The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1847-10-21
THE AZrECS.
We find 10 the New York True Sun the
historical sketch Of this race

The hZtecs of whom We have heard so
much, were tribe living IN tho year ll6O,
in Aztan, a country situated to the North
of the California gulf. Ii VAS about this
period they crossed the RIO Colorado, al
a point, as we learn from a work now be-
fore us, beyond 50 degrees North latitude.
They moved on TO the river CHA and re-
named there some time, and the evidence
of the fact is strengthened by the existence
of extensive ruins on the banks OF the rly.
err. Thus il appears the Aztecs IN their
migration must have crossed the route now
travelled between Santa Fe and Pueblo de
los Angeles.
According TO Humboldt, the Aztecs ar.
rived IA Mexico about ll06, where they
had been preceded by The Chchimecs, /
Nahuaacs, and Acohuans, with whom
they affiliated and from whom sprung
people, retaining their pecularIies, and
finally exercising their preIogatves oil EN-
Pie. The Aztecs were very peculiar IN
their social and political character. They
at first we're ruled by an ohgarchy con.
slslng Of twenty Of their most dIsun.
gulshed men, and this mode OF government
continued until 1852, when king was
chosen. Ii is curious circumstance,
that the choice Of the monarch was made
by the mobiles from among the collateral
relations and no, the llneal descendants OF
the deceased sovereign, but none Of them
we're particularly distinguished until the
great Momezuma added lustre to The EN-
pirc, BY his conquests, his wise legislation,
and his public edltices. The magnificent
dyke which lie constructed 10 prevent
recurrence of lnundatons VAS mne miles
long and sixteen aud halt feet vide. The
great Pagan temple winch stood on the
site of the present Cathedral, WAS also has
work The Montezuma who was emperor
at the time Of the INVASION OF The Span
iafds, was equally celebrated. lie was
the last OF his klngly race, and having
failed 10 eypel the invaders. or retain the
affection OF bis people, tore Oft he band.
ages from his wounds, and sought IN death
a release from bis sorrows and morIitca
ton HIS nephew and son-inaw eau
temozln defended his crown for THREE
months, but was overcome, and excculef
by his conqueror, the remorscless Coriez
The Azlecs were a marta! race, aud II
a series Of wars conquered territories con
tuining GOO square leagues.
The jurisprudence OF these people va
simple, but in criminal cases their punish
ments we're severe. Treuson, homicide
robbery Of gold or silver, thell IN The mar
J Ike, place, crimes against nature, and ylo
la,ons Of nuptal engagements, we're pun
F.. l,hed with death. !; IS a singular FAC
the tzec law, considering drunken
I. ness The source of crime, usually hung IA
' those rho were guilty Of lntempcfancc be
y fore certain period Of life. II the drunk
ard was 81 noble family, b. was hung 9
once md his dead body va, thrown lnl
% tho lake. II the offender belonged 70 HI
;. lower orders, he was for tho frs, otIeuc
! sold as slave, and for the second pa, ,
. death. There was a curious exception I
., tins law in the case Of those Of either Sc
T. who became intoxicated after tho age g
seventy years. They we're allowed cntr
I, IMMUNITY for their drunkenness.
There we're no lawyers among tho 4.
y. tees. OF that rsfqemeat Of modern lime
s. they happily were ignorant.
lI The lands were divided between Il
N king, MOBILES, priests and people. The NJ
/. b.,uy, whose influence controlled the cho.C
Of n sovereign, owned their share foil,
:, freely and absolutely. The king, prizes
:. and people we're merely usufrucluare
Q. There we're lands held IN common, an
.. cultivated 10 common, somewhat on d
x plan Of the Tribune, and the proanC
y placed IN store houses vas distributed
a The people according to their HecsssJ'ls
D. Nevertheless, there was occasionally
b. famine IN all the land. Slavery evrsie
n with this popularity, that the chI.dren {
slaves were always free.
j. The religion OF these people @as a nil
C. lure nf sentiment and brutality. The
2 worshpped an imma,erial Supreme Ben.
ID whom they called Teol, and believed
the existence Of an Evil Spirit, With til
unproaonnccable name Of TlacaleeJlolot
y They believed dog had a. much Of soI
as a man, and both we're immortal. The
!, divided tho future state into three eYlsler
ces, with mansions Of corresponding char
acter. They also worshipped ionumera
bic d.vInlles, md had q numerous priest
. hood, who were the instructors Of youth
y the painters, poets, and astronomers G
!. their country, One Of the most reyotln
Of their religious rites was that Of Vi
sacrifice Of human beings. The worship
pers Of their dlyinltes often slew them
=, selves before the atars, AID as many a
10000 victims annually persisted to pro
; ptiata their favor.
. The remains Of the Aztec ARCHITECTURE
exhibits superior degree Of excellence
ADD 10 the construction Of roads, bridges
aud monuments, they discovered skill an,
Intelligence.
Their money consisted Of the beans 0
the cocoanul, bag Of which was equal t.
: 5000 units, and quill full Of god ore
. such as ono may now see in the hands n
, the Carolina and Georgia miners, repre-
senred 400.
The language wanted the sounds Of the