Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-10-28


Read, October l6ih, before The National Institute
When the Spaniards first landed the Mexican shor
they struck with horror Witnessing the bloody
rites which performed upon the affairs Of the Indai
deities Notwithstanding the rudeness Of that iron age
the offering of human victims and the abominaton o.
canniba repasts could not but inspire with adherence
the minds of christian people, and hence perhaps the
intolerance, so much complained of, which has been
stamped upon the early Spanish conquests in America.
Many books have since been published the subject,
pouring contempt and yuperaon upon the conquerors
of Mexico and Peru, denouncing their fanatcism and
that Of the priests and bishops who brought to these
countries the blessings Of the Gospel and exhibiting
of them as the most cruel oppressors of the Indians
shall undertake to the deeds Of violence
which perpetrated by the Spaniards; but, leaving
aside the wel-known Las Casas, we must acknowledge
that the bishops and other clergy in New Spain
ceased to raise their voices in favor Of the natives who
indebted their constant endeavors for not being
condemned to slavery Moreover, if, misled by their
zeal of them induced to destroy monuments
valuable for the history of America it be
bered that most Of the treasures which escaped
kindled by the blindness Of the first conquerors were a
forwards collected and preserved by the
Of the clergy must here state another fact quite
known to the present day that the Mexicans whose
fate, with dofefu complaints lament the victims
of Spanish anaticsm had themselves been the most in
tolerant sectarians of Anahuac
The history Of Mexico prior to the Aztec dominion
Tenochtlan is but continual series of wars and revo-
utions, caused by religious antagonism From the very
dawn of the Toltec civilization which brought to that
country forms of worship religious qusrrels arose
and gave birth to the factions well distinguished in
after times by the of their chief gods and leaders,
A. IN
green royal feashered serpent the symbol of peace Of
mdness and justice, abhorred human sacrifices He re-
ceived NO offerings but of snakes BIRDS and butterflies
OF the perfumes Of flowers and copa incense His priests
were obliged to abstain from carna pleasures he ap-
proved of fasting and abstinence of corporal maceraons
the most conspicuous of which to prick oneself with
the huge maguey thorns that afterwards presented
mbued with gore to the affairs of the deity Quetzalco
huatl at the of the God and the highest
title Of the Supreme Pont of his religion who used
wear the same garments being his Lifting personifca
ton on earth Tetzcatlipoca, the burning smoking
mirror the perpetual adversary of Quetzalcohua was
the contrary considered the God of Discord and
War. He was called Yaotzin, the Fiend and also
Neeoc -Yastl sower of discord.
From the beginning of the eighth century the city of
Colhaacan, situated the shores of the Mexican lake
appears the metropolis of Anahuac the principal
seat Of civilization; and Nauhyotzin is the first among
the chiefs whose is recorded as king He was
invested with the regal and sacerdoal power but after
his death these dgntes, being separated united again.
and once more separated, gave rise to many bloody
struggle Colhuacan obliged share the power with
the cities Of Tulla Tolau and Otumpua; and although
IS sovsregns maintained their supremacy they had to
acknowledge their brother Kings and their
pretensons. Hence the alliance which, ct later period,
ed in nowerful 80
Mexico, Tetzesco, and Tacopan in the time of the con-
quest The most distinguished of the Toltec moaarchs
Toplzn Cacatl Quetzalcohuatl King OF Tulla cee
brated aar for his grandeur and magncence Who after
fourishing reign Of twenty years. abandoned his king
dom, flying before his enemies and retired to the mystic
rious land of Tlapaan Tetzcatpoca overpowsred his
rival and for time the priesthood submitted to the
secular Kings During the whole of the eleventh century
the rival gods were again at the secaran contagon
spreading the whole Totec Empire The barbarian
and wild Chinchmee tribes Of the north had already
menced to threaten the frontiers Each party called them
their aid Pestlence and famine with the total me-
elect OF age adding calaities to the evils of civil
and religious conflict, finally caused the destruction of
the Toltec Empire and the last sparks of is civilization
blasted with the fall of its last monarch
From these ruins arose new order Of things and
civilization sprang from the ashes of the old Like
Rome after the fall of the Caesars the CITY of Cohuac.n
had preserved the sacred fire with the remainder of the
Totec people 1t was revived by the Colhuas and the
Acohuans Of Tetzeoco but the secaran feuis revived
with their civilization. After hard struggle the SUI
premacy Of Cohuacan fell forever in the wear 1347 and
transferred to the city Of Mexico which had been
founded but few years before. The Mexcans wearied
with the yoke Of their priests and Of the Princes of Azca
potzacc, placed their throne Acomapich the lawful
heir Of the crown Of Cohuacan which was hencefortb
united to that Of Tenochttan.
But these revolutions did not put an end to the reli
gious discussions With the heirship Of the Colbnas
Mexico received the worship of their gods and Tezcat
lpoca placed on the footing with Huitzilopo-
chtl in the great Teocall Of the Mexican God of War
Since the ruin OF their city the Colhuas had been
scattered all over the adjacent countries Filled with
spirit Of fanatcal proseysm they earnestly endeayored
20 spread abroad the worship of their detes and espe
ciay OF Tetrsaticopa. The lords of Quauhtan whose
subjects had never before acknowledged any worship but
that of the Sun and Of Mith deied hero in honor Of
whom they annually pierced with arrows prisoner Mt
tached crossways to tree, then embraced the Cohua
religion superb temple raised above FIVE rows Of
terraces was erected in Quauhttlan by Xaltemoctzin
Prince OF the Chchnecs of that city, who witnessed with
terror the numberless human mon he
affairs Of the Fiend But many were found among them
whose conscience recoiled from those dreadful rites A.
hrt they were left undsturbed but about the middle Of
the fifteenth century the Kings Of Mexico and Tezcoco
harhg, ~ inc rum OF the Tepanec Empire of Azcopot.
Ialco, established their supremacy the other ,;s
Of Anahuac. The Mexican monarch eYersJ ). ae
force upon bis new subjects the awful worsbip ~ he
deities. Penalties were denounced auain.t tbosa ,b
refused TO yield; soon after they were driven ;nt h
ishren their property confscated bv the (;ovsr
men' ana death nardiy seemed punishment equal to
the offence Striking instances of this nersacn,or 90
related by the Mexican chronicer of ouauban SrarI
noble Chichimecs having reraned from the cercmon;
Of the great fast and Of the sacred festivals ethho5
in their country by the Colhuas were brought hsso
Ttaoohuat, King Of the Mexcans and upon their refus