The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-02-18
slavery In Mexico.

# has been asserted that slavery did not exist in Mex
% true under that it does not, but under the
name Of peonage does, and in its worst form, confined
y, no color but as perpetual bondage and punishment
ior debt Many large proprietors control In this way
hundreds of poems, both menand women. The debt IS
nerpetua-it generally increases instead of diminishing
and is rarely ever paid The peon being charged with
ntses, as well as with clothing subsistence, medicine,
&c In this way il is believed that more than a million
of poems are held slaves, and may be seized as fugi
lives il theydare 10 leave the employ of their master; and
The fruits of their labor go to the master and not TO the
peen In the speech of the Hon. Mr.. Roberts, OF Mis-
sisspp by whom public attention has been called to this
subject these laws are given as follows:
pEoN LAWS MExIco
CART 1 The responsible for the conduct OF
their servants and for the same reason the law gives mem,
over those the authority of fathers over Their sons,
ihat they may particularly correct and chasse them Inc
authority Is given over the lay OF the servant '
lives with the master.
.'ARr Ia consequence of the foregoing provision, the
should provide for the education OF the children OF
the servants dependant upon them
'.ARr Should the faults of the be many ag
gruyaed whether because he frequently fails in his ser
vice. whether for Of respect the MASTER he shall
be chastiscd by the justice {acade) with six months in
irons if man, with the "a ccpeaa) clog ita woman in
the OF the the latter having The power 10 di
mins this penalty his pleasure If the servant should
DE guilty of overt against the MASTER he shall be pun
,shed in conformity to the existing laws.
"ART L. He who being convicted, according to the
foregoing articles, shalt repeat the offence, shall be
crmnay prosecuted and condemned to year ON
the public works. in irons and if woman shall be so con-
vced she shall be condemned to year OF ecusion with
the clog
''ARr g. In shall the lose the deb, OF the
and the OF punishment being concluded, the
shall the service OF his master ii he can do
but if he enters the service of another this other shall
pay the debt
ART 6. The law which prohibits trading with servants,
and the penalties which those laws establish as to those who
contracted them, declared to be in force
ART. Z. The master who abuses the power given nm
by law shall be tried and punished in conformity to law,
cordng the abuse he may commit but in case, not
in that of the application Of fine in favor Of the
greved, shalltle master lose the debt.
ART. g. Payments shall be made in money or goods i
the ask the nj the current prices For settle
ments and plantations, where there stores and
the goods brought from other paris they shall be
charged with the The master who may give
his goods with higher charges than the foregoing regulation
requires, shall be fined equivalent triple the excess which
he cha rges upon the servant
ART. y. AS the master cannot away the servant
without Just neither the leave the
vice OF his master without the cause The ser
who shall do So shall be positively returned TO the
Gce of his chastised by the justice in the house
abe master, with months in irons with the clog if a
woman"