Tax Exceptions In The Territory of Nuevo Mexico - April 27, 1838
[New Mexico]. [Mexico]. Decree Concerning Tax Exceptions in the Territory of Nuevo Mexico, with Extensive manuscript Annotations. Mexico City: Abril 27, 1838.
A rare copy of this 1838 decree by the Mexican national government, which extends the exception for various taxes in the Department of Nuevo México for an additional seven years. The decree also grants a tax exemption to the Department of Chiapas, which at this time was being troubled by agitators for independence as well as by the internecine war amongst the states of the short-lived Federal Republic of Central America. The salient passages read as follows:
Printed area of broadside in full:
MINISTERIO DE HACIENDA - Seccion 1.
El Exmo. Sr. Presidente de la Republica se ha servico dirigirme el Dccreto que sigue.
El Presidente de la Republica Mexicana, a lost habitantes de ella, sabed: Que el Congreso general ha decretado lo siguiente.
"Se proroga por siete anos la excepcion concedida al Departamento de Nuevo Mexico por decreto de 19 de Julio de 1823, y la disfrutara en todo el Territorio nacional.
Igual gracia gozara por el termino de siete anos el Departamento de Chiapas, respecto de lost frutos naturales e industriales que se extraigan de el para consumirse
en el resto de la Repubica. - Tomas L. Pimentel, vice presidente de la Camara de Diputados. Francisco Fagoaga, presidente del Senado. - Jose Maria Bravo, diputado
secretario. - Jose Manuel Moreno, senador secretario."
Por tanto, mando se imprima, publique, circule, y se le de el debido cumplimiento. Palacio del Gobierno nacional en Mexico a 27 de Abril de 1838.
-Anastasio Bustamante. - A D. manuel Eduardo de Gorostiza."
Y lo comunico a V. para su inteligencia y efectos correspondientes.
Dios y libertad. Mexico Abril 27 de 1838.
Gorostiza
An interesting document giving an example of the continued difficulties that the Mexican government suffered in their attempts to populate the northern reaches of their national territory. Indeed the Department of Nuevo México was still so sparsely populated that the federal government had to extend and to continue such generous exemptions to attract colonists more than fifteen years after the country achieved independence and established the republic.
The extensive manuscript annotations also provide fascinating evidence for the manner in which such decrees were distributed and promulgated at the local level. The verso is headed by official language stating that the governor of the Department has authorized the publication of the decree, and at the foot is copied the relevant portions of the 1823 law that the present decree extends. On the verso is a manuscript list of four "Administraciones" to which copies of the broadside are ordered to be sent, as well as an additional list of six places to which manuscript copies of the two most relevant paragraphs will be sent. Finally, the language at the foot of the blank verso spells out exactly which portions of the decree are intended to be forwarded.
A scarce broadside decree pertaining to the northern Mexican borderlands, with much additional manuscript information on its distribution there.
Broadside decree, approximately 12 x 8.25 inches. Previously folded; left edge slightly ragged, where second, blank leaf of original bifolium removed. Copious contemporary manuscript annotations. OCLC locates only one copy, at Berkeley. Minor wear along old fold; light toning. Very good.