What is Imperial colonization law?

Answer 1

The Imperial Colonization Law approves of slavery, but not slavery trading.Art. 1. The Mexican nation offers to foreigners, who come to establish themselves within its territory, security for their persons and property, provided they subject themselves to the laws of the country.

Art. 2. This law comprehends those lands of the nation, not the property of corporations, or which can be colonized.

Art. 3. For the purpose the Legislatures of all the States, as soon as possible, form colonization laws, or regulations for their respective states, conforming themselves in all things to the constitutional act, general constitution, and the regulations established in this law.

Art. 4. There cannot be colonized any lands comprehended within twenty leagues of the limits of any foreign nation, nor within ten leagues of the coasts, without the previous approbation of the general supreme executive power.

Art. 5. If for the defense and security of the nation, the federal government should deem it necessary to use any portion of these lands, for the construction of warehouses, arsenals, or other public edifices, they can do so, with the approbation of the general congress, or in its recess, of the council of government.

Art. 6. Until after four years from the publication of this law, there shall not be imposed any tax whatever, on the entrance of the persons of foreigners, who come to establish themselves for the first time in the nation.

Art. 7. Until after the year 1840, the general congress shall not prohibit the entrance of any foreigner, as a colonist, unless imperious circumstances should require it, with respect to the individuals of a particular nation.

Art. 8. The government, without prejudicing the objects of this law shall take such precautionary measures as it may deem expedient, for the security of the confederation, as respects the foreigners who come to colonize.

Art. 9. A preference shall be given in the distribution of lands, to Mexican citizens, and no other distinction shall be made in regard to them except that which is founded on individual merit, or services rendered the country, or under equal circumstances, a residence in the place where the lands to be distributed are situated.

Art. 10. The military who in virtue of the offer made on the 27th March, 1821, have a right to lands, shall be attended to by the states, in conformity with the diplomas which are issued to that effect, by the supreme executive power.

Art. 11. If in virtue of the decree alluded to in the Last article, and taking into view the probabilities of life, the supreme executive power should deem it expedient to alienate any portion of land in favor of any officer, whether civil or military of the federation, it can do so from the vacant lands of the territories.

Art. 12. It shall not be permitted to unite in the same hands with the right of property, more than one league square of land, suitable for irrigation, four square leagues in superficies, of arable land without the facilities of irrigation, and six square leagues in superficies of grazing land.

Art. 13. The new colonists shall not transfer their property in mortmain (manus muertos).

Art. 14. This law guarantees the contracts which the empresarios made with their families which they bring at their own expense, provided they are not contrary to the laws.

Art. 15. No person, who by virtue of this law acquires a title to lands, shall hold them if he is domiciled out of the limits of the republic.

Art. 16. The government in conformity with the provisions established in this law, will proceed to colonize the territories of the republic.