Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1848-05-11
Mexico.
BY CASSIUS n. CLAY.

Di NAoSioo SLhf.
It's, no doubt, expected Of me to give some
ideas of Mexico and the present war. Mexico
extends from about latitude / s morrill, 10 420 from
lbe Gulf of Mexico TO The Pacific and was in
extent, before ,he loss Of Texas, about as large
as The United Slales. Ii embraces all The eli.
males of The world, and rises in temperature
from The tropical plains of Vera Cruz and Aca-
puca TO the regions OF perpetual snow. The
Rocky Mountains, which separates 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 he highes, level, and
then descends in regular gradallons once more
10 the Pacific. She has no navigable streams,
and the mountains and arid plains compose,
should imagine, seven-eis slts Of The whole Terri
tory. 1t is now three hundred years since
the Spanish conquest, and her population has
long since reached that barrier where nature
imposes eternal obstacles 10 further progress,
where he whole products of The earth are eco
nomicalIy consumed by the people. No doubt,
better mode of agriculture would increase her
population; bul at present, TO use The language
of Mal,hus, she has reached the point OF sub
sisrence. Ii Is rue, thai the remos~provinces
of California and New Mexico, and those bor-
dering upon the Rio Grande, and subject 10
Indian invasion, contains some uneultvated
lands; but The proposIlon as above stated, ap-
plies to the mass of Mexico. For in the grea.
ter portion Of the whole Republic, women and
children may be seen picking up grains of eorn
IN the highways, and the rinds OF fruit thrown
ia The streets are Immediately seized and con-
sumed. So soon as you cross The Rio Grande
you feel yourself in foreign land. Mexico has
no forests. Ii is true, along the streams aud
on mounlain tops there are trees. but you are
struck with this great characteristic, that The
land is bare of Irees. The numerous varieties
of Cactus of all sizes, inIermixed with Palmel-
to. sIaunted or long grass, cover the whole land.
You are among people of novel color, and
a strange language. The very birds and beasts,
aud dogs, seem different. The paridge, lhe
aud plumage, and sing differently from ours
The buildings are of Moorish and Spanish style.
The goat aud sheep feed together. The bricks
are of clay and straw. sundried. The women
60 with ear.hen vessels to the well, just as Ra-
cheI was sem of old in the time of the Pariarchs
of Judea The roofs Of The houses are fiat, aud
places recreauon. aud the people wear sandals
d, in The East, in olden lime.-Wheat, Indian
corn, and herds Of cattle. sheep and goats. the
banana and red-pePef, and garlic and onions,
are The principal sources of subsistence
The products Of the mines are the principal
ARTICLES of foreign exchange, added TO woods i,
besides lallow and cochinea;
The extreme dryness of Mexico makes ire
ga non necessary In mosl of the country, and the
scarciry of wafer, and habits of The people, col
Iecl the inhabl,ah,s .iu,o cities or villages
The land rself is owned by few large propr.
riors, not The least Of whom are The priests.
The great mass Of the people are serls, with
bu. few more rights than American slaves. II
is true ,ha, the children of ser(s are no. of me-
cessty also .erfs. but debt brings slavery, and
the wages allowed by law almost always per.
.peluare H. Here then Is The secret of the sue
cess of our arms | conversed freely with The
ienau,ry aud soldiers in all Mexico, and where
they are not filled with religious enthusiasm
against US, they care not who rules ihem Amer
lean or Mexican masters. If all The Mexican
/ soldiers were freeholders and freemen, not one
of all the American army could escape from
her borders. The soldiers are caught up in
The Haclsndas and The streets Of the towns, by
force confined in some prison or convent. there
drilled ..clo,hed. armed and then sent on 10 the
regular army Such men a;ow their resolution
to desert or run off on the first occasion. vi
near one thousand soldiers set from Tauca, 10
The AID of Santa Anna al Mexico, not one hun.
dred stood The batlle.