Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1846-05-28
From the Cincinnati carOniels, (JVAis.J
Mexico,

Us Resources and Character
When we are at war with a nation, il is worth
while to know something about it and especially if
that nation happens to be our next neighbor.
Mexico has generally been very much moderated:
First, because the people of the United States speak
ing different language, and being different race,
have troubled themselves very little about the Next
cans; and secondly, because they have been so i'll
governed, and held low an intellectual rank that
the people of the United States could not respect them
Notwithstanding this, however, Mexico is a very
extensive country, with a large population, and much
intrinsic strength.
Its natural position and resources may be thus
stated:
Superfces, square miles 100000
Population 100000
The extent of Mexico, then. is about equal TO
TWENTY-FIVE STATES of the American Union, and
its population about equal half that of the United
States.
The natural resources Of Mexico are immense
hardly surpassed by any country in the world. With
low coast and aluvia bottoms the interior of the
country rises into vast plains steppes, a, height
greater than that of the highest mountains Of our
States, aud yet fertile, temperate, and although much
OF Ii within the tropics, having climate yielding
the vegetable productions of Burgundy in France or
Devonshre in England One days journey, says
Humboldt will take the traveller from the sufocatng
atmosphere of the coast to the region of eternal
Its greatest inconvenience and disadvantage is that
of very shallow harbors: disadvantage which also
extends to the whole of Texas, and is great barrier
in the way of Commerce.
Mexico, like South America and Oregon, has vast
chains of Mountains. In fact, they are combinations
of the Great South American Andes, which continue
through Central America till they become the SierrG
Neudda Of Mexico, and the Rocky Mountains Of
Oregon.
Two vast rivers, which, like the head waters of the
Platte, and other tributaries of the Mississippi, rise
in the parks Of the great mountain chain receive and
carry to the ocean most Of the waters Of Mexico.
The is the Rio Grande, or Del Norte, on the
banks of which is now the seat of war. The other
is the Rio Colorado, of California. The former dis
embogues in the Gulf of Mexico. The other in the
Gulf of California. The Rio Grande is about fifteen
hundred mds in length and on Its upper part and east
side is Santa Fe, with which large trade is carried
on with ST. Louis, by caravans. Between the Colo
RADIO and Rio del Norte, in the upper part Of Next
co. lies vast, unsettled and uncultivated basin, of
FIVE hundred miles in diameter, Of the nature and
character of which we know very little The greater
part of the population of Mexico inhabt the Southern
extremity; while nearly all its vast territory in the
North is uninhabited and unknown. The part of the
country which is inhabited and known is rich In SOIL
rich in Silver Mines and productive in all those
terials which sustain and adorn civilized life.
The population of Mckee, we have stated, is about
NINE MILLIONS OF this population it may be safely
affirmed that three-6fths aboriginal Indians, Of
mixed Indians. large portion of the remainder
of mixed races-of mixed Indian and white; Indian
and blacks; and blacks and whites. A small portion
only of the people of the pure European blood.
This fact, and the general want of education and
industrial enterprise, the great why the
Mexicans have made little actual progress in civil
lizaton.
The richness of their Mines, however, has enabled
them to accumulate much wealth among the large
proprieors and to build extensive cities and maintain
no inconsiderable Commerce. The following are the
principal CITIES of Mexico:
Cities Inhabitants