lands, gratis, on application to the local state authorities. The government is, also, under an obligation to lay out a Town, at its own expense, in such place as I shall direct, and furnish every settler with one lot, gratis. In addition to this, I will give each one, on condition of settlement, a quantity of land sufficient for a good farm, be his occupation what it may. To a few capitalists, however, who will give employment to such of the settlers as may not be able to enter immediately into business on their own account, I will furnish as much land as they can occupy to any degree of advantage, in proportion to the amount of capital they will invest, and the number of persons they will thus employ. Should they, at any time, experience difficulty, in procuring laborers among the colonists, they can obtain them from the Mexican settlements, at fair wages.
The colony will be located in a beautiful, healthy part of the country, contiguous to other settlements; and, of course, where no fears will be entertained, either of Indian depredations, or difficulty in obtaining provisions in its commencement. Good markets will, also, be near at hand, for all kinds of produce, when the colonists may have it to spare; and excellent roads may be made, with little or no expense of manual labor, for the transportation to those markets, or to places where there is every facility for steam boat navigation thither.
The government of the country is, strictly, republican.—It is modelled very much after the plan of our own. The people are, emphatically, republican in sentiment:—and although they have but recently thrown off the shackles of a crushing despotism, they are rapidly advancing in knowledge, liberality, and retinement. By the laws of the State of Tamaulipas, the freedom of religious opinion is guarantied to all strangers, who may settle therein. And one article of my treaty with the government, is couched in these words:—
'ARTICLE 8TH.—The colonists shall not be molested for their opinions, either political or religious; and the government obliges itself to respect and protect them, in the enjoyment of those opinions, provided they do not disturb the public order.'
Colonists are exempt from the payment of taxes, either to the State, or General Government, for the term of five years:—and they may take in with them, for their own use, articles for provisions, clothing, building materials, household furniture, implements of industry, and all kinds of machinery, for milling, manufacturing, &c. &c. free of duty.
My principal object, in procuring the grant of land, and attempting the establishment of a colony, as aforesaid, has been, from the first, to afford an opportunity for the advocates of Universal Emancipation to test the advantage of FREE LABOR, on this continent, in the culture of sugar, rice, cotton, &c. It is important that such experiments be made as near as possible to our slaveholding states, where those articles are produced; (both the laws, and the prejudices of the white inhabitants, forbid its being done, effectually, therein;) and the section of country that I have chosen, is the most suitable, for this purpose, of any that I have yet become acquainted with. Among several very respectable persons, who have already signified their willingness to embark in this very important and philanthropic enterprize, is a gentleman formerly of New-England, but now resident in the Mexican Republic. He is a man of excellent talents, very general intelligence, and strict integrity. He has been, himself, a sugar-planter, for many years, first in the State of Mississippi, and afterwards in Mexico. In the former place be employed slaves—in the latter free laborers:—and he states that, from his personal knowledge, the labor of free men, in the cultivation of the cane, is the most profitable. He further assures me, that there can be no rational doubt of the perfect success of the experiments, which I propose, if the business is properly conducted. This gentleman appears to take a deep interest in the cause of the abolition of slavery; and will join one or more of its friends, should it be desirable on their part, in cultivating and manufacturing sugar, in my colony, upon an extensive scale: The cotton, grown in this region, is of the finest quality; and the land is exceedingly well adapted to its cultivation. Rice, also, may be produced with the greatest ease, by any one acquainted with the proper mode of culture. There are, annually, two rainy seasons, and two dry. Two crops of corn, &c. are produced, within the year, on the same ground, if planted at the proper times. When the land can be irrigated, it will produce a regular succession of crops, without reference to seasons, as fast as they can be grown and harvested. The great advantages, therefore, to be derived from the amenity of the climate, &c. in amassing wealth, by the cultivation of the soil, (to say nothing of the breeding of stock, which requires no care, neither winter nor summer, further than to keep it domesticated,) must be obvious to every man of reason and reflection. And to this I may add, that the mildness and salubrity of the climate, in conjunction with the purity of the atmosphere, in the particular region alluded to, has restored the boon of health to many a northern invalid, who has placed himself within the pale of its renovating influence.
In the admission of settlers, no distinction will be made on account of national ancestry, or color. Morality, industry, and general respectability, are the only requisites. As the great mass of the Mexican people are, themselves, a mixture of the native Indian, European, and African races, (an immense majority as dark colored as our mulattoes,) they freely admit all 'strangers' to the rights of citizenship, and the full enjoyment of perfectly ' equal' privileges, immunities, &c. The establishment of such a colony, as I propose, will, therefore, in addition to the accomplishment of the primary object, above mentioned, probably pave the way for the emigration of many of our colored people, in the United States, who are unhappy in their present situation, and desirous to exchange it, for one where they may in fact, as well as in name, enjoy the rights of freemen; where the door of improvement is fairly open to them, and where every obstacle to the success of an honest emulation and an honorable ambition is entirely out of their way. The whole country will be open for their reception; and they may fix their residence in whatever part they choose. It will, also, be obvious to every man of intelligence, that the facility of emigration to Mexico, gives it the decided advantage over every other place, where the climate is suitable for those at the South, and to which their attention has yet been invited. Indeed, considerable numbers of them have already settled there, and are doing well. The journey may be wholly performed by land; or they can go part of the way by land, and part by the rivers, or the sea at their option.
The colonists will be subject to the laws of the country, from the moment they enter it;—and no special regulations, for their government, are contemplated, further than what those laws prescribe, or what they shall, themselves, assist in making,—except, that perfect equality, political and social, will be enjoined on all, and the vending of ardent spirits will be totally prohibited.
In concluding this address, I repeat, that the principal motive which has led me to engage in this enterprize, has been to furnish a convenient opportunity to test the value of free labor, in the production of sugar, &c. For more than sixteen years, I have used my humble endeavors to advocate the cause of Universal Emancipation, in general terms. Though I labored a long time, almost single-handed, a host of the talented and philanthropic of the land have, at length, stepped forth, and are now 'pleading,' manfully, in behalf of the suffering slave. Our opponents have so far abandoned the field of argument, as to admit the correctness of our reasoning, 'upon abstract principles.' But they stoutly deny that we have the ability to carry our maxims into practical operation. After a laborious, painful, and tedious exercise, in exploring a vast extent of country, and in negotiating with the constituted authorities thereof, I have succeeded in making the necessary preliminary arrangements, for a resort to the 'practical,' final, and hitherto incontrovertible argument, against the perpetuation of slavery. This kind of 'argument' has overthrown that horrible system in the British dominions, and will, eventually, do it here, if promptly applied. I, therefore, appeal to philanthropists, generally,—both men of wealth, and others who are enterprizing and industrious,—to come forward, and assist in proving the truth of the doctrines we have long maintained. Though other means to carry on operations are wanting, I have, now, land enough, at their service,—and I hope this appeal will not be made in vain.
It is my intention to return to Mexico again, as soon as my business can be arranged for the purpose, and forthwith commence the establishment of my colony. I wish to engage from fifty to an hundred settlers, immediately, to accompany me thither, or to join me at Metamoras, a seaport town, on the Rio Bravo del Norte. A lively commercial business is carried on between that port and those of New-York and New-Orleans. Vessels are constantly going to and fro, and opportunities to obtain passage, by sea, are frequent. Should emigrants prefer going by land, they will proceed by way of Red River, in Louisiana, and through the Texas country. The proper seasons for their arrival in Mexico, are, the latter part of August, and the early part of January. To such as I can see, before going out, the particulars, relative to terms of settlement, &c. &c. will be fully communicated, and contracts will be made with them; which contracts will be guarantied by the State, when they enter it. Should any arrive in my absence, they can obtain information relative to my arrangements, by applying to Richard Pearce, Esq. my agent, at Matamoras, aforesaid. In the meantime, (until the first of August, ensuing,) Letters addressed to me at Philadelphia, free of the expense of postage, will be promptly attended to. Agencies will also soon be established in various parts of the United States, in order to facilitate the emigration; and the public will be notified thereof, from time to time, through the medium of newspapers to which I can have access.
BENJAMIN LUNDY.
Nashville, 5 th mo. (May) 11th, 1835.
N.B. Editors of newspapers, and other periodicals, are generally and respectfully requested to give the above an insertion.
B.L.
