The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1846-06-16

III d odtlle. lie inldntry would be IOuDd
even more impoteDt.
do not think that the Mexican men have
much more physical strength than our wo-
men. They are general of diminuiive stat
ure. wholly unaccustomed to lafor or exer.
else OF any sort, and as a conclusive proof OF
their lnleriority TO our Indians, | will mention
The fact that frequent incursons are made far
into the interior of Mexico by maraudns
bands Of Comanches, who levy black mail to
an enormous extent upon the northern prov
Inces Of Mexico. 1t is not unusual for bands
OF hundred Comanches thus 80 penetrate
several hundred miles into Mexico and carry
off as many horses, cattle and captives as
they choose; there are not less than five
thousand Mexicans at this moment slaves Of
the Comanches-and of all our western tribes
The Comanches are the most cowardly.-the
Deiewares frequently whip them five to
one.
The soldiers of the Mexican army are gen
orally collected by sending out recruiting de-
achmenIs into the mountains, where they
hunt the Indians 10 their dens and caverns.
and bring them in chains TO Mexico; there is
scarcely day thai droves OF these miserable
aud more than half naked wfetches are moi
seen thus chained together and marching
through the street TO The barracks. where
they are secured and then dressed in uni
form made OF linen cloth. or of serge. aud
are occasionally driiled-whch drilling con-
Sists mainly in teaching them to march in
column through the streets. Their military
bands are good, and the men learn to march
indillerently well-but only indiiferently well;
they put their feet down rs If they were feel
ing for the place. and do not step with that
}auniy. erect aud graceful air which is so
beautiful in well drilled troops. AS to the
wheeling of well trained troops. like the open
ing and shutting of gate, or the prompt and
exact execution of other evolutions. they know
nObing about them. There is mol one in ten
ofthese soldiers who have ever seen a gun,
nor one in hundred who has ever fired one
before he was brought into the barracks. 1t
is in this way that the ranks of the army are
filed up-in particular emergencies The pris-
onS are thrown oren, which always con-
tain more prisoners than The army numbers,
and these lelons become soldiers and some OF
them officers. Their arms. too, are generally
worthless English muske,s which have been
condemned and thrown aside, aud are pur-
chased for almost nothing aud sold to the
Mexican government. Their powder, too
Santa Anna and BuStamcnte, which lasted
the whole day, not one cannon ball in thous-
and reached enemy-they generally fell about
half way between The opposite armies.
Touching the political liberty in Mexico.
and the national industry there, Mr.. Thomp-
son did no, fud anything hatlerins. for al
lhoush there is no lesallzed slavery in the
country, there are matters which are more
l.. Il
and the little industry that Is to be found IL
mong them is exercised under compn!sior
by the wretched beings who have become
amenable to such coercion.
The plough in universal use is that used
Two thousand years ago-ncither more bor
less than wooden wedge. without particle
OF iron attached TO it. The hoe is Wooden
ST fl with an iron spike 10 the end What is
Ill more remarkable. the animal used in
pIOushing is The OK; planter, with twenty
thousand horses and mules (by no means an
unusual number,) will only use his oxen in
the plough. lfyou ask why this is. the only
answer can give is, that the Spariard new
er changes his habits, nor any thing else but
his government. All the passion for change
which exists in other men, with him is con
centrated in political changes.
A more striking proof of the uuconquera-
bic repugnance Of the Mexican to labor can
not be given, than the fact that short staple
cotton sells there at from forty 10 forty five
cents per pound, while they have lands and
climates IS well adapted to its culture as ouls
md these lands dirt cheap: yet they never
made enough for their own consumption
The importation Of cotton is positively for
hidden by law; but this law is often relaxed
by selling the privilege 10 mercantile COM
panes to import certain number OF bales
If such prices should he obtained at home
our home northen people would discover
some plau ofraisins it proftably in hot-hous
es.
Although the whole road from the city Of
Vera Cruz TO the city of Mexico passes
through country inexpressibly picturesque
and beautiful. yet the ignorant, idle. and de-
Graded population, the total absence of cult
vaIion and improvement. aud a general ap-
peaiance Of wi.dness and desolation, produced
with me feelings partakiug of gloom and mel
ancholy. Nenher in going nor returning did
| see one human being, man, woman, or chilli
engaged at work of any sort. The greater
mass of the population doze ont their lives
with no higher thoughts or purpose than the
beasts which perish around them.