Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1845-06-28
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER.



printed volume of nearly FIVE hundred pages, pub
lished by Bartlett a. Walford Of this city, and in
London by Wiley a. Putnam. To illustrate the
origin character, and history Of man, and the var-
GUS countries he inhabits, is the worthy object of
this Society," and the volume before me evlnces the
zeal, ability, and energy with which It has COM
menced its labors. The most learned and elaborate
article is from the pen Of the venerable President Of
the Society," (NIr. GALLATIN,) OH the Semi-ciDiHzed
nations Of Merico, Yucafn,, and Central .an,eri-
ca" This article exhibits the results of thorough
examination Of the best OF Mexican history,
and brings light great variety of facts in relation
to the languages, astronomical knowledge, arts,
persttions, traditions, and chronology Of this race,
whose character and condition astonished the Span
iards, and have supplied so attractive subject for
the abilities OF our distinguished countryman, Mr..
PREsCoTT.
Mr.. GALLATIN is of opinion that the great num-
Der of languages found among the Indians of this
continent, (about one hundred1 although many of
them have the same structure, and therefore from
the stock e. sixty-one Dialects" he observes,
spoken by many tribes, were found to consti-
tute only eight languages, rather families OF Ian
guages, SO dissmlar, that the few condolences
which might occur in theirswords appeared to be
accidental while it ascertaned that all the Ian
guages Of which partial grammars could be obtain
ed however dssimilar in words were in their sruc-
tire oil the same CIlaTdCtcI, Is pTOOi udt ulciT
ancestors came hither at very remote period, and
their physical type and other circumstances ndi-
cate their probable emigration from the eastern shore
of Asia.
The learned author also discusses the question in
regard to the foreign or domestic origin of Mexican
civilization, nclining to the opinion of its domestic
origin, from the remarkable fact that none of the
nutritious plants cultivated in another hemisphere
ere known to the Americans, but that maize, which
is exclusively of American origin, almost the
sole foundation of American agriculture. Whether
imported or domestic, agriculture was first known
(t is observed in certain countries situated between
the tropics, and it is quite natural that it should
have had its birth in the most genial climate, and in
the native country of the maize"
Mr.. GALLATIN supposes the Mexicans to have
been either colony the residue of the Toltecs,
a nation who, according to the Mexican tradition,
came from the North, and suggests that careful
comparison of our Indian languages with those of
Northeastern Asia, will be the most likely mode Of
tracing any connexion, if such exists, between the
aborignes of this continent and the people of that
region OF the world lie seems inclined to ascribe
the superior agriculture and civilization of the Mexi-
cans the more Northern Indian tribes to the
conquest and subugation of other nations, and that
compulsory labor which is the natural result OF
slavery. He finds that the people both Of Mexico
and Peru were, before the Spanish conquest, OPP
pressed by both military and religious despotism.
OF the now extinct, but once numerous and power
full race, who have left in the mounds and for
fications of the Mississippi valley enduring monu-
menis, Mr.. Gallatin magines that they were colo
MES from Mexico; and il is fact i'm confirmation
of this theory, that DIR. Gerard Troost, in an ac-
count published in the volums} of ancient In
dian remains found in Tennessee, describes beads
and shells from the Indian mounds of that State
which must have come from the West Indies or
some tropical shore also stones from the volcanic
regions Of South America.
From the closing paragraphs ofthis able and learn
ed essay, cannot deny myself the pleasure Of ma
king two three brief extracts, adapted to reconcile
in some degree to that of events which
suited, after many atrocities, IN the triumph OF the
Spanish power over Mexico:
AT the time Of the Spanish conquest and far hack
their traditions assembled, the Indians and had been
perpetual Of warfare and theirs Of cxtermna
on This, after the Short reckless and cruel Of the
conquest has been followed by period Of three hundred
oil internal And, upon the whole, the
of The nation appears have enjoyed security and
have been less oppressed than under the dcspoc sway the
ancient mobiles and priests"
Having spoken of the introduction of an ilnprov-
cd agriculture of iron and better mechanical tools,
the author adds
Population naturally increased with the Of subss-
ence This progressive process OF Improvement and
ing population commenced three hundred years ago, and
has continued since Some Of its results in the
accumulation OF capital and IN the large amount Of the exports
The internal has been prodgiousy increased
the conquest, and prior il there external
whatever"
Again "The conquest Of Mexico important in
the history Of man. He who achieved it, ndomtabe energy
united talents Of the first order and the history abounds with
thrilling and dramatic incidents Mr. Prescott has exhausted
the subject, and erected permanent monument equally hon
orabe 10 himself and 10 the country Mr. Prescott has done
justice TO the Dominican monks who Dquistors and reent
in tho
the Indians There continual Of eight hundred years
against the nIels had generated the deadly hatred
wards Mussumen, Jews, and Aposates. Here where the
as was thought Of demons the better feelings Of human
nature and the spirit of Christianity prevailed. The praise
must DC extended to all the Catholic priests whether Francis
cansorJesuits Monkso Curnes Awcre becn and
continue TO be- the protectors and friends Of the Indian
This volume contains, in addition 20 this disscrta-
ton OF Mr. GALLATIN and the article OF Doctor
TRoosT on the Indian remains in Tennessee mi
mute and highly interesting account of Grave Creek
Mound, on the Ohio, by Mr. ScHooIcRAFT: a
paper on the Hymyartc inscriptions in Southern
Arabia, the land Of the Sabeans,) and the attempts
TO decipher them, and an account by Mr.. GATHER
WOOD Of some very ancient structures and inscrn-
tons near Tunis and Carthage.
observe with pleasure that the " Investigator
conducted in your city by our friend J. F. Pork.
Esq, has reached its sixth number, and that its
pages are open to free discussion on various re-
lgious and other topics. The Dublin Review for
May contains very able article on the Catholic
uueston vet in the presept active controversies of