MEXICO. 



311 



rence of the government with the happiness of the 

 Americans, discloses the real extent of that jea- 

 lous and cruel system, upon which the Spanish 

 government proceeded in all that related to the 

 wants of the colonists, for whom they never, for a 

 single instant, seem to have had the slightest con- 

 sideration. 



The sole purpose for which the Americans ex- 

 isted, was held to be that of collecting together 

 the precious metals for the Spaniards. If the 

 wild horses and cattle, which overrun the coun- 

 try, could have been trained to perform the same 

 office, the inhabitants might have been altogether 

 dispensed with, and the colonial system would 

 have been perfect. Unfortunately, however, for 

 that system, the South Americans, notwithstand- 

 ing the net-work of chains by which they were en- 

 veloped, had still some sparks of humanity left, 

 and, in spite of all their degradation, longed ear- 

 nestly for the enjoyments suitable to their na- 

 ture ; and finding that the Spaniards neither could 

 nor would furnish them with an adequate supply, 

 they invited the assistance of other nations. To 

 this call the other nations were not slow to listen ; 



