A crisp copy of this rare missive from José María Lafragua (1813-1875) in his capacity as Minister of Foreign and Interior Relations during the provisional presidential term of José Mariano Salas.
Lafragua presents a reflection and political rationale regarding the colonization of vacant lands in the national territory and its importance for the defense, territorial integrity, and population growth of the Republic. He writes [in translation]: “The unjust war being waged against our territory today, with no other motive than to extend this usurpation, has opened the government’s eyes to the future, making it understand that the integrity of the territory, the increase in population, and its aggrandizement will henceforth depend on the rules and principles governing colonization.”
He criticizes the poor results, despite the existence of laws and regulations to promote colonization, largely due to the inadequacy of those laws, the lack of organization, and the delay in surveying and making vacant lands available. Also up for criticism are the need for military colonies to deal with the incursions of Native Americans; plus limiting colonization to Catholics.
Lafragua argues that while foreign immigration is necessary for economic development, it must be directed by the State to prevent territorial usurpations and ensure that those who arrive become loyal, productive landowners and defenders of Mexican territory. He cites Texas as the most serious and painful example of past mismanagement of colonization. The text points out that the only colony that truly prospered was the one that ultimately rebelled. “The only one that has established itself and prospered is the one that rebelled in Texas …”
He argues that the Texan project was never economic, but rather a deliberate usurpation of Mexican territory, perpetrated by taking advantage of Mexico’s naiveté and openness to foreigners during the early years of the independent nation. This permissiveness allowed American settlers to enter en masse, establish themselves, and develop a demographic and economic power surpassing that of Mexico in the region, fostering de facto independence and later its integration into the United States.
An important look at the failures leading to the loss of Texas and over half of the national territory, it provides rare insight into Mexican attitudes to Texas while the Mexican-American War was still in its infancy.
OCLC locates copies at LoC, TAMU, UT Arlington, UC Berkely, Yale, and Brigham Young.
