CHAPTER II. COLONIAL HISTORY OF MEXICO.* of Mexico by a. See p. 114. 1. A brief account of the conquest of Mexico by the 1. Conquest Spaniards, in the early part of the sixteenth century, has already been given. The conquest vested the sovereignty of the country in the crown of Spain, which guarantied that, on no account should it be separated, wholly or in part, from the Spanish monarchy. The whole extent of MEXICO is equal to nearly one-fourth of Europe, or to two-thirds of the United States and their territories, and is embraced between the 15th and 42d degrees of north latitude. Although the difference of latitude alone would naturally have the effect of producing considerable changes in the temperature of the more distant points, yet it is not to this circumstance, so much as to the peculiarity of its geological structure, that Mexico owes that singular variety of climate by which it is distinguished from most other countries of the world. The Andes Mountains, after traversing the whole of South America and the Isthmus of Panama, on entering the northern continent separate into two branches, which, diverging to the east and west, but still preserving their direction towards the north, leave in the centre an immense platform or table-land, intersected by the higher points and ridges of the great mountain chain by which it is supported, but raised, in the more central parts, to the height of 7000 feet above the level of the sea. In a valley of this table-land, at an elevation of 7000 feet, is situated the city of Mexico. (See Map) Upon the whole of this table-land the effect of geographical position is neutralized by the extreme rarefaction of the air; while, upon the eastern and western declivities, it resumes its natural influence as it approaches the level of the sea. On the ascent from Vera Cruz, the changing climates rapidly succeed each other, and the traveller passes in review, in the course of two days, the whole scale of vegetation. The plants of the Tropics are exchanged, at an early period, for the evergreen oak; and the deadly atmosphere of Vera Cruz for the sweet mild air of Jalapa. A little farther, the oak gives place to the fir; the air becomes more piercing; the sun, though it scorches, has no longer the same deleterious effect upon the human frame; and nature assumes a new and peculiar aspect. With a cloudless sky, and a brilliantly pure atmosphere, there is a great want of moisture, and little luxuriancy of vegetation: vast plains follow each other in endless succession, each separated from the rest by a little ridge of P ANALYSIS. lic religion converts to 2. 'The Catholic religion, introduced into the country by the Spanish nvaders, was the only religion that was 1. The Caho- tolerated in Mexico during the whole period of its colointroduc d nial existence. In a few years after the conquest, four 2. The nice millions of the natives were induced, by fraud and force, Christianity to embrace Christianity. But although they changed their profession, their faith has remained essentially the same. They know little of religion but its exterior forms of worship, and many of them are believed still to retain a secret veneration for their ancient idols. 3. Slavery of the natives. 4. Slight ame lioration of their con dition 3. "The establishment of a colonial government was followed by the bondage of the natives, who were reduced to the most cruel and humiliating form of slavery. 'Although by the labors and influence of the worthy Las Casas they were finally invested with a few recognized hills, which appear to have formed, at some distant period, the basins of an immense chain of lakes. Such, with some slight variations, is the general character of the table-lands of the interior. Wherever there is water there is fertility; but the rivers are few and insignificant in comparison with the majestic rivers of the United States; and in the intervals the sun parches, in heu of enriching the soil. High and barren plains of sand, from which isolated mountains rise to the regions of perpetual snow. occupy a large portion of the interior of Northern Mexico; nor does nature recover her wonted vigor, until the streams which filter from the Andes are suficiently formed to dispense moisture on their passage to the ocean. As the eastern branch of the Andes gradually disappears, the space fertilized by these streams becomes more extensive, until, in Texas, a low but well wooded country, rich in beautiful rivers, takes the place of the dreary steppes of the interior. Almost all the fruits of Europe succeed well on the tablelands, while, bordering on the coast of the Pacific and the Gulf of Mexico, tropical fruits are found in abundance. The whole eastern coast, extending back to that point in the slope of the mountains at which tropical fruits cease to thrive, is susceptible of the highest cultivation. The mineral wealth of Mexico is greater than that of any other country on the globe. Peru, indeed, offers gold in greater abundance, but Mexico has produced more silver than all the rest of the world united. The number of the silver mines which have been worked, or are still worked, is supposed to exceed three thousand; some of which are very productive, but the profits of others are uncertain. The most remarkable mine was that of Valenciana, undertaken by a poor man, who, after a fruitless trial of eleven years, came at length upon a great vein, which, for more than thirty years, yielded more than two millions of dollars annually. Immediately previous to the Mexican revolution, the annual produce of the silver mines of Mexico was estimated at about twenty millions of dollars; but since the revolution the annual average has been only about twelve millions. As there are no canals, and few navigable rivers in the populons portions of Mexico, the means of communication are at present very defective. The roads are miserable, wheel carriages are scarcely known, and the produce of the country is conveyed almost wholly on the backs of mules. For most of the country there is no home market, and therefore there is little encouragement for industry, beyond the production of the mere necessaries of life. It is probable that Me vico will not soon become much of a manufacturing country, and a great maritime power she cannot be, for her ports on the Atlantic side are barely sufficient for the purposes of commerce. The opening of good roads, and other means of communication, seems to be the wisest course of policy pointed out to Mexico by the natural peculiarities of her situation. This would make her mineral wealth, particularly in iron and the coarser metals, more productive, and would doubtless, in the end, render her one of the richest agricultural nations in the world. Bartholomew de las Casas, so famous in the annals of the New World, was born at Seville, of a noble family, in the year 1474; and at the age of nineteen accompanied his father in the first voyage made by Columbus. The mildness and simplicity of the Indians affected him deeply, and, on his return to Spain, he embraced the ecclesiastical profession, that he might labor as a missionary in the western hemisphere. But he soon be stitions of the natives than for the cruelties practised upon th men; and twelve times he crossed the ocean to plead at the foo of the wretched Indians. In the hope of striking awe by a ch iards, he accepted the bishopric of Chiapa in Mexico; but, ca was an insufficient barrier against the cruelty and avarice w signed his see in 1551, and returned to his native country. firm, disinterested man, accused his country before the tribun account of the tyranny of the Spaniards in America, he accu rights, yet they were still considered as vassals of the 1560. crown, and, under the direction of the governors of the districts in which they resided, were obliged to labor at regular periods, either in the fields or in the mines. abolition of slavery. ing the natives. 4. This indirect slavery was gradually abolished 1 Gradual about the beginning of the eighteenth century, owing to the increasing abundance and cheapness of native labor; yet the Indians were still deprived, by the Spanish laws, Laws respectof all the valuable privileges of citizens,-were treated as minors under the tutelage of their superiors-could make no contract beyond the value of ten pounds-were forbidden to marry with the whites-were prohibited the use of fire-arms, and were ruled by petty magistrates appointed by the government, which seemed to aim at keeping the native population in poverty and barbarism. 5. 'Degenerated from the rank which they held in the days of Montezuma, banished into the most barren districts, where their indolence gained for them only a precarious subsistence, or, as beggars, swarming the streets of the cities, basking in the sun during the day, and passing the night in the open air, they afforded, during the long period of the Spanish rule, a melancholy example of that general degradation which the government of Spain brought upon the natives of all the Spanish American colonies. 6. Nor was the colonial government established over the country at all calculated to promote the interests of the native Spanish population. For nearly three centuries, down to the year 1810, Mexico was governed by viceroys appointed by the court of Spain; all of whom, with one exception, were European Spaniards. Every situation in the gift of the crown was bestowed upon a European; nor is there an instance, for many years before the Revolution, either in the church, the army, or the law, in which the door of preferment was opened to a Spaniard, Mexican born. "Through this policy, a privileged caste 2 Degenerate condition of the natives, choly eram ple thereby furnished. and melan teen millions of the Indians. The court of Madrid, awakened by the representations of the virtuous Las Casas, and by the indignation of the whole world, became sensible, at last, that the tyranny it permitted was repugnant to religion, to humanity, and to policy, and resolved to break the chains of the Mexicans But they were only partially freed from the tyranny under which they had so long suffered Their liberty was given them, upon the condition that they should not quit the territory where they were settled; and their lands being retained by the Spaniards, they were still obliged to labor for their oppressors. Before the Revolution, the population of Mexico was divided into seven distinct castes 1. The old Spaniards, born in Spain, designated as Gachupines. 2. The Creoles, or Whites, of pure European race, born in America, and regarded by the old Spaniards as natives. 3. The Indians, or indigenous copper colored race. 4. The Mestizos, or mixed breeds of Whites and Indians, gradually merging into Creoles as the cross with the Indian race became more remote. 5. The Mulattos, or descendants of Whites and Negroes. 6. The Zambos, or Chinos, descendants of Negroes and Indians. And 7. The African Negroes, either manumitted or slaves. Of these castes, the Spaniards, Creoles, Indians, and Negroes, were pure, and gave rise, in their various combinations, to the others, which were again subdivided without limit, and each ANALYSIS, arose, distinct from the Mexican Spaniards in feelings, habits, and interests, the paid agents of a government whose only aim was to enrich itself, without any regard to the abuses perpetrated under its authority. 1. The viceroys of Mexi acquired by 7. With a nominal salary of about sixty thousand dolCo-toealth lars, the viceroy of Mexico kept up all the pageant of them. a court during several years, and then returned to his native country with a fortune of one or two millions of dollars, which, it was notorious, he had derived from a 2. The sale of system of legalized plunder. "The sale of titles and disdistinctions, tinctions, usually obtained from the king at the recommengranting of dation of the viceroy, was a source of great profit to both; titles and and the licenses. but one still greater was that of granting licenses for the introduction of any article of foreign produce, for which immense sums were paid by the great commercial houses 3. Lucrative of Mexico and Vera Cruz. 'So lucrative were the profits profits of government accruing from the various species of plundering carried situations. on under the forms of law, that government situations, even without a salary, were in great request, and were found to be a sure road to affluence. 4. Fruitless complaints changes in of clanship, 8. "The complaints of the Creoles, and their attempts of the Creates to bring notorious offenders to justice, were equally fruit5. Various less. The various changes, also, which from time to troduced. time the court of Spain introduced, with the avowed object of improving the condition of the people, were unpro6. The spirit ductive of any material results. "The spirit of clanship and the effect prevailed over justice and law; and so marked was the of the disting distinction kept up between the European and the Mexican Spaniards, that the son who had the misfortune to be born of a Creole mother, was considered, even in the house of his own father, inferior to the European book-keeper or clerk. Of all aristocratical distinctions in Mexico, those of country and of color were the greatest. The word Creole was used tions thereby occasioned. being distinguished by a name expressing its participation in the white, or ruling color, which, being the general criterion of nobility, was often the subject of contention. The Indians, comprising nearly two-fifths of the whole population, consist of various tribes, resembling each other in color, but differing entirely in language, customs, and dress. No less than twenty different Indian languages are known to be spoken in the Mexican territory, and probably the number is much greater. Next to the pure Indians, the Mestizos are the most numerous caste, and indeed few of the middling classes, or those who call themselves Creoles, or Whites, are exempt from a mixture of the Indian blood. From the first breaking out of the Mexican Revolution, the distinctions of castes were all swallowed up in the great vital distinction of Americans and Europeans: many of the most distinguished characters of the Revolutionary war belonged to the mixed races, and under the system of government first established at the close of the war, all permanent residents, without distinction of color, were entitled to the rights of citizenship, and capable of holding the highest dignities of the state. General Guerrero, who in 1824 was one of the members of the executive power, and in 1929 became President of the Republic, had a strong mixture of African blood in his veins. The present population of Mexico is estimated at about eight millions. Of this number, about 2,000,000 are whites; about 3,500.000 are Indians, descendants of the original possessors of Mexico; and about 2,500,000 belong to the mixed castes, including a few negroes. The Mestizos alone, or mixed breeds of Whites and Indians, number more than two millions. To be white was formerly, in Mexico, a badge of considerable distinction. When a Mexican of a mixed caste considered himself slighted by another, he would ask, "Am I not as white ag yourself?" men! given tinctions and to these disantipathies. 2 Ignorance of the great mass of the people. as a term of reproach, and was thought to express all the 1700. contempt that it is in the power of language to convey. 9. These distinctions, and the mutual antipathies 1. Encourage caused by them, were doubtless secretly encouraged by the Spanish government, as the means of retaining, at all times, within its influence, a select and powerful party, whose existence depended on that of the system of which it was the principal support. "To render these distinctions more lasting, the great mass of the people were kept in ignorance, and they were taught to believe that they were fortunate in belonging to a monarchy superior in power and dignity to any other in the world. A printing press 3. A printing was conceded to Mexico as a special privilege, while the same boon was denied to some other Spanish colonies, Liberty to found a school of any kind was almost in- 4. Schools. variably refused, and the municipality of Buenos Ayres was told, in answer to a petition for an establishment in which nothing but mathematics were to be taught, that "learning did not become colonies." press. cial restrictions of the Spanish tures forbidden. 10. The most serious causes of disquiet to the Mexican 5 Commer Creoles, however, were the commercial restrictions imposed upon them by the Spanish government. From the government. first, Spain reserved to herself the exclusive right of supplying the wants of her colonies. No foreigner was permitted to trade with them, nor foreign vessel to enter their ports, nor could a Mexican own a ship. The colonies 6. Manufac were forbidden to manufacture any article that the mother country could furnish, and they were compelled to receive from Spain many necessaries with which the fertility of their own soil would have supplied them. "The cultivation of the vine and the olive was prohibited, and that of many kinds of colonial produce was tolerated, only under certain limitations, and in such quantities as the mother country might wish to export. By these regulations, & Effects of those parts of the Spanish dominions that were not enriched by mines of gold and silver, were sunk in poverty, in the midst of their natural riches. 7 Products of bidden to be the soil for cultivated. these regulations. other nations with the Spanish colonies. 1702 to 1713. p 201. 11. 'During Queen Anne's War, or, as it was called Trade of in Europe, "the war of the Spanish Succession," France succeeded, for a brief period, in opening a trade with some of the Spanish-American colonies; and by the treaty of a Utrecht, in 1713, Great Britain was allowed to send a b. See p. 324, vessel of five hundred tons, annually, to the fair of PortoBello. Some additional privileges were granted between 10 Additional the years 1739 and 1774, at which latter period the inter- trade between dict upon the intercourse of the colonies with each other permitted, was removed; and four years later, the colonial trade, which had hitherto been confined almost exclusively to privileges; the colonies |