The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1846-12-26

route an invading amy Wouio eucouu>O
ter the fewest natural obstacles ins
marching to the city of Mexico, tho
country being equal 10 the sustensnce }
Of an army, with abundance of water,
and no strong points for defence. The
cruising ground off Alvarado is exceed
ingIy perilous during the winter months
where the northers blow with extreme
| violence. The products are cattle and
cochIneal. sl. q a9galslsss sat ai.a
Anton Llzardo, (whsre our squadron,
has been anchsrsd,) so miles northwest
Of AIyarado, and 10 miles southeast
from Vera Cruz. is one Of the very best
harbors on the gulf being accessible at
all times, and protected from. the swell
of the sea by coral reefs and sand ISL
ands. There is not any town here
only few fishing huis- snasJ .
Vera Cruz, with its defences, and
now impregnable castle, is so well
known as not to require particular no.
tice here. The terrible San Juan do
Ulloa protects the town, and the road
to the city Of Mexico is defensible in
so many points, especially at Puente.
del Rev, where few brave men could
hold an army in check,) that an at
tempt to reach the city OF Mexico by
its route would be Quixotlc. D The pop.
ulation of Vera Cruz is variously esti-.l
mated at from $4,000 to 10000 souls.
It is the chief port on the gulf.
i About 80 miles northwest OF Vera
4 Cruz, is the small port Of Tecolulla, and
i near to it Boca de Lima, both of which
can only be entered by small craft and
boats. No good anchorage. In this
4 district are cultivated the Vanilla bean
and Jalap, also the frigoli, a large black
bean, which is favorite article of con-
+ sumption with the Mexicans. -
i Tuspan lies l90 miles northwest Of
| Vera Cruz, and 80 miles southeast Of
!, Tampico, and is memorable from the
loss upon its bar of the United States
brig Truxtun. The town has no arti-
fetal deiences, being sufficiently pro-
. tected by the bar at the mouth Of the
river, which is inaccessible 10 vessels
dra wing over 4 feet. Population said
. to be about 1000. Tampico, through
the lake ofTamiagua, celebrated for its
: shrimp fishery. It communicates with
|, the city Of Mexico and interior towns
) by the road from Tampico. The coun-
) try abounds with cattle. -
Il Tampico river emptIes into the Gulf
about 200 miles northwest of Vera
Cruz. The entrance is protected by =
dangerous bar, whichis constantly shift
f ing, and small temporary fort; the old
. fort, which stood at the mouth Of the
|, river, has been literally washed away
by the swell of the sea, sent in by north
ers. For months at a time there will
not be over six feet Of water on the bar,
: while shift, produced by single north
. err, will probably leave a. channel for
vessels Of fifteen feet draught There
} is no protection whatever from the
north winds outside the bar, and it y
: not safe to lie.off long at a time during
, the season of northers, which are often
4 as sudden as terrible. The town stands
! about FIVE miles from the bar, contains
I a population OF about Q, 700, has no mill
: tary defences, and the authorities will
d not give any cause for an invading force
J. to handle them as the people Of Tabas-
5 co have recently been treated. The
:, country (as is almost all the country
a north and east of the mountains, be-
!. tween Vera Cruz district and the Rio
g Grande) is rough, wild, and much bro
r ken by water-courses. The products
1. are fustic and cattle-the grain and
s. -four being all brought from Puebla and
h the country south OF the mountains.-
v The Panuco branch of the Tampico
ID river is navigable for 40 miles, for YES
a. sells drawing 8 feet. The climate Of
a. Tampico is bad for northern constitu
tons, and for some months is exceed
Of ingly unhealthy, in consequences OF the
IA swamps and marshes, which, in greai
a measure, surround it. There is mule
es road to the interior, by which Mexico
is, and San Luis do Potosi may be reach
rs ed through the de6les and gorges, and
E. 6n some places)over the Sierras. Mex
DO to Vera Cruz, Tampico is the most nm
IL. por,ant port in the Gull, as through il
IA the rich, important, and populous dis
la tricts of San Luis. Queretero, Guanax
by alto, Zacatecas, and part of Durang'
he receive their imports and send ava.
ia their specie, hides, jalap, &c. From
We rampico the course ofthe coast is neari,
Or. north, to Santander or Sou la 'Marino
Ter which is about 80 miles Distant Thi
lid last port is accessible only to vessels Q
nd light draugh,, say not over seven feet
en- His through this port, in connection
in. with Matamoras, that the districts q
oa northern Tamaulipas. New Leon, an
in, Durango receive their supplies of for
10. eigr, products. The Rio Grande, ,abon