Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-01-22
MEXlCo AND THE MEx1CaNs.

MEXICO AND THE MEXICANS.
The nondescript government of Mexico is still in
an unsettled state. On the 23i of December Comon.
fort Issued address to the people, in which be says:
"in accepting the dicatoral powers which the plan
of Tacubaya places in my hands, owe to the forces
that have proclaimed 1t as vel as to the whole re-
public plain and loyal assurance which will take
from them all fear of the Indefinite duration of the
abusive extension of my power" He also says .'ib.
erty and religion arc the two principles which form
the happiness Of na;ions.' Comonfort, We think, is
patriot and man Of sense, but doubt that he will
prove equal to the task Of restoring his unhappy
country to prosperity and peace.
The Mexican people have an idea of consii.
tutional liberty which they incapable of embody
ing into any practical form o. government Indeed in
their frequently recurring revolutions they remind US
forcibly of the French. They are unsteady, dscon.
tented and factous. Monarchy ia repugnant 10 them
and yet it that self government can exist with
them only in theory. Whether Comonfort will be able
to sustain himself is matter somew hat difficult to de
termine. Itmay be shut he will weather the Storm
and eventually quiet the factions and feuds harrass
his people, But it is said that Santa Anna is now n
in power. If that be true, the government of Spain
i, doubtless abetting him with All eye TO her own in
terest.
An infusion OF Anglo American energy AMI intel
ligence 10 evidently needed by Mexico. And the day
may not be very far in the future when an emargen.
cy may arise, which may direct the attention Of our
government in that quarter. Spain or England or
France will probably either mako oyertures to that
distracted country, or attempt its subiugaton. And
should it be so, the interests OF the United States
will demand our intervention.
We would not be- astonished if the next news from
Mexico tells Of a terrible civil war What the result
will he it is impossible to predict.
A THRILLING MOMENT AT LUCKNOW.
The British war in India has been attended with
many Of thrilling interest, and there have not
been wanting pens to picture them with startling ef-
fsot. The following graphic description Of the scene
nt the momen, of the arrival of the relief long,
painfully awaited by the rescued party, equals in dra,
matte intensity the best descriptive passages of Sir
Walter Scott
death stared US in the face. We we're fully per.
,uaded that in "a hours all would be over. The eng:.
neers had said so and all knew the worst. We women
strove to encourage each other, and 10 perform the
fight duties which had been assigned usi such
yeyiug orders to the batteries, and supplying the
men with provisions, especially cups OF cofee which
we prepared day and night. had gone out 10 try
and make myself useful, in company with Jessie
Brown the wife Of corporal in my husbands .egi
| ment. Poor Jeasie had been in state Of restless
excitement all through the siege, and she had fallen
| away visby within the last few days.
constant fever consumed her. and her miud wan
dered occasionally, especially OH that dag, when the
recollec,ions OF home aeemsd powerfully present to
| har NAT pit fat ati,rna sh n Y M.
on the ground, wrapped up in her plaid. l sat be-
eide her. promising to awaken her when, che said,
her "father should return from the plouahlng." She
| at length fell into profound slumber m0tloness and
apparently breathess her head restng in my lap. j.
myself, could no longer resist tho INCLINATION 10 SLEEP,
| in spite of the continued roar of cannon Suddenly
/ was aroused by wild unearlhly scream close to my
ear my companion stood upright beside me, her arms
raised and her head bent forward in the attitude ot
listening A look of intense delight broke over her
countenancc. she grasped my hand, drew towards
her, and exclaimed "Dnna ye hear III Dinna ye hear
III Ay, I'm no dreamip', it's the slogan o the High
landers! We're saved we're sared!" Then, fling.
ing herself her knees, she thanked God with pas
sonate fervor.
! felt utterly bewdered my English ear herd
only the roar Of artillery, aud thought my poor
Jessie still raving but che darted to the batteries
and beard her cry necessarily TO tho men, "Cru
rage hark to the sIogan-to the Macgregor, lie
grsndest Of them all. Here's help at lsst." To de
scribe the effect of these words upon the soldier:
firing. md every sOul listened in intense anxiety
Gradually, however, there arose nurmur of bitter
disappointment and the wailing Of the women who
had hocked out began anew as the Colonel shook biz
head. Our dull lowland ears heard nothing but the
rattle of the musketry.
A few moments more Of this deathlike suspense, d
this agonizDg hope and Jessie, who had again sunk
on the ground sprang 10 her feet and cried III voct
30 clear aud piercing that it was heard along the
whole line 'Will ye no believe 1t nool The slogGr
has ceased, indeed, but the Carpbells are comm
Dye hear, dye heart" At that moment we ssemet
indeed to hear the voice of God in the distance wher
the bagpipes Of the Hghlanders brought us tiding'
of deliverarce for now there was no longer any doub
of the fact. That shr, penetrating, ceascess sounds
which rose above all other sounds could come neither
from the advance Of the enemy nor from the work o
the Ssppers No, it Yves indeed the blast Of the
Scottish bagpipes now shrill and harsh, nj
threatening vengeance on tho foe, then in solie
tones seeming to promise succor to their friends
in need. Never. surely, was there such soens ~
that which followed. Not heart in The Resi-.
dsncy of Lucknow but bowed itself before Cod
All, by one simultaneous impulse, fell upon theil
knees, al nothiug was heard but bursting sobs ant
the murmured voice of prayer. Then all arose, anc
there rang out from thousand lips great shout o.
Joy, which resounded far and wide, and lent new
vigor to that blessed bagppe. To our cheero "Goc
save the Queen!'' they replied i'll the well know
strain that moves every Scot 20 teare, "Should aulc
acquaintance he forgot" &c. After that nothing els,
made any impression on me. l scarcely remeInbe
what followed. Jessie was presented to the Genera
on his entrance into the fort and at the officers ban
Quet her health drunk by all present, while ths
pipers marched round The table, playing once mort
the familiar air of "Aud lang syne."
Who can read that without tingling Of the blood
1t reminds us Of Byron's splendid description OF tht
exciting scenes at Brussels Just bsfors the battle o
! Waterloo,