The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1829-09-23
TEXAS.

in relation to this Mexican Province, 1t
would seem that the present Cabinet is
agitatng the question of the expediency of
purchasing il from the Republic of Mexico.
The National Intelligencer, in a long arti-
Gle, prepares its readers for the question.
and concludes as follows:
"With regard to the merits of this pro-
ject, we believe that there will be great
diversity of opinion. There are eminent
men who have, years, years ago, decidedly
favored the acquisition of Texas; and
amongst them conspicuously has stood Mr..
Clay, the late distinguished Secretary of
State, whose efforts on the floor Of Con-
gress on the subject are well remembered.
Not easily dazzled by the most brilliant
eloquence, and more seldom still led captive
by the magic of name, we were not then
convinced by Mr.. Clay's Jealous efforts
directed TO this point, that the annexion
of Texas to our already vast and unexplor-
ed territory, was politically expedient.
We are not yet quite satisfied that it is.
But we are willing to listen to reason; and
will hear patiently all that is reasonably
said upon the subject, affording TO our
readers the same advantage which we
ourselves enjoy. And, when we have
heard the arguments on both sides, we
shall be better able to pronounce judg-
ment upon the subject than we new feel
prepared to do. Of one thing we ale GER
tain, without further information, viz, that
Mexico wants money, and that the ale OF
a territory, which can be of no value % her,
will be (all to nothing) an easier way of re-
cruiting her finances than making costly
loans in London"
In order that our readers may have some
information respecting the country alluded
to, we copy the annexed, general descrip-
lican, of the 18th ult.
That delightful portion of the world,
known by the name of Texas varies in
width from three to foul hundred miles.
Its length, from the Gulf of Mexico to its
northern limits, is not ascertlined. Its
most southern latitude, at the mouth of the
Rio Grande, is in twenty-six degrees, and
its most northern, in about tlirty-thIee.
Within fifty or sixty miles of the Gulf, the
country presents the appearance of plain,
after that it is gently undulahng, until
about two hundred miles from tie Gulf, we
approach hills of moderate magnitude. The
general face of the country presents three
varieties; 1st, the alluvial lands on the
water courses; ID, prairies; Sd, the tim
bered uplands.
The first description of lands is thckly
timbered with the different varieties of oak,
ash, elm, cedar, box-elder, dog-vood wal
nut, cotton wood, and pecan. The soil
is equal to any IN the world. The prai-
RES are carpeted with a great variety o.
/ the most iuxuriant grasses. Some of the
prairies are literally cane-brakes. Many
of an inferior quality, have been cultivated
and found TO produce astonishingly. The
third description of lands is also covered
with grass, and timbered with post oak, q
wood which furnishes the most durable
fencing
This province is adapted to three or foul
different pursuits, namely, the southern part:
to the growing of cotton, sugar, indigo
&C.; the northern parts to the growing
of wheat, corn, and the different kinds o
provisions and the whole country to graz
ing and the cultivation of the grape. From
the latitude, the character of the SOIL anC
spontaneous grape, this country will tlcutt-
less one day vie with the South Of France
and supply the United States with wine
Let US, for a moment, run a parallel
between this country and LOUISIANA
The plantations on the Mississippi and
most other parts of Louisiana, vary from
half mile to mile in depth after that
the country recedes into interminable
swamps-the prolific sources of the depop
ulating diseases of that region. In Texas
the lands, instead of declining, gradually
ascend from the banks of the rivers ant
instead of falling into swamps, are backed
by beautiful rolling prairies and post OAK
hills, affording in many places plantation;
varying in depth from three to six mics
There is, properly speaking, no such thing
as a swamp in Texas. The prairie natlre
of the country, affording to the sea breeze
an unimpeded circulation, and the lb
sence of swamps, must render it infinitely
more healthy than Louisiana. In the sane
area, we have ten times greater amoln
| of fertile land in Texas than in Louisiana.
Texas is washed on one side along it,
whole extent, by the Gulf of Mexico, while
its interior is diversified by the Sabine
the Natchez, the Trinity, the Brasos, the
Colorado, the Rio Grande, and other stream:
ofminor Importance. Some of these streams
will admit of fiat and steam boat navigation
for three or four hundred miles, and al
of them moderate sized vessels, as high a!
tide water.
In regard to population there are from
twelve to fifteen hundred Mexicans il
Texas, including the garrison, nineteel
twentieths of whom are settled in the tw,
villages Of st. Antonio and Nacogdoches
The emigrants from the United State
! amount to five or six thousand souls NOR,
than half of these are situated in Austin
grant. The remainder principally occup.
ungranted lands.
The writer contends that Texas ough
to be obtained, on the following grounds
That it is necessary to the security Of Louis
lana, Arkansas, &c: That it is necessary t,
have that country, in order to prevent i
from being place Of refuge for debtor
malefactors, and fugitive slaves from tn,
United States: That it is necessary, il
! order IN kean TaYaa nuf IF tho hnpd, =.