The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-04-13
From the PHILADELPHIA North American


II is not long since admitted inclination TO be-
eve that the republic Of Mexico. shocked by the caam
tiles OF war and stung by the example OF American ygor
from the death lethargy into which she had been long
sinking, beginning to show signs of life and
energy and that she had better prospect than ever
before of advancing the paths Of civilization and ma
tional progress This idea that does seem sup
ported by the accounts have of the suferngs from
wild Indians in the northern States of Sonora Chihuahua
Durango &C., where is continually displayed such hu-
initiating spectacle of popular helpessness and govern
mental imbecity as the world never, elsewhere, has
seen paralIeed These States overrun and
ravaged at will by savagesmere wreiched naked In
dian5-befoe whom the Hispano Mexicans and the civil
zcd castles fly like sheep to the refuge OF walled towns
and even Mexican regular soldiers, it seems
maintain themselves. A band OF one hundred Apaches
sweeps all Sonora, defeating the troops, saugherng the
people, driving the cattle the civilized Indians
to nsurrecton until the wretched citizens. incapable OF
helping themselves and hopeless of aid from their gov
emment mediate general abandonment of their country
and escape to California where the double inducements
are offered OF gold the Sacramento and eectua proec
ton from savage foes by the stern resolution and strong
arms OF AmerCans-hOse same heartily detesed, "per
dious Yankees, whom they well know, the Indians dread
almost notquiie as much as they dread the Indians And
thus the work OF depopuaon goes on, and the northern
States OF Mexico are threatened with entire ruin and
unciion. How can this be reconced with the idea of
any state OF Improvement and progress, In our opinion
very easily. would prove great blessing to Mexico
could she of these northern States and Others
including several in the SOUTH atogelherand get rid of
them as quickly as possible Our rapacity would have
been the greater and inexcusabe, but we should
have done Mexico great deal of good-hat good which
the surgeon does who cuts away the gangened limbs or
morbid umors by which the healthy BODY is ppressed-
had we taken away from her all her immense territory
down to the northern lines of the States of Jaisco Zaca
tecas and San Lais Potos Another great benefit her
Chlapas, and Tabasco She has not the strength
and we doubt whether she will have-to govern
and protect these frontier dependencies. Her limits
Gaced within the boundaries remaining after such losses
she would present small and compact cluster of States
embracing nearly fve-sevenths of the whole population
surrounding the parent state and national metropolis
hp nj haIn Eont tor thar, "A
ruled by the central national influence, solar system
is regulated by its sun.
In fact, too terrory-and such territory-dis
united parts, remote fragments separated by mountains
and desertsa territory which she has no ability TO de-
tend from either the nroads OF savages or the oubusts
of rebels-is the great unhappness of Mexico, main
reason of her exhaustion and helpes.ness All raw re-
publcs should be small ones Apprentices in the art of
republican government should confne their efforts and
heir amo9n, with the small sphere of their knowl
edge and ability. All the attempts of Creole patriots to
found large republics have proved failures Colombia
though Constructed by the genius and power of Bolivar
iei 20 pieces, hike made of the fmsiest loan in
stead OF clay, In the hands Of the potter The smallest
OF the South American States seem, in general to have
been the most prosperous Mexico has always been too
large; and from the day when the republic founded
she has been falling to pieces and she will probably
hnqe to fall to pieces, until ultimately reduced by some
few well Peopled States which are capable of form
ing. if not by nature intended to FORM geographical
unit. allowing and compelling perfect political harmo.
OF about 275,ooo square miles-less than one fifth
her original before the days of Texan rebellion
and Independence, but still larger than the expanse
OF any OF the fist class States of Europe-larger than
tne parent State Spain, which, with Portugal add
cd only claims about 222 900 square mes-larger than
rr'ace which has but 900 square milesarger even
than the total Austrian empire, which has less than
100000 square miles present population of the ter
ritoy thus contracted is about five and quarter mil
lions-a little exceeding nineteen to the square mile
which is about dense as that of Kentucky. Peoped
on the same scale Austria, it would contain popula
ton Of thy-one millions; like France, foiy-four
millions. Such State, thus peoped would be among
the greatest States in the world The tendency of things
is towards this reduction The wild Indians in the north
and the civilized Indians in the south doing the work
OF fate or fortune; and although Mexico now mourns
the caamtes they heap upon her, she may have
hereafter to regard such enemies unreentng and
earbaous, her best friends the fathers of her strength
the authors of her regeneration
In such State have imagined, compact ard
popuous, presenting all geographical facilities instead Of
imPedments to good government, nothing could be ap-
pretended from the assaults of uncyilized Indians and
consprators against law and order, the ptifui military
demagogues from whom the country has suffered SO much
would plan their absurd and traitor with
the Danocleslkc sword of vengeance ever suspended
above their heads,