The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1859-04-02

LECTURE or GEN. SHIELDS UPON MEXICO.

4
We copy from the Baltimore American the following
remarks Of Senator Shields delivered before the Catholic
Institute of Baltimore on Monday last
:. The subject of the lecture Mexico. We give
but brief reference to the leading ideas of his address
He commenced by describing the physical characteristics
of Mexico the beauty of the country the variety Of the
climate from the heats of the torrd to the regions
of perpetual Any plant which could grow in any
other country could grow in Mexico any animal which
could live in any other country could live in Mexico
The speaker alluded to the conquest of the country
by Spain-the Romans Of those times He believed that
the reports of history concerning the vast empire and adj
vanced civilization of the country when conquered were
greatly exaggerated He had much Of Mexico. From
Palo Alto under General Taylor, then under Gen Wool
aud finally under Gen Scott from Vera Cruz to the city
of Mexico. He knew also what Indians were. He had
lived among next neighbor TO them half his life, and
he had found in Mexico five millions of inhabitants who
were neither nor less than Indians, soened by
climate somewhat civilized gentle, and in their manner
temperate and fugal but still Indians, and he could not
believe their had possessed the high de-
gree of civilization attributed to them by Spanish hiso-
rians The accusation that the Spanards had exter,ni
mated the natives also untrue. They conquered.
subdued but did not exterminae them With the Span
ard the propagation of his faith was the chief object
He came with the sword in hand and the cross in
the other He plunIored all soldiers of that day
were pundere and exposed not the priests the devo
tees of the Indian God but that he exterminated the
people not true for there they arc STILL but slightly
changed perhaps from those who dWelt In Mexico at the
landing of CoItez. algs tlsH.3s5
'he lecturer spoke of the struggle which resulted in
freeing Mexico from Spain. They adopted our form OF
government; the model good, but probably it was
too far advanced for them The revolution succeeded
by two parties who contended for the mastery. They
were founded upon Masonic distinctions One party
the socaed Scotch Masons the other the York Aasons
The former comprised the respectable and intelli
gent classes men for inducing immigration OF the
stronger European The York Masons were
the natives; they called the other the foreign party;
they were for keeping Mexico for the Mexicans I'M
fortunately they prevailed They expelled forty thou
sand Spaniards from The country This gross act of in
justice did not pass unpublished, for the who could
be thus unjust towards others could not be just among
themselves and Mexico has eyer since been the field of
anarchy. a msr
he lecturer would not point out what should be the
policy of our country relative to the acquisition of Mex
co. but he would say he opposed to lIibusering II
we did take it ALL should take it by national and
open act lie spoke of the riches of Mexico and pointed
out that country and South America the future Indies
Of the United States.
'The lecturer also gave highly interesting sketch of
the captures of the city of Mexico. He said the true
history of that yet to be written All the at
temps so far had been unequal TO the subject Space
forbids our following him further. The lecture
throughout of unequaed interest and the speaker
saluted at its close with the most lively demonstrations
OF applause.