Tri-weekly journal. (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1847-188?, 1847-12-30

The MEXICAN PoPULATIOE.-We find IN the
Washington Union, of Thursday, two papers,
written by distinguished officers of the Army,
one an interesting private letter from Mexi-
CO, the author of which, the editor says, is of
''great ability and high distinctions" the other
communication, embracing 'a plan of the
war" from san experienced officer" who, we
may suppose, writes at home. Both of them
argue strongly against the project of withdraw
ing the army to defensive line, or the idea
of surrendering any of the advantages we have
gained, at least until the Mexicans sue for
peace. We notice their compositions, how
ever, at present, only for the purpose of quot
ing the opinions they both express, almost in
identical phrase, of the character and qualities
of the Mexican people.
"This country (says the officer who writes
from Mexico) is nation of Indians. Some
foreigners and Spanish Indians, mixed race.
have the wealth and control; but the great
mass of the people are Indians, originally less
warlike than those in our country. Their spi-
rits have been broken and cowed by cruel and
harsh treatment, and they now labor, work,
and die for their masters. There is no slavery
that have seen equal TO it,-You can then
form some opinion how they can be approached
and trea ted"
The officer who furnishes ''a plan for the
war writes as follows:
"The Misunderstanding Indians of the
full blood-may, perhaps, number 100000.
Without regard to color they may be divided
into three classes:
/. The army, the priesthood, and the mil
lionaires, Chiefly land holders;) these govern
2. The middle class, of shopkeepers, me-
chanics; and small proprietors and cultivators.
3. The lowest class,-greater in number
chiefly Indians, or of decided Indian blood.
These are bondmen, ground to the dust, of
worse condition than negro slaves, excessively
ignorant and bigoted; they are easily deceived,
and have been led to believe our armies are
composed of monsters of heresy, cruelty and
oppression"
Now Mexico is believed, at the lowest COM
putation, to have population of 100000 as
above mentioned; and the largest estimate of
whites, (Waddy Thompson thinks it too large)
is | ,000, 000, and this number embraces the
two first classes described by the officer entire
ly. The remaining 100000 form the third
class-the class of '.bondmcn," s'of worse con-
dition than negro slaves" of whose slavery,
flor such it virtually ISL the gallant letter wri-
ter in Mexico declares, ''there is no slavery he
has seen equal to it."
Yet these are the people-these bondmen,
these SLAVES, these Hldidns-whom the con-
quest and destiny men, the aLnexers of Mexi-
CO, would Introduce into the republic as A
merican citizens, freemen and voters, who
must divide with us the cares and responsible
ties, the labors, the hopes, and the glories of
the republic Perhaps there may be some diff
ficulty in that. Perhaps the constitution may
refute-perhaps the ''Anglo Saxondon," or
rather, the whole blood of Caucasus, may reject
such fellow citizens. In what capacity, then,
are we to annex them? In their present one,
H.. H.. q
600 of "bondmen' to our population?
In short the Indian population of Mexico is
practically viewed-as greatand insurmount-
able on obstacle to the annexation of the coun-
try by the United States, as, heretofore we have
shown the black population of the West In
dies is to the erection of those Islands into an
independent epublic.-North american.