Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1848-04-13
MEXICO.
ny CAssIUS NJ. CLAY.

lVVSCut MAJ. .HtAWO eXtenOS rom
aboai Is north; 10 42 deg. from the
Gulf Of Mexico to the Pacific; and was
in extent, before the loss of Texas,
about as large as the United S,ate>.--
!. embraces all the climates Of the
world, and rises in temperature from
the tropical plains Of Vera Cruz and
Acapulco to the regions Of perpetual
snow. The Rocky Mountains, which
separate us from Oregon, extend ,hro'
all Mexico, and her whole surface is
composed o!table lands and mountains,
wnlch rise in steps from the Gulf and
the Rio Grande, to the highes, level,
and then descend in regular gradaiionS
once more to the Pacific. She has no
nayigable streams, and the mountains
and arid plains compose, | should i'm
agne, seven-eish's of the whole terri
:ory. It's now three hundred years
since the Spanish conquest, and her
population has reached that barrier
where nature imposes eternal obstacles
TO further progress, where the whole
products of the earth are economi-
cally consumed by the people,
No doubt, better mode of agri-
culture would increase her popula
ton, but at present, to use the lam
guage Of Mallhus, she has reached the
point Of subsistence. Il is true, tina,
the remote provinces of California and
New Mexico, and those bordering up
on the Rio Grande, and subject to In
dian invasions, contains some unculli-
waited lands; but the proposition, as
above stated, applies to the mass Of
Mexico. For in the greater portion Of
the whole Rpub!ic, women and chill
dren may be seen picking up grains of
corn in the highways, and the rinds of
fruit thrown in the streets and imme
dia.ely seized and consumed. So
soon as you cross the Rio Grande you
feel yourself in a foreign land Mexico
has no forests. |, is true, that along
the streams and on mountain tops there
are trees, bu; you are struck with this
grea, characteristic, that the land is
bare of,rees. The Numerous varieties
Of the Cactus Of all sizes, intermIXed
with Palmetto stun.ed, or long grass,
cover the whole land. You are among
people of novel color, and strange
language. The very birds and beasts,
and dogs, seem different. The par
fridge, the lark, the crow, the black
bird, differ in size and plumage, and
sing differently from ours. The bull
dings are Of Moorish and Spanish
style. The goat and sheep feed to-
geiher. The bricks are of clay and
straw, dried. The women 60 with
earthen vessels to the well, just as RAJ
che was sen, of old in the time Of the
Patriarchs of Judea. The roofs the
houses are fat, and places of recrea-
ton; and ME people wear sandals as in
the East, ir olden time. Wheat, In.
dian corn, and herds Of cattle, sheep
and goats, the banana and red pepper,
and garlic and onions, are the princi-
pal sources 81 Subsistence. The pro-
ducts the mines are the principal
articles of foreign exchange. added to
woods, besides tal!ow and cochineal.
The extreme dryness Of Mexico
makes irrigation necessary in mos, of
the country, and the scarcity of water,
and the habits of the people, collect the
inhabitants into cities or villages
Che lanI itself is owned by few
large proprie,ors, no: the least of
whom are She priests. The great
mass of the people are serfs, with but
few more rights than American slaves.
ii is true that the children of SETS ARE
not o. necessity also serfs, but debt
brings slavery, and the wages allowed
by law almos, always perpe,uate it,
Here then is the secret of the success
ofour arms. conversed freely with
the tenantry and soldiers in all Mexico,
and where they are not filled with reli
gious enthusiasm against us, they care
not who rules them. American or Mex
lean masters. If all the Mexican sol
diers were treeholelers and freemcn,
not one of all the American army could
escape fom her borders. The soldiers
are caught up in the Haciendas and
the streets of the towns, by force con-
fined in some prison or convent, there
drilled, clothed armed and then sen, on
to the regular army. Such men avow
their resolution to desert or run on the
first occasion. OF near one thousand
soldiers sent from roiuca: 10 the aid
of Santa Anna at Mexico no, one hun
dred stood the battle.
The whole people do not exceed
eight millions: ofthese about two mil
lions are white, and mixed blocds; the
remainder are native indians. ! new
er, in all Mexico, with the exception
Of foreigners in the capital, saw a sim
nis white man at work.