Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1848-06-30
f0r the Enquirer
ROUGH NOTES-(No. IVY

Il. F. A.
For the Enquirer.
ROUGH NoTES-(No. w.
Matamoras (hlata mor.rus) is, by the river
sefen!y-hve miles from its mouth, but BY strai9b
I.ne IL IS only twenty five. Hero stand Fort
brown ana Paroles, Par dees, both garrison
ca oy United States soldiers. The scene is nou
so calm and beautiful, where a few month,
since were the thunder and smoke, and carnao,
OF mortal conflict Matamoras has hand
sumo appearance on approachingit, and is lait
uu regularity but, rs in all Mexican towns
'nere IS little attention paid to cleanliness in the
sueels. II has some neat gardens, a plaza and
cnurch, and most of the stores, shops and IA.
Yerils, are occupied by Americans. II, situa.
.ioh IS sufficiently elevated, and il must in time
become place Of great trade. There Is a
'o~n iasI going up on the opposite side of the
river 10 Texas. The town houses of The Mexi.
cans are generally built of ado5es. which are
oricks' some eighteen inches in length. four in
thickness, and twelve in width, baked in the
sun. Inc houses mostly are but one story in
n,eignt; hat on the top; covered with two { ct Of
uli,' "hicn rests upon planks laid Upon ioists.
WIN wall eighteen inches in height running
all around the four outer was-cach dwell.
ing forming u little fort within itself-thc
doors and windows are strong, and not hume.
rous-the windows generally without glass. with
seml'cIrcuar frame of turned baniscrs pro-
Jecting over the footway-the better houses
have balconies hanging from the second story
over the street, where the senoritas smoke
their cigari'as and chat with their beaux. From
every indication, the finest we'll water NAV be
obtained here by boring or digging through the
limestone rock. The next towr we came in
going up the river is Reynosa, (Ra.no sar J stu
ated on a high limestone ledge, from which
rock many Of the houses are constructed. This
IS, perhaps, more healthy place than Mata.
moras; but tho latter being located on the first
eligible site for town, above the confluence of
The Rio Grande, must continue 10 be place OF
more Importance. The next place, worthy of
note, is Davis's farm, few miles below Ca
MARCO, IN Texas. 1t is owned by an American,
who married a rich Mexican lady, and his
houses are built in true American style. Tho
whole appearance Of the farm eyinces what all
this country may become ufder the management
of the skilful and industrious Northerner-a
perfect terrestrial paradise, with perpetual
spring, where roses bloom all the year, and
Nature yields almost spontaneously aIIh Juan. i
ioEts oE!ae NUN It's junction With the Rio
III ' NC But IL has been place of consider.
H.. h ,mpot'snce during The present war, being
seasVs, ',ea.nooas navigation in the dry
chetos are plentiful al that season. H. --,s.
boys OF the Virginia regimen, did much hard
work here in certifying the town about the time
of The battle of Buena Vista, and, doubtless,
thew would have done much hard fighting here,
also. had General Taylor been defeated on that
occasion as Santa Anna was preparing 10
sweep the whole line to the mouth Of The river,
had he been victorious in his first assault upon
TAYLOR al Buena Vista. But even had they
broken all our strength above, be ieve their pro-
press would have beeu cot short here by Inc Vir,
einians. We should, perhaps, have lost hall oil
our regiment; but ere that happened, our MARKS
men would have slaughtered two lnlros VI Tue
Mexican army-and, in the event OF our deIea!,
from a knowledge OF the material OF our fesl-
men,, | am sure not one full company wouia nave
been left to surrender. For Virsinias cHolce
chiyalry were here and, with me relcs oi oui ie'
,rra,ing forces would have hurled back IN DIS
NAV ali The power Of the one-egged chieitain.--
Rni even had we been driven from Camarso and
Inc whole OF Taylor's line broken down and an
initiated 10 the Gul., it wonld only have pro-
Irac,ed the contest lew months; for, where one
North American was killed, al least three would
have rushed forward 10 avenge his faii, 10 Inc
ner,ons Of brothers, friends or relatons.so in
deed !, is the manifest destiny" OF Mexicans
10 b, gradually absorbed into the Amerl.
can Union. The educated and intelligent. Of
he Mexicans know il is their interest 10 come
under lie protection Of our government, lor Iheif
o,vn government never protected their lives ana
nroneT;y: bu, the Priest and those under his IN
auencc opposes il, for he knows be will lose por;,
ion q, his exclusive power and importance; and
,bnse in power, such as Santa Anna, oppose
union with US, Tor they know they will lose
norrion OF their Influence under the more en-
i;ob,encd government OF the Norlh-hence Inc
oh,,iuscy of Santa Anua. Hc knows that 10
maintain mis- power over the party Thai opposes
him in his own country, he must fight ana con.
ouer them. ami now, 10 maintain any innnehce
n his government whatever, he must drive PACK
the North Americans; and he chose TO wal WIN y,
The former and the later al the same lime. ne
knows that he played desperate game ana ne
knows now that he has lost il, and Will be con'en,
10 figure no more upon the political chess ooaIa
ot Nor,h America. He is the greatest man iha'
MEXICO ever produced, and though he IS tteach
erous and savage, according 10 our accepalon
nc WIZ 90 " n. F. A.