Mississippi Democrat., 1846-05-20
NO. %.
NInnirn.

Mexico.
No nation of lis population aud natural
resources can present less formidable
front. Distracted BY internal disscnsions,
ii is with extreme difficulty thai the cen
trail government retains the different pro-
yinces inlheir allegiance. ln 1887, there
were nineteen OF these provinces, forming
originally, states of Mexico, after the plan
of our own confederation. Their popula-
ton was, Al that time, estimated at seven
and a half millions, and their territorial
extent AT about twelve hundred thousand
square miles, or ono half the United States.
Since that time Mexico has lost Yucatan,
a province OF eighty thousand square
miles, and h half a million Of inhabitants,
and she is wholly unable TO reduce that
rebellious quarter Of the republic. Tex
as, with three hundred thousand square
miles, had separated herself before.
Other provinces have threatened TO fol-
low the example, and, in truth, the princi-
pie of c1hesveness seem almost wholly
wanting in this great mass, II is not TO
be denied THAI the movement OF this fine
country has been retrognde ever since tho
revolution which separated her from tho
mother country. The produce OF the
mines has decreased from over twenty mil.
lions Of dollars annual y--ihe average
previous TO the war of independence, 10
about one hali--an immense falling of,
owing chiefly to the disturbed state Of the
country. The mines, which are about
three thousand in number, have always
been looked upon as chief sources of
wealth in Mexico; and, if their produce
has diminished one halt in the last thirty
years, il is highly probable that its other
sources of wealth have declined in an
equal degree. Chevnler travelled in that
counlry in 1888, and gives this account
OF the insecurity attending The operation
Of mining: " How can the mnos be work
cd with any feeling Of security, when il
requires little army To escort the smallest
portion Of the precious metal to its place
OF destinationl Between the mine of
Real dol Monte aud the village of l'eze-
yuco is a mountain pass, where a grand
battle was fought between the miners and
the bandlu Of the country. The former
were doIeated, oyetpowered by numbcr,
but not without selling their lives as dear
ly as possible The mine Is now guarded
By artillery and grape shot, and the IGn.
glsbmen employed there are regularly
drill in the use of the musket." There
Is only one class that possesses considera-
lion or wealth--thot Of the Crolles, or
whites Of European decent. They num-
ber Twelve or thirteen hundred thousand
persons, aud arc properly the representa-.
lives of the original Spnnards, the con-
luerers Of the country This llispanr.
American race are the owners Of the soil,
hc mines, and, 10 general, Of the proper
" of the country. The next class, that
)f the lnIinns, or native Mexicans, IS the
most numerous, numbering, az is supposed,
1early four mIious--a race without en-.
'rgy, without enterprise, who live content
WITH mere vegetable existence, and form
me of the poorest and most degraded la
,pring classes on The fare Of the oarth..--
The mixed races, the Me~izjs, Zrnbos,
Iulittoes, q Qiadronns, &c, compose a
bird clnss, numbering near two millions,
illl more degraded than the last, but lofm-
ng, we imtginc, better aborers Suchis
he heterogeneous body with which we
eem about TO come into collision. An
xcellent effect Of the revolution has been
o take away exclusive privileges, and
make all classes politically eqIal.