The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1847-07-08
bnmESrr, slA,ERA N NEAlcn.

AeaG Correspondent n0a 40 NeAaras mo
aags sans gFaPals PssilHes ~ The nsn-
ners amd rasa~nas n - Mexleans. - a.
di,iaa - tsss details which he larnlsllss
~ he naEsasals and d.inss u The army.
II letters are sigaed g lllinOis." and
lIam "a occasional rxPEessi.aa, &c ihleI
that ne .aiarr 10 FiIlarG . eommander ar
> regiasnlal officer af he lilihsis Eolnn- !
aeers. The EalloEiag eKlrari. giving m
sreonal Of one n he =. domestic lnslilH- /
liaas'' 81 Ihs Mexieaas. Nil be ssd With
iuleFesI:
Az the harirala HeTmsns. there are
one handled and fify Peans. The SET
wires % these poems are hired. together
with lie lani. iasl - > pl4ngall-n AMI ne- /
Kr0es are lrs.ri cut ID i.''uisiaRa. On !
some hsrienlas lheIe are m"Te Than ;
thousand poems.
This system of peanase j. one ef The
mast Singular ellsr@rleTislics Of Mexico.
IlT The constitution nf Mexico which went
inia apersIian in 1884. - slavery j. lnres.
e. prnhIhiled in Mexico" Vel. noiwiIn-
standing this provision. there is no rosn-
nv in the world where slavery u mind
and body Is more AFFECT Than in Mexico.
n j. true. there are none called slaves
the tile is domestic seEyanIs"-buI The
services required Of them. and the power
81 the master over them are as great as
those possessed by slayehold, 70 IN The
Southern United States over lhrir slaves.
A Mexican may become a peon IN two
extraordinarily, nv contract. agreeing
10 become \ Peon lnr' wages agreed on
between the peOn aud his master 10 whom
he sells himself; or inv0luniarily, where
Mexican is sold by parent lUr debt or
other consideration.
MexicaHs are strangely fond Of gaudy
clothing aud irapplngs for their horses.
To obilin these. they will run in debt 10
the sacrifice of their liberty. The lnwer
class are particularly fond Of wearing sill
VET burkles on their Husbands. Al Non
clova heard French woman who resi-
ded there. pointing N Mexican. exrlainl.
" what fool Thai fellow IL he sold him
self 10 be peon 10 buy Maitland"
When man wishes 10 get SUN of
money or some articles, he applies 10
wealthy man for them. A bargain liz
struck BY which he becomes indebted 10
his moro wealthy nfighbnr in a certain
sum. This sum he agrees To liquiiaie in
domestic sersilude al stipulated price
per month. When man has become in.
tebted t. another aud |. unable TO pay.
he often has no alternative but 10 make
similar agreement.
If debtor is unwilling ~ unable 10
pay. his creditor gaes to an slcalae and
makes his complaint. The alcalde di.
reefs him To notify The debtor TO come be-
fore him. This notice is given, and il
not oheyed. the debtor is sent fur and
punished for contempt. The parties are
thus brought summarily before The slcslde. !.
who hears the statements Of both parties,
sometimes under oath. and often without
administering any whatever; when there
is difference in the statements of the
parties, so as 10 make the alcalJe doubt,
he hears witnesses. lf The decision il
against the debtor, he is ordered to paw
the amour, due the creditor al once, and
IL he is not able to do il. he is forthwith
imprisoned in the calabosse. II the deb,
remain still unpaid, and we creditor re-
quests il, the de- tor is brought Firth and
sold for The amount Of the debt. which he
Is To pay IN wages Of from two to five
dollars a month. The debtor thus be-.
comes peon until he discharges the debt.
Poems have the privilege Of changing
masters by getting sume one else 10 pay
the debt they owe. When this is done,
a transfer Of the right TO the peon takes
place. and he has To serve his new mas
Ter as he had his first owner.
am aware tina, this system Of selling
men for debt is said 10 be against the laws
Of Mexico. but know beyond all qurs.
ton, that il is the universal custom in
Northern Mexico. and that under il thou
sands are held in bondage for life. Ne. |
tlier Is there any chance Uf redress BY ap.
peal. as an unlriended man stands but
bad chance in Mexican court. For i, !
is notorious that the decisions ri the Mex.
lean courts. and Of the alcaIdes especially, !
are given according 10 the caprice OF
brihrry oi the Judge. go
Women become poems in the same
way as men, bu! most generally by con.
tract. #-*~ 80 .
When 4 man becomes peon, he re.
moves his family, If lie has une. 10 some
muse. OF rather hut, provided for him by
his master. BY law or custom, tthe lat.
ter being OF much the most validity there
are allowed tn each peon two aInodes of
corn. (aboui half bushel) week. which
is given to linn usually on Sunday mnr-
Ming. This j. all the provision the mas.
ter has 10 make for his peon. All his
other food. aud all his clothing. the penn
has To provide for himself. This want
OF provision for the clothing and susie.
nance Of the peon leads 10 another agra.
vaiion of his CONDITION.
IL the master furnishes his peon with
any food or clothing, or any other artcles.
regular account is or should be ken, of