Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1848-05-03


had been sufficient, without any effort to
carry it into execution. When we start
ed Cuarnavaca was III sight. At 10 o.
clock we arrived within one mile OF the
town, and halted for the Governor to come
out and meet us, which he did accompa-
MED by his escort. After the necessary
compliments between our officers and the
governor and escort had been gone through
with, we buttoned up our coats and tried
to look as well as we could on our grand
entree into the city. We Strengthened our
force out in line as follows: lst, Georgia
Battalion Of mounted men; I'd, one Bate
ry Of four guns Flying Artillery; Sd, !
Reg. U. S. Infantry; 4th, 18th Reg. Z.
I S. Infantry. All right, steam up, in good
spirits, and no screws loose, we marched
on until we arrived at the suburbs of the
town, when our colors were unfurled,
and we marched in, to the good old tune
of jefferson and Liberty" We have
good quarters here and enjoy ourselves
firstrate. 1t is warmer here than in the
valley of Mexico. Fruit of all kinds is
abundant and very cheap. The people
are very friendly to US. They are be-
ginning to understand that Uncle Sam is
boss Of these diggins. Messrs. Webster.
Clay, Corwin & Co., are to become hon
orary members Of the Mexican Natural
Philanthropic Society, as compliment
for the part they have taken in behalf Of
Mexico; SO say our American papers pub
l;,b.,I -, Al, III, oe Mox;oo % fbo,, b,,,,
translated it from the Mexican journals.
What in the name of God must such men
think of themselves
l now propose to give you a short
sketch Of things in Mexico, and the gen
eral state of society. Although Mexico
claims to be a republic, yet she is more
like an aristocracy than anything can
compare her to. The poor are miscrably
poor, and rich are most miseraJly rich.-
No man is allowed the privilege of the
elective franchise without a property
qualification. | think | have seen the
most wretched looking beings here l ever
saw in my life. The poor are nearly all
held in slavery by the rich, which per-
haps, will surprise you, as Mexico boasts
of having no slaves. 1t happens in this
wise; poor man by necessity becomes
indebted to rich landholdcr, he has no
other means of paying him than by his
labor; he is allowed so much per day for
his labor, for which he is credited, and
at the same time is charged with every
item, whether of victuals or clothes, and
at the end of the year his accounts are
balanced and the poor serf finds himself
deeper in debt than when he commenced:
and so it goes on from one years end to
another, the debt still increasing, and is
finally entailed On his posterity. And SO
they continue in bondage from one gen
Grafton to another, without any hope or
prospect Of their ever being liberated.
The condition of our slaves is enyiable
when compared with the scrfs Of Mexico.
Our negroes have coarse but comfortable
food and raiment, which is not the case
with these people. They have hardly
clothes enough to hide their nakedness and
have to subsist on a very scanty allow
ance Of food. They never eat any meat
except the otfals Of animals thatare butch
cred. Yet they perform vast deal OF
hard labor, and carry immense burthens
On their backs. All kinds of produce is
carried to market on the backs of men,
mules and asses. There is one class of
beings that live in the mountains and get
their living by burning coal and cutting
wood, which they load on their backs and
carry down into the valleys to sell to the
people in the cities and towns. One Of
these men will carry six or seven BUSH
else of coal, perhaps ten or twelve miles
to market.
| Though Mexico claims to be indepcn-
dent Of old Spain, yet she is fac smile
of her in every particular. There is no
progression or Improvement here, nor is
there in old Spain. She must have her
standing army and horde of military
chiefs TO dictate to the civil authorities,
and eat out her substance; so has Spain.
She is guilty Of the same excuses that
Spain is heir to. In fact, can compare
her to nothing more than miserable gro
Gerry that is liable to be knocked into a
cooked hat at every little row. cannot
conceive that any Of her institutions have
any claims to republicanism.
If the United States should hold the
whole or any part of this country, think
it would be a good policy to colonize our
negroes and the abolitionists here among
the Mexicans, and think, betwixt the
nergoes and the yellow bellies, the aboli-
tionists might be able to bring out a breed
that would suit them.
Let the people Of the United States now
look at the sad condition of the people of
Nexico, and l think they will be better
able to appreciate the blessings of our
own government. Or let our numerous
hordes of croakers be subjected to the
burthens of the poor Mexicans for sea
son, and think they would be satisfied
with things as they are.
You must not believe what the wing
papers say about Gen. PrLLow; they are
a pack of liars when they say that he is
not brave, or is not military man. He
goes here by the name of ''the brave Pill
low"
Yours, respectfully,
A. r. SAUSMAN.
u We understand that the notes of
the Norwalk and Sandusky Banks. Ohio.