Beginning with an overview of colonial land tenure, this work covers the philosophical and political issues which influenced the development of Mexico's land policy after independence, especially as embodied in various colonization bills. Physiocratic ideals, liberal laws of the Cortes of Cadiz, and economic concerns all affected land policy, but the principle struggle from 1822 and 1824 was central versus regional control of land distribution and revenues. This work analyzes the national bills, Congressional debate, and the centralist position of Lucas Alaman as well as the regional issues in northeastern Mexico and the federalist position of Jose Miguel Ramos Arizpe in regard to the Texas bald(')ios. It offers a new interpretation of the union of Coahuila and Texas, the creation of a Department of Texas, and the Coahuiltecan Colonization Law of 24 March 1825 from a Mexican perspective