Sept 15, 1829 President Vicente Ramon Guerrero emancipated all slaves within the Republic of Mexico

[EFerrari]

The President of the United States of Mexico, know ye: That desiring to celebrate in the year of 1829 the anniversary of our independence with an act of justice and national beneficence, which might result in the benefit and support of a good, so highly to be appreciated, which might cement more and more the public tranquility, which might reinstate an unfortunate part of its inhabitants in the sacred rights which nature gave them, and which the nation protects by wise and just laws, in conformance with the 30th article of the constitutive act, in which the use of extraordinary powers are ceded to me, I have thought it proper to decree:

1st. Slavery is abolished in the republic.
2nd. Consequently, those who have been until now considered slaves are free.
3rd. When the circumstances of the treasury may permit, the owners of the slaves will be indemnified in the mode that the laws may provide.

And in order that every part of this decree may be fully complied with, let it be printed, published, and circulated. Given at the Federal Palace of Mexico, the 15th of September, 1829. Vicente Guerrero to José María Bocanegra.

President Guerrero was mulatto and the second president of Mexico.

Here's Henry Louis Gates' Black in Latin America episode about Mexico & Peru

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/black-in-latin-america/featured/full-episode-mexico-peru/227/

[malaise]

1. Nice post

Thanks
Will read Gates later