Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1848-07-15
MEXICO.
BY CASSIuS NJ. CLAY.

1t is no doubt expected Of me TO give some
ideas Of Mexico and the present war Mex
leo extends from about latitude l6 north to AZ
degrees from the Gulf of Mexico to the Paci-
fic, and was in extend. before the loss of Tex
as, about as large as the United States. 1t
embraces all the climates of the world, ard
rises in temperature from the tropical plants
of Vera Cruz and Acapulco to the regions OF
perpetual snow The Rocky Mountains, which
seperate US from Oregon, extend through all
Mexico, and her whole surface is composed
of table lands and Mountains, which rise in
steps from the Gulf and the Rio Grande, to
the highest level, and then descend in rcgu-
/ lar gradations once more TO the Pacific. She
has no navigabe streams. and the mountains
and arid plains compose, | should image,
seven-eights of the whole territory. 1t is now
three hundred years since the Spanish con-
quest, and her population has long since reach
ed that barrier where nature imposes eternal
obstacles to further progress where the whole
products of the earth are economically con-
sumeG by the people. No doubt, better
Ilation but at present, to use the language of
Malthus, she has reached the point of subsis-
tence. 1t is irne, that the remote provinces
of California and New Mexico, and those bor-
dering upon the Rio Grande, and subject to
Indian invasions, contain some uncutivated
lands but the proposition, as above stated,
applies TO the mass of Mexico. For in the
greater portion of the whole Republic, wo-
men and children may be seen picking up
,. grains of corn in the highways, and the rinds
of fruit thrown in the streets are immediate
h " seized and consumed. So soon as you
cross the Rio Grande you feel yourself in
foreign land Mexico has no forests. 1t 4
true. that along the streams and OH noun
taiu-tops there are trees, but you are struci
with this great characteristic that the land i
/. bare of trees. The humorous varieties OF th'
ss Cactus of all sizes, intermiXed with oalmet
Id to, stunted or long grass, cover the who'll
land. You are among people of move
color, and strange language. The YER
birds and beasts, and dogs, seem different
pa,ridge, the lark, the crow, the black-bird
y differ in size and plumage, and sing different
- " from ours The buildings are OF Moors
!" and Spanish style, The goat and the shee
% feed together. The brick are OF clay an
- straw, sundried. The women go with ear'i
nc ern vessels, to the well, just as Rachel wa
:" sent of old in the time OF the Pa'riarchs
e. Judea. The roofs of the houses are fiat, an
nc places of recreation and the people wei
u sandals as in the East, in olden time. Whe
''s Indian corn, and herds of cattle, sheep al
ou goats. the banana and the red pepper, al
"a, garlic and onions are the principal sources
'' subsistence. The products of the mines
~ ~ the principal articles of foreign exchange,
.o, ded TO woods, besides tallow and cochihe'
Is, The extreme dryness of Mexico makes
Tho rigatian necessary in'most ofthe country, al
Ter the scarcity of water, and the habits oi
ri. people, collect the inhabitants into cities
es, villages. The land itself is owned by Il
her large proprietors, not the ieas, OF whom
..r the pries,s. Tie great mass Of the ,peol
are serfs, with but few more rights than
merican slaves II is true that the childI
AVE of serfs are moi Of necessity also serfs,
can debt brings slavery, and the wages allow
nu- by law almost always perpetuate it. n
ave then is the secret Of the success'of our ari
eral + conversed freely with thetenansry and !
the diers in all Mexico, and whore they We
of filed with religious enthusiasm against
md, they care not who rules them, American
elu. Mexican masters. II al tho Mexicsn psla
bet were fresbolders and ffsernss, not sts o.
s the American army could escape from