The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-03-19
Communicated ior the Union.
scenes beyond the Rio Grande.
No. IL.

Communicated for the Union.
Scenes beyond the Rio Grande.
No H.
BocA DEL Rio GRAHDE Feb. 10, ls47.
SIR; AT Santa Rosa reach, Tor the first lime the
Sierra Gora, subordinate chain OF the great Sierra
Madre, or Mother Mountain This range seems to be a
continuation of that through which the Rio Grande
bursts ITS way al the below the mouth of the Rio
Conchos; and which, sweeping in curvinear direc-
non northeastery. passing to the west of Santa Rosa
Monclova, Monterey, and Victoria, terminates the
mouth OF Lemon nver between Tanpico and Vera Cruz,
on the Gull OF Mexico. AT Hemanos, inferior range
DIVORCES from in the direction of Candida and again
untes with il near Monterey. II is very difficult, and,
indeed, almost impossible present. accurately define
this great mountain CHAIN But when our detail maps
are compiled may be able to do with considerable
precision. We sklred Its entire base from Santa Rosa
to Monclova, at which point examination gave
transverse line OF more than 100 miles through the
mountain passes; and we actually crossed it on our
march TO Parras. Besides this, have two lines of
reconnaissance from Monclova to Monterey; from
Monterey to Satllo two from Saltillo to line of
march from Monclova to Parras two between Parras
and Saulo, and two from Parras TO Alamo de Parras.
These, IN addition to the explorations of topos raphical
engineers with Gen Taylor's army of the Rio Grande
from its mouth to Gamargo, and thence to Monterey,
from Monterey to Victoria, and thence TO Tampco and,
perhaps, from Matamoros TO Victoria with Gen. Patter-
sons command, will give us the means of satisfactorily
determining the principal geographical features of north
ern Mexico. also understand that examinations have
recently been made of the Rio Grande from Camargo to
point thirty miles above Presideo which encourages
e,
with slight improvements at certain of the year
nearly high up the Conchos, and render not inn
probable that steamboats, may at distant day ascend
TO Chihuahua and to Santa Fe. This, however,
venturing the field of speculation
The mountain al Santa Rosa is an unbroken chain for
many leagues IN extent, without single pass dele
leading It, The highest peaks rise TO altitude OF
nearly 1000 feet above the level OF the PLAIN and must
at time have been covered by the and suisse
quently elevated by some internal force. Dr. Long an
intelligent American, who has resided many years in the
country, and has pretty thoroughly explored the
ains, informed that he had found marine shells on
the highest points. regret that my engagements pre-
of this interesting region Along the base of the noun
tams, ana rising directly from 1t, may be seen
range OF conical hills about 500 feet high of nearly
uniform shape and 1t these hills that the silver
odes, mentioned In previous memoir, are found.
Running out nearly perpendculary from the main
range are series OF tabular hills, varying from 100 to
800 feet In elevation presenting to the eye the appear
ance OF perfect leue the top, with regular sides
and truncated extremities These constituted, gene
rally, of basac rocks, and are covered with luxurant
growth OF grass; but some less regular III figure
posed OF lavas and volcanic ashes.
We lose sight of these pecularties near Hermanos,
and the mountains the form of vast buttresses
separated by defes leading high up into, and
often through them (such described in the memoir
on Cienegas.) Beyond Monclova, the mountains
composed of of ache marty altered limestone,
showing the action of heat upon under pressure The
same formation was observed at Monterey and Satllo
Where the mountain sides have been abraded by the rv
they exhibit the appearance of tre stripes from top
to bottom. regret that ii is not in my power to
muncate satisfactory information in relation to the
geology of this unexplored and almost unknown coun-
try but my official duties greatly interered with such
searches
The finest agricultural region in Coahula, is in the
vicinity OF Santa Rosa but owing to the want of aboers
and to the depredaons of the Indians very large pro-
portion of the arabic land is left uncultvated and from
the the rich silver mines the valuable
probably in Mexico, abandoned. While much of the
surface of this State is sterile, and large quantities of it
unfit for cultivation owing to the want OF water, for pur
poses of irrigation flor in consequence of the long
drought no land be titled without IT'D there
sve tracts of arabic soil still in their primitive and vr-
gin condition, while under better and paernal
government-one capable and willing to protect life and
properymght be rendered highly productive; for in few
parts of the world does nature Literally reward la
Dor udiciously applied.
Nothing can be imagined in country pretending to be
civilized Inefficient despotc, caprcious, and oppres-
sve as the government OF the called Mexican repub-
lie. 1t matters not who is power, the result is the
1t not only extends protection to its citizens,
but it absolutely forbds them the use of arms for their
own defence, and depves them of their possession by
by unceremonious domiciary visits they cannot have
them without special license. Exactions imposed
in every form that human ingenuity invent and in
one word the government is known only by its malgn
influence, and felt only by its oppression. When the
inhabitants of Alamo de Parras invoked the neposon,
against the depredations of the Indians of General RiaZ,
who commanded large force of San Miguel, he returned
them the pions answer, that she hoped God would pro-
tect and bless Them" but that he could not from San
Miguel benedicton which, If not cold blooded mock
cry, more becoming priest than soldier. 1t is
fact that the only security which the people of Coahuila
had et Tor months, was alter our ARRIVAL and IN
the presence of troops and 1t only during our
march and occupation of the country, that they could
venture to travel few miles from their own homes,
with the that the next chapparal did not
ceal the lurking savage, the merciless bandit both
alike enemies to his life and property.
The system of peonage, or domestic slavery, keeps in
bondage least four fths of the population of North
Mexico. No system of slavery be degrading,
for it carries with of those kindly sympahies and
early associations which often alleviate it in the
United States Poems persons sold for debt and it
rarely happens that Is redeemed from bondage,
till old age renders him useless to his owner, who then
kindly permits him TO beg for the remnant of his life
The only appearance of liberty which he enjoys, is that
of selecting master, who may choose to buy him from
his creditor, by paying the claim against hun, which,
when rendered, with the consent of the save) he is
compelled accept The poor peon lives in miserable
mud hove, or reed hut, sometimes built of rnstaks,
matched with grass) He is allowed peck OF corn
week for his subsistence, and small monthly pay for his
clothing but all his purchases made from his
ter, each year generally finds him still deeper in debt for
the payment of which he at last pledges all he possesses
has children, and they bound till legally capable of
mourning debts of their own and become eligible to
state OF slavery on their own account. And yet Mexico
calls herself free country
Very truly, your obedient servant,
GEO w HUGHES,
To Colonel J. J. ALBERT, Capt. T. f.
Chief Typographical Engineers.
The published maps this portion of Mexico abso-