Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1848-06-01

themselves and their country glory in many
a well-fought battle, but whether any mari
of that glory should enure to the benefit OF
this incompetent and laundering Admins.
tration, is another question. But, under the
head ofbrevity, the Executive and his friend.
soon found themselves sadly mistaken. The
first collision took place on the Rio Grandt
by the attack on Thornton's cavalry, on the
goth of April, lS46 and consequently the
war has lasted almost two years. But it wa:
early perceived that the war would not be
short one, and therefore we find the Presi
dent in his message on the 9Th of Decem
Der, lS46, using the following language
1.-The war has not been waged with view
to conquest, but having been commenced BY
Mexico, it has been carried into the enemy's
country with view to obtain an honorable
peace, and thereby secure an ample indem.
nifty Tor the expenses of the war, as well as
to our much injured citizens, who hold
large pecuniary demands against Mexico"
And then again, in his message to Congress
at the commencement of the present ses.
sion, he says: Since the liberal PROPOSE.
ton of the United States was authorized to
be made in April last, large expenditures
have been made, and the precious blood Of
many of our patriotic fellow citizens has
been shed in the prosecution of the war;
This consideration, and the obstinate perse-
verance of Mexico i'll protractng the war,
must influence the terms of peace which il
may be deemed proper hereafter to accept"
And then he adds eve demand an honor
able peace, and that peace must bring with
Il indemnity for the past and security for the
future" Nothing could be more obscure
than this language.
! After commenting further on the con-
duct of the Executive, Mr. Smith proceeds
to consider the value of the Territory ac-
CURED
| have resorted to many sources of nfor-
nation, and think it is in my power to lay
before the committee all the facts which are
essential to the formation of a correct opin-
ION OF the value, as acquisitions, of the nor
thern States of Mexico, and particularly of
the countries comprised in the treaty now
before the Senate. This information will
proceed to lay before this honorable body in
as condensed form as possible, and then
will submit on the entire case such remarks
as are called for by the nature of the SUBJ
ject and the Importance of the interests at
stake.
| And, first, l desire to call the attention
OF the committee to an extract from letter
from the late Col. j. J. Hardin, dated at A.
qua Nueva, December 26, 1916, and add
dressed to my honorable friend from YER
mont, (Mr. ColIamer,) who has had the
goodness to put it into my hands, to be u.s.
ed on the present occasion. Col. Hardin,
as is well known, was distinguished men,
Der of the 2Stn Congress, "a Mexican
Wing y and soon after the war broke out
proceeded to Mexico at the head of the LIST
regiment of Illinois Volunteers, was present
at the glorious battle of Buena Vista and
there laid down his life in the service of his
country. General Taylor, in his report to
the Government, speaks in the highest terms
OF his gaantry and good conduct on that
memorable occasion. Col Hardin SAYS:
The part of Mexico through which |
have marched is very sparsey settled. Pre-
sido has about 1900; Nava, 500; San Fer
nando, 1900; Santa Rosa, 1000: Mon
clova, from 3 to 7,O00 Parras, 6 to g 1000
Saltillo, IL to $1,000 inhabitants. We have
passed about fifty ranches and haciendas
and the population of all the country through
winch we have passed is not more than hal
that of the towns The land from the Ric
Grande to Santa Rosa, ITO miles, is leve
prairie covered with grass, and pretty fail
soil, but destitute of timber and water
From Santa Rosa to this place the country
is mountain and valley: the valleys often
rich, Though not always with a few small
streams; the mountains always barren
neither grass or timber growing on any we
have seen, until we arrived within few
miles OF this place, where have seen somt
on the mountains Timber land is thing
unknown in Mexico. Wood is worth IS
per cord at Monclora-very poor at that
20 cents the jackass load at Parras, or Sc
to $40 the cord, and is nothing but little
sticks. AT Saltllo it is worth still more
and is carried fifteen to twenty miles or
packs.
" No land is or can be cultivated in Mex.
leo, except by irrigation. The Mexicans
evlnce great ingenuity III their arrangement
oil water for irrigating purposes, but they
are poor farmers. Their plough consists OF
a straight beam with coulter of wood
which is sometimes covered with iron about
three inches broad 1t is the same pattern
! "' 'iN 'iN hNoh'"i piouRH. oxen are las
tened to the beam by strips of raw hides
tied around their horns. The driver holds
the single handle in one hand and long
goad in the other, and touches the one or
| the other of them as he wishes to change
/ his course.
I They raise fine corn at Moncloya, and
from there to the Rio Grande, and pretty
good at Parras and Patos, (35 miles from
this, but much in this vicinity seems very
poor. Wheat is raised in the vicinity of
Moncloya and Parras. A large quantity of
grapes is also raised in the latter place
which is manufactured into excellent wine
and brandy. Sugar cane, cotton, and 9TH
err southern productions grow a, Moncova
most of them luxuriantly. Fine vegeta-
bles are raised not that they can be cult
waited at all seasons OF the year. | saw peas
and lettuce just springing up at Parras a
week ago. So much for its good qualities
but there are some not so desirable. The
whole country is miserably watered Large
districts hare no watsr at all. The streams
are small and great distance apart. One
day we marched, ON the road from Monclo-
va 10 Parras, thirty,foe miles withom wa,er
"a pretty severe days march for infantry