The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1848-03-25
from Oregon, extend tI,roughall Mexi.
CO, Hndrherwfsole. suri6dS II coIhp6sed

from Oregon, extend through Ill Mexi.
co, andrhercMfsole. surfscs NJ coIhp6sed
Of table, lands. and mountains, which
rise ip steps from the, Gulf and the RIO
Grande, ,Ito tbe highest level, and, thep
descend sinI, regular gradations once
more to- the Pacific. She has no nayf
gable streams, and, the mountains andsl
arid plains-compo should imagine,
seyen-eighths Iof The, Whole .teffitory.-r
II is now three, hundred years since The. (.
Spanish conquest, and hernpopplation
has long since reached that barrier,
Observation-Disclosures eternal obstaciss'
TO further progress, ywhere the whole
products Of the earth are economically
consumed BIZ the people. No doubt,
better modes Of agriculture would in.
crease her population; but at present,
to use the language Of Nautilus, she has
reached the point Of subsistence. altis
true. that the remote provinces Of Cali.
fornia and New Mexico, and those bor-
dering upon the Rio Grande, and sub.
ject to Indian invasion, contain some
unoultivatedlands; but the proposition
as above stated, applies toathe mass Of
Mexico. For in the greater portion Of
the whole Republic, women and chill
Idren may be seen picking up grains Of
corn in the highways, and the rfnds Of
fruit thrown iE. the streets are irnmedi-
ately seized and consumed SO soon
as you cross the Rio Granae you
feel yourself in foreign land
Mexico has no forests. 1t is true, that
along the estreams and nmountain-tops
there are trees, but you are struck with
this great characteristics that the land is
bare of trees. The numerous varieties
Of the Cactus Of all sizes, intermixed
with Palmetto, .stunted or long grass,
cover the whole land. You are among
a people Of novel color, and strange
language. The very birds, and beasts,
and dogs, seem different. The part
ridge, the lark, the crow, the bIack-bird,
differ in size and plumage, aud sing di:.
ierently from ours. The buildings are
of Moorish and Spanish style. The
goat and the sheep feed together. Tho
bricks ore Of clay and straw, sun-dried.
The women 60 with earthen vessels to
the well, just as Rachelwas sent of old
in the time Of the Phtriarchs Of Judea.
The roofs Of the houses are fiat, and
are places OF recreation; and the peo-
pie wear sandals, as in the East, in
olden time. Wheat, Indian-corn, and
herds Of cattle, sheep and goats, the
banana and red pepper, and garlic and
onions, are the principal sources Of sub.
sistence. The products Of the mines
are the principal articles Of foreign ex-
change, added to woods, besides tallow
and cochineal. Ga1 .+@, a,
The extreme dryness Of Mexico makes
necessary in most Of the coun.
try, and the scarcity Of water and the
habits Of the people, collect the inhabi.
tants into the cities or villages. The
land itself is owned by a few large pro-
prietors, not the least Of whom are tho
priests The great mass Of the people
are serfs with but few morerights than
the American slaves. It is true that
the children Of serls are not Of necessi-
ty also serfs, but debt brings, slavery,
and the wages allowed, by law almost
always perpetuate it. Here then is the
secret Of the success OF our arms.
freely with the tenantry and
soldiers in all Mexico. and where they
are not filled with religious enthusiasm
against US, they care not who rules
them, American or Mexican masters.
II all the Mexican soldiers were free
holders and freemen, not one Of all the
army could escape from her
borders. Tie soldiers. are caught up
in the haciendas and the streets Of The
Towns, BY force confined in some prison
Or convent, there drilled, clothed, arm.
I'D, and then sent on to, the, regular
army. Such men avoW their resolu-
lion, to run or desert on the FIRST, occnr
sion. OF near one thousand soldiers
sent from Toluca, to the: aid Of Santa
Anna at Mexico, not one hundred
stood the battle, sg ~ 4.@T I'M, ~
The whole people, do not exceed
.ight millions, of these, about two, mil
ions are white and mixed bloods; tho
'emainderare native Indians. lneyer,
D. all Mexico, with the, exception of
oreigners in the capital, saw a single
white, man at work. Wherever there
5 slavery, there is labor 'diskonorable;
md it is more creditable to rob than 10
work! Yet Mexico surpasses the slave
States Of America in manulactnres,-
IS, Rome. was oyerFun by the barbara
ms, SO is Mexico now by the, Ameri-
ans; the slaves will not 6ghtr-the
masters are. TOO few todetend the COON
rv. Riuofrv eir, reIirion has ahaaad