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586 valley of the Mississippi. Unfortunately for Mexico, these advantages have been duly appreciated by her neighbours in the United States. Some hundreds of squatters, (the pioneers, as they are very appropriately termed, of civilization,) have crossed the frontier with their families, and occupied lands within the Mexican territory; while others have obtained grants from the congress of Saltillo, which they have engaged to colonize within a certain number of years. By thus imprudently encouraging emigration upon too large a scale, the Mexican Government has retained but little authority over the new settlers, established in masses in various parts of Texas, who, being separated only by an imaginary boundary line from their countrymen upon the opposite bank of the Sabina, naturally look to them for support in their difficulties, and not to a Government, the influence of which is hardly felt in such remote districts.

In the event of a war, at any future period, between the two republics, it is not difficult to foresee that Mexico, instead of gaining strength by this numerical addition to her population, will find in her new subjects very questionable allies. Their habits and feelings must be American, and not Mexican; for religion, language, and early associations, are all enlisted against a nominal adhesion to a government, from which they have little to expect, and less to apprehend. The ultimate incorporation of Texas with the Anglo-American States, may