The Scouting Expeditions of McCulloch's Texas Rangers; or, the Summer and Fall Campaign of the Army of the United States in Mexico--1846; including Skirmishes with the Mexicans, and an accurate detail of the Storming of Monterey; also the Daring Scouts at Buena Vista together with anecdotes, incidents, descriptions of country, and sketches of the lives of the celebrated partisan chiefs, Hays, McCulloch, and Walker. Page: 90
251 p. : ill. ; 20 cm.View a full description of this book.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
90 THE FEUDAL SYSTEM IN MEXICO.
undertake any secret service, without their knowing it and taking
methods to defeat us. By these means was thenoble and daring
Capt. Thornton ambuscaded. He received his orders at 6, P. x.,
to ascertain where the enemy had crossed the Rio Grande, and at
1, A. M., the same night, an express arrived, informing the Mexicans
of his coming. Thus, too, have many other expeditions
failed, from the facilities afforded them of knowing all our intended
operations.
To give a general idea of the people of Mexico, we must go
back to the old feudal times of Europe; for the same system, with
modifications due to the peculiarities of the country, now exists in
Mexico. As in the olden days of chivalry, when the vassals and
retainers held from the liege lord or baron, by military or other
service, and the serfs or bondsmen, originally slaves, or becoming
so by indebtedness to the lord, were bought and sold with the land;
so too with Mexico. The rancheros who reside on the large estates
or haciendas of the Mexican Dons, answer to vassals and retainers,
and are subject at times to do military service, although not so
severely enjoined upon them as in former days. The pdons, who
are the lowest order of Mexicans, are the serfs or slaves, whose
labour belongs to the owner of the estate, to whom they have become
indebted, and who are generally kept by their poverty in
this state of base servitude. The third, or medium class, is composed
of those who own small property or farms,or hold from the
Don by socage tenure, paying a certain rent, and who also hold
pcona, or serfs, under them. The fourth class consists of the
alcaldes or mayors of the towns, (who as magistrates hold courts
-of civil and criminal jurisdiction,) and the Dons, or large landholders,
who are subject to the tyranny and authority of the military
chieftains or despots. Thus, as in feudal times, when the
barons called upon the lesser lords and their vassals to support
them in some feud, so now in Mexico: when her military chieftains
are arrayed against each other, they call upon the Dons,
(not, it is true,with the same authority which the barons exercised,
but which they usurp,) who in turn call upon their rancheros,
or retainers, to support the cause which they willingly or unwillingly
sustain.
The higher classes of Mexicans are the creoles of the country,
and descendants of Europeans and some few Americans. The
lower class are a mingled race of the whites and Indians, called
mestizoes, of the Indian and negro, of quadroons and mulattoes.
When Mexico was a colony of Spain, so numerous were the degrees
and shades of colour of the populace, that the king had the
power of conferring the honour of whiteness upon an individual
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This book can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Book.
Reid, Samuel C., Jr. The Scouting Expeditions of McCulloch's Texas Rangers; or, the Summer and Fall Campaign of the Army of the United States in Mexico--1846; including Skirmishes with the Mexicans, and an accurate detail of the Storming of Monterey; also the Daring Scouts at Buena Vista together with anecdotes, incidents, descriptions of country, and sketches of the lives of the celebrated partisan chiefs, Hays, McCulloch, and Walker., book, 1859; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth38096/m1/95/: accessed May 1, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Austin History Center, Austin Public Library.