Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1847-03-17
Slavery In Mexico.

| 1t has often been asserted that sayary did
not exist in Mexico. II Is true under that
name it does not, but under the name Of
peonage it does, and in its worst form. con.
fined to no color, but as q perpetual bond.
age and punishment for debt. Many large
proprietors control inthis way hundreds Of
peoas, both men and women The debt /,
perpetual 1t generally increases instead
Of dminishing-and is rarely ever paid.
The peon being charged with interes, an
we'll as with clothing, subsistence and med.
icine, &c. In this way il is believed that
more than a million of poems are held az
slaves, and may be seized as fugitives il
lthey dare to leave the employ of their mas.
ter; and the fruits of ftheir labor 70 70 the
master, and no. to the peon. In the speech
of the Hon. Mr.. Roberts, of Mississippi, BY
whom public attention has been called 10
this subject, these laws are given ps follows:
PEoN LAWS OF MEXICO.
"ART. l. The masters are responsible
for tho conduct of their servants, and for
thesame reason, the law gives them, oyer
those servants, the authority Of fathers over
their sons, that they may particularly cor
rect and chastise them. 1 he same author.
ity is given over the family Of tho servant
that lives with the master.
"ART. 2. In consequence Of the foreeo.
ing provision, the master should provide 4 1or
the education Of the children Of the servants
dependant upon them.
"ART. 3. Should the faults Of the ser.
want be many or aggravated, whether bo.
cause he frequently fails in his service. or
he shall be chaslised by the justice (alcadel
with six months in irons, If q man, or WITH
the (ia cerena) clog, if woman, in ,ba
house of the master; the Inter having the
power TO diminish the penalty his pleas.
ure. If the servant should be- guilty. Of
overt acts against the master, he shall ba
punished in conformity to the existing laws.
"ARr. 4. He who being once convicted
according to the foregoing articles. shall
repeat the same offence, shall be crim;n,i
lily prosecuted and condemned to serve one
year on the public works, in irons: and ia
woman shall be 50 convicted, she shall he
condemnedto serve one year Of seclusion
with the clog.
TART. S. In no case shall the master
lose the debt Of the servant; andt term Of
punishment being concluded, the servant
shall return to the service of his master. If
ne can do it; but If he enters the service of
another, this other shall pay the debt. 4
CART. 6. The law which prohibits re.
ding with servants, and the penalties which
those laws establish as to those who con-,
tracted them, are declared to be in force. n.
"ART. !. The master who abuses tba
powers given him by law shall be- tried and
punished in conformity to law, according
to the abuse he shall commit; but in no 3
case, not even in that Of the application Of
q fine in favor Of the aggrieyed, shall the
master lose the debt. a3s.tl ss.Ef
'"ART. 8. Payments shall BE- made ii,
money or goods, ifthe servants ask them.
at the current prices. For settlements, and
on plantations, where there are no. stores,
and the goods are brought from othsrparts.
they shall be charged with the extra costs.
The master who may give his goods with
higher charges than the foregoing regula-
ton requires, shalEbe fined equivalent q
triple fbssxcess which be charges upcn tlls
servant. hi VIII y u n II Nal NJ s7 ,jss3 n
tAEr o. Asths niasser cannot turn 4.
wny the servant without Just cause, - moi
ther can the servant leave the service of
lHs muster without the sanis iusts ca,,se.
The servant who shall dc %. shall IS posi.
tively returned Id the sarviea AZ NJ s,sa&t.r