The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1849-01-17
from the N. Y Spirit of the Times
Yankee Preaching in Mexico.
BY AN OFFICER OF THE U. $. ARMY.

| Yankee Preaching in Mexico.
OFFICER THE U. s. ARMY.
While visiting the Gulf posts in the enemy's
country, short time before the evacuation, the
following incident was told me, which | have
thought, even poorly narrated, might do service in
spare corner of the SPIRIT It is well known
that in active army operations, every considerable
| depot is blessed with the presence of numerous
| sharp traders, and enterprising camp followers,
ever eager 10 supply the wants ofthe Government,
in consideration of the dimes with which its Off
| GERS and agents are well provided. To was
no exception. On the contrary, composition there
| was uncommony active for time. until one indi-
vidila more insinuating than the rest soon obtained
the Of the Quartermaster and through it nearly
all the contracts; that for draft animals from the
| great number required being vastly profitable. A
distant approach to monopoly in this latter trade
was deemed secure fortune. The envysof his
distant competitors was naturally excited and their
| complaints correspondingly bitter exposing the
| hidden arts employed, and commaRfiug the WISH
| BILE manGuvrng, which so far 7outstripped their
dull conceptions.
The lucky CONTRACTORS well-known sutler
ycept MAJOR, had never, from Corpus Christi men,
ory, been noted as a pious man-but quite the
verse Now, the principal disbursing agent al T..
and who was specifically charged with the duty of
procuring mules from that part of the enemy's
country, was man of exemplary Christian char
acter and Notwithstanding wrong, and sus-
pecting none in Ohers-and who loved, naturally,
the society OF those persons Who were, with him,
of one mind. First in all acts to promote in those
benighted regions the truth and the light, it
his ambition and ardent desire to assemble the peo
Pile on the seventh day, that they might profit by
gospel instruction. But loi here were the hearers,
but where was the speaker Where might they
look for the sanity and gifted brother to refresh
| their thirsty seAlss This responsible duty
undertaken by the Major, and lie dscoursed for
one or two days very modesty and acceptably.
Encouraged by his success, he resolved to preach
asset sermon, took a text and proceeded according
to rule, from lstly upwards His text was, What
shall it profit man., etc. On this he Started with
the ease and self possession of Stephen Burroughs
Coming at length to apply and illustrate and
improve" he encountered a thick chaparra,
through which the road was extremely difficult.
:" Think of.it my friends he proceeded most
earnestly, reflect upon it. What as money but
filthy, worldly dross Does it allay thurst hun
gera Will it supply mans wants in the trackiess
desert! Will it bring rain, avert sickness, or
restore the dead to life : Then what is it, for the
possession of which, man, who is OF few days and
full of trouble should toll and strive neglectng
his duties to God and his neighbors What shall
it profit if he gain the whole world The whole
world! large possession truly Now, beloved,
suppose of us had this entire earth, and all his
fellow beings were deEendent on his bounty and
subject to his will! Would he be happy! Would
he not cheerfully lay down his too great burden
Give the Sierra Madre all in diamonds, would he
be happy! Would his sleep be sweeter, and
would not the fear Of robbers harass him without
|
not every breath that agitates the leaf remind him
of storms, and bring him dreams of disasters
Dear friends, my heart truly bleedeth, when /
view the apathy that reigns in your midst Would
that might speak in g words that burn" and re-
veal the precipce whereon you stand.
But again; what shall it profit!' Had one of
us $4,000, would he invest it for good Would
he send Bibles and clothing to the benghted and
naked heather Would he contribute to the sup
port of the poor ministers of the gospel-the faith
f,I in ho ryarI1 Darho of
those who now hear mel mourn and agoniZe lest
such things have been, since the beginning of this
wicked and heaven-denounced war against our
brothers of Mexico--woud adventure this sum in
merchandise. The said merchandise to be intro
duced into this mart, between two days, when the
watchman of the customs sleepeth-or under the
broad sunlight, in q happy moment, when he is
open 10 CONNECTION 1t may be that some would
bring it hither in jugs and demjohns, with pros
pective profits of 500 per cent? these securely i'm
bedded in the ordinary containers of Flour and
Sugar, and Rice and Tobacco, and other elements
Of the staff oflife. Oh, my friends may hope and
trust that not one of you would commit this foul
deed, and thus undermine and destroy the profits
of the legitimate and authorized trader. Yet the
father of evil is ever seeking TO devour some frail
mortal, and / should neglect a solemn duty did |
fail to warn, from this sacred desk, the appointed
guardians of the of some of the so fatal
to ones beloved country and her institutions
destructive to the cause of morals and religon-and
so injurious to the fair and licensed trader.
Is But again even $4,000 is sum large to most
of us-vet what would it profit You cannot carry
it out of the world. Then what would you do with
it, or you-or you-or you ?'' pointing with an ora
torica flourish at each repetition to different indi
viduas before him.. At length, an old stager, well
known to the Corpus Christi army, and from that
place, Judge H--ys, could contain himself no
longer. When the finger pointed at him, and in
the momentary pause succeeding the searching
question: the Judge broke the solemn silence, by
answering in a loud shrill tone, Lay 1t out IN
mules"
Shall attempt to portray the effect9 Fhe au-
dience was convulsed-many rushed TO the door
for relief None scarcely attempted restraint. The
Mexicans present, though understanding neither
the language the joke, vet joined in the chorus,
evidently pleased with this Of our religious
ceremonies. The holy man maintained himself
with becoming gravity and self possession for a
moment, and made feeble attempt to proceed, but
soon gave up in despair, not unwillingy to join in
the general expression, to which his nature and
disposition were ways averse, and the g meet
ing'' this day broke up without the customary ex-
ercse of prayer song.
Thus ended the &c voluntary system" in the town
of r ROGER.