4FOREIGN RELATIONS.


  -Yesterday was inaugurated the section of railroad from Mexfcopto HaInepanffa+
soon to be extended to Cuantitlan and Tobuca. The executive takes pleasure
in the
success of this road, which will be so beneficial to the country in generaland
especially
to the States of Mexico, Queretaro, and Michoacan.
  We may en:Roy a well-founded confidence that the rapid deelopment of the
fruitful
elements of our country's riches guarantees us a prosperous future,under
the auspices
of a pete solidly based upon the general gdood senas.eofhe people, and thediscipline
hravery, and loyalty of the national army.
  Be assured, citizen deputies, that the executive will zealously second
all the meas-
ures which your wisdom and patriotism may enact for the welfare and aggrandizement
of the republic.


                                No. 477.

                         Mr. Foster to Mr. Fish.

No. 13&j                    ILEGATION OF THE UNIETEr STATES,
                         MeexiCo, April 15, 1874. (Received April 27.)
   Sir: In my dispatch No. 119, March 7, 1 communicated the details of
the assassination uof Rev., John L StepIhens, a Protestant missionary, at
Ahualulco, in the State of Jalisco, and the prompt action of the Mexican
ggovernment towards the punishment of the assassins.
   Up to the present date seven of the guilty parties have' been tried
and condemned to death, from which sentence they have appealed to
thle supreme court. Twelve or fifteen more persons, charged with com.-
pdicity in the crime, are under arrest, awaiting trial, including the cura
of the parish of Ahualuleo.
   President Lerdo, in a recent interview given to the Protestant mission-
aries resident in this city, declared it to be his determination to use
every means in his power to secure the punishment of the assassins of
Mr. Stephens, to protect the Protestant missionaries in the free exercise
of their labors, and to maintain religions toleration throaughout the
r'epublic.
       I am, &c0,
                                                JOHN W. FOSTER.


                                No. 478.

                         Mr. Foster to Mr. Fish.
No. 135.]              LEGATION OF THIE UNITED STATES,
                            Mexico, April 18, 1874. (Received May 5.)
   Sir: I am this day in receipt of your dispatch No. 90, March 25, relat-
ing to the interference of General Cortina, at Matamoras, in preventing
the extradition of one Alexander D. Hamilton. Immediately on receipt
thereof, I sent to the minister of foreign affairs a copy of the dispatch
of Mr. Wilson, inclosed in your No. 90, with a representation that the
Government of the United States would expect such orders to be given
as will allow the treaty to be carried into effect according to its terms.
(Inclosure 1.)
   Within an hour after the transmission of this note, I was personally
informed by the minister that the President had aleady seen some
notice of -the action of General Cortina in the public press, and had.at
once sent telegrams to the governor of the State, to General ,Cortina,
and to the military commander, calling for information on the subject,


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