for less than $42,000,000.[1] The clergy had voluntarily donated large sums, and also paid their share of forced loans levied, nearly the whole of which was never reimbursed. On the 25th of June, 1856, the government decreed that real estate of the church, or property administered by ecclesiastical corporations, should be conveyed to the tenants at a value corresponding with the rent they were paying, estimated at six per centum per year.[2]
The revolution of Puebla, San Luis Potosí, and Tacubaya, cost the clergy in three years nearly nine million dollars; and the constitutional party took from them about 1012 millions more, making a total loss of nearly twenty millions. It was therefore computed that the property on the date of the decree for its sequestration was worth about 18434 million dollars,[3] exclusive of churches and temples. Allowing for possibly unknown sales, and other confiscations to the aggregate amount of 40 millions, we may say that the whole had become reduced to 124 millions. Taking off one third to facilitate sales, we have 83 millions. The fact is that the sales yielded much less.[4] Most of the property had been already sold in 1869.
The chief source of revenue the church had was the tithes. It was subject to vicissitudes for several years,[5] and it is supposed that, in the last years of the clergy's
- ↑ In 1847 the clergy were no longer able, their friends said, to support: themselves genteelly. In 1856 matters had grown worse. Cathedrals were in a decayed condition, the revenues greatly reduced. The members of chapters suffered for want of means. The cry that the clergy owned from 60 to 80 millions was unfounded. The property had fallen to an insignificant amount. Rosa, Juicio Imp., 4-5; La Cruz, iii. 396. Richthofen, Rep. dear., 4-5, estimated the income from gifts, tithes, fees, sales of images, etc., from nine to ten millions, and perhaps twice as much with the income from landed property.
- ↑ The principal remaining as a lien on the property might be redeemed at convenience. The govt derived an excise duty of 5 per cent on such conveyances. Apuntam, sobre derecho púb. ecles., 10; Mex., Col. Ley., 1861, ii. Ist pt, 1-18, 125-6, 178–200; 343-53, app. 377-445, passim; Dublan and Lozano, Legis. Mex., viii. 197–201; Zarco, Hist. Cong. i. 117-20, 183–205, and many others.
- ↑ Details in Hernandez, Estadist. Mej., 250-4.
- ↑ Maximilian revised the operations of Juarez' govt till April 1866, and the value of nationalized property as appearing on the books was $62,365, 516. Mex., Mem. Hac., 1870, 566, 642.
- ↑ From 1806 to 1810, between 10 and 11 million dollars; from 1829 to 1833, only from 512 to 512 millions. Mex., Mem. Agric. é Ind., 1843, annex 2.
