Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1847-09-09

crown, was placed over the colony, with all the
delegated powers of royalty. The poor Indian
were torn from the homes where they were loun-
glng an lndolent yet not unjoyess existence, and
driven in miserable hordes, at the point of
the bayonet, to the mines which Spanish cupid
ty had opened. The natives, however, had no
share in the precious metal which their labor
extracted, but the fruits Of their toll we're all
carried across the Atlantic, to enrich the gram
dees ofSpain. The sole object of the crown APP
peared to be, to benefit the conquerors without
any regard to the suflerngs of the conquered
The Mexcans were even prohibited from manu-
featuring any article whatever, which could be
supplied by the mother country. Thus for three
hundred years the legislative, military and ecce-
sastcal powers were combined to impoyerlsh and
imbrute the people. They were to the children
Of this Inflated land, centuries of darkness and
sorrow. Even the memory of their brighter
days was obliterated, and the poor Indians re-
signed themselves with sullen Indifference to
their monotonous and dreary life.
During this long period the European officers
and soldiers who held the country in subjecton
gradually formed connections with the natives,
aud hence arose a numerous mixed population.
Many slaves were also introduced into the coun-
try from Africa, whose blood was soon blended
with that ofthe white man and the Indian. Thus
it soon became difficult to find native Mexican
of pure Castilian blood. The physical charac-
teristics of the three races, the Negro, the eau
cassian, and the American were combined in
motley concourse of Alulattoes Mestzoes and
Zamboes, Quateroons and Quinteroons a pow
crless race in body and mind. As the Indians
were far more numerous than the Negroes, their
union with the white man was more common
than similar unions between the Negroes and
the whites; and consequently the class called
Mestizoes, is far more numerous than than the
Zambos.
The population of Mexico is now estimated
to be about seven millions. No accurate census
has ever been taken. An attempt was once made,
many years ago. by the Spanish government to
:, ascertain the number of inhabitants in the colo
ny; but the natives, rendered crafty by oppres-
son. Judged the object to be the increase of tax
alton, and did what they could to conceal their
numbers. Since the revolution which severed
Mexico from Spain no attempt has been made to
take their census Humboldt, however, after a
careful investigation of the subject estimates
the population at seven millions.
OF these about five millions are native Indi-
ans living in their miserable wigwam villages,
in far more ablect condition than when, three
hundred years ago, Cortez rode over their faith
, ers with his horses, and hunted them down with
his bloodhounds. One million of the inhabit-
ants is composed of the mixed races, where the
blood of the Indian, the white man and the ne
. gro, are ineXtrcably commnged. And there is
but one million only Of white Europeans, or their
descendants Such is the estimation made of the
population by Baron Humboldt But Waddy
Thompson, who has enjoyed unusual facilities
for observation, thinks that even this estimate
of the proportonate number Of white persons is
much too large. The Europeans and their des-
; cendants of pure blood, are almost all congrega-
ted in the few cities of Mexico; though there are
few wealthy proprleers, who reside on their
: estates in the country. And yet it is said that
no less than nine out of ten of the persons one
meets, even in the city of Mexico, are Indians
or Mestizoes In the country the disproportion
is vastly greater. 1t is very seldom that white
man is met. Forty-nine out of fifty you pass
upon the road, are Indians. Nc cheerful habit
atons or wclI-cultivated farms, or thriving vii
lagos attract the eye. Dlapidated huts filthy
and comfortless are scattered along the roadside
where naked children, and ragged men, and
coarse, repulsive, unfeminne women, lounge a.
: way an INDECENT existence accused through ages
Of servtude and oppression. Oh! how dreary
must this life be, when neither memory, sensa-
ton nor hope, can bring joy.
Such is the deplorable condition of the popul-
= alton of Mexico There are five millions of UNI
t tanned Indians, degraded and miserable, power
, less in body and in mind. There is one million
= of mongrel race, with the combined vices of
, the savage and the civilized man; indoent loter-
org in untlod Gol1S anI Sb1rinrr 4
Z swine their wretched novels Through this mot
, ley mass there is the sprinkling of less than a
b million of the descendants of the Spanish adj
venturers. Some of this latter class have acqur-
ed large furtunes, and are living in prncelv lux
$ ury They dwell in the cities, constitute the
t society of the Republic, and possess what little
there may be of intelligence in Mexico. But it
israre to find man, and still more rare to find
g woman in that whole land, who can lay any
claim to a cultivated mind. There are, how
ever, iIIustrious individual exceptions, in both
y sexes; bright examples of polished manners, in
teectual superiority, and moral purity. Santa
i Anna is gentleman, whose fine mind and court
a ly bearing would make him an ornament to the
, intellectual society of any country. And the
y lamented wife of Santa Anna was lady of sur
Il passingly lovely person and character. In every
/ naments of the female sex. In the stormy scenes
o of their most eventfu life, they have both dis
r played degree of benevolence and humanity,
rarely to be found in the midst of the angry pas
= sons which wars and political revolutions must
: foster.
: Nearly all the offices of honor or emolument
are in the hands of the white descendants of the
: Spanards; though occasionally an individual OF
. mixed blood will, through native energy of char
S acter elevate himself to posts of opulence and
a power. For three centuries these Spanish con-
= querors have ruled over the country with the
s most grinding oppression. The horrible massa-
= ores which followed the original invasion, have
n been succeeded by constant series of wrong
e and outrage The Indians regard the Spaniards
y with very much the same bitterness which they
: felt at the time of the conquest. And though
fully conscious Of the superiority of the Europe
: an race, they are averse to alliances with their
d conquerors, and ever regard them with sulIen
II animosity.