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562 liberal spirit. The religious Article, although it declares the Roman Catholic religion to be that of the State, does not exclude the public or private exercise of any other; and there is reason to believe, that it was purposely worded in this manner, in order to facilitate the introduction of a more tolerant system, as soon as the general laws of the Federation should allow of it.

By Article X. great facilities are promised to strangers, who wish to be naturalized in the State.

Article XIII. abolishes entails, and titles of nobility.

Article XVI. prohibits slavery, and declares free, whatever slaves were found in the State, at the period of the publication of the Constitution.

The Congress consists of two Chambers, containing eleven deputies, and seven senators. Their salaries are small, and confined to the actual duration of the sessions. The whole expences of the State do not exceed 100,000 dollars per annum.

The Legislature has passed many good and useful laws, and has seconded by its influence the exertions of the Governor, who appears to have displayed the most laudable activity in every branch of the administration. He has established, principally at his own expence, a printing-press, (never before seen in Durango,) the Mint, the Casa del Apartado,