Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1847-03-03
From The Washington Union.
SLAVERY IN MEXICO,

From. the Washington Union. =:
itys4 SLAVERY In MEXICO.
II has been asserted that slavery dil
not exist in Mexico. 1t is true under th'a
name1f does not, but under the name o
peonage it does, and in its worst form
confined TO no color, but as perEelua
bondage and punishment for debt, Many
large proprielors control in, This way hun
dreds of poems, both tnen and womei.-
The debt is perpelual-it generally in
creases instead of diminishing-and j:
rarely;ever paid. The peon being charged
with interest as wellas with clothing. sub
sistsnce, MEDICINE, &c. In this way it i:
believed that more; than million OF poems
are heldas slaves, and may be seized as
fu silives. If they dare to leave The employ
of their master; and the fruits Of their la.
Dor 90 10 The master, and not the peon
In hesspeech Of The Hon. Mr. Roberts
OF Mississippi, by whom public atleatior
has been called 10 this subject, these law:
are given as follows:
PEoN LAWS Of MEXICO.
"Art, +. The masters are responsible
for the conduct Of their servants, and for
the same reason; the law gives them, owe!
those servants, the authority Of fathers
over their sons, that they may particularly
correct and chastise them. The same au-
lhorlly is given over the family of the SER
vaut that lives with the master.
"Art. 2. In consequence Of The foregoing
provision. the master should provide for
the education of the children of The SER
wants dependant upon them.
"Art. 8. Should the faults of the servant
be many or aggravated, whether because
he frequently failsinhis seryice,or whether
for want of respect to the master, he shall
be chastised Ly The justice (alcade) with
six monthsin irons. If man, or with the
ia ceusna) clog, ifa woman, in the house
Of the master; the latter having The power
to diminish this penalty at his pleasure.
If the servant: should be guilty Of over.
acts against the master. he shall be pun
ished in conformity to The existing laws.
"Art. d. He who being once convicted,
according 10 the foregoing articles, shall
repeat the same offence, shall be crimi-
nally prosecuted and condemned 10 serve
one year on the public works, in irousI;
and ifa woman shall be condemned TO one
year of seclusion with The clog.
"Art. 5. In no case shall the master lose
the tebl Of the servant; and The term Of
punishment heing concluded, the servant
shall return 10 the service of his master,
If he can dolit, bul if lie enters the SER
vice Of another, tbi other shall pay the
debt.
"Ar. 6. The law. which prohibits ira
ding with servants, and The penalties which
those laws establish as lo. those who con-
lracted them. are declared TO be in force.
''!Art. 7. The master who abuses the
power given him by law shall be tried aud
punished in conformity TO law, according
TO tho abuse he may commit; but in no
case, not even in that of the application Of
a fine in layo! of;the assrleved, shall The
masier;iose the debt.
Art. s. Payments shall be inade:in mo-
ney or goods, if the servant ask Them al
the current prices. -;
For settlements, and on plantations,
where here are no stores, and the goods
arc bronsht from plher parts, they sshall
be charged with the extra costs. i, The
masterwho may give his goods with higher
charges than the foregoing regulations re-
quires, shall be held equivalent to triple
the expenses which lie charges upon The
servant.
"Ar,. Q, Aslhe master cannot turn away
the servsu without just cause, SO neither
can The servant leave the service Of his
master, without the same .just'cause. The
servant who shall do so, shall positively
return 10 the service ofbis master, chas.
tised by the justice in the house of the
master, with two mountain irons, or with
the clog if a wolnau."'
4 Noble Act We have just ascer-
lained (says the Fayetteville Obse1ver)
that a gentleman Of Moore county, NAL
com Bruce by name, is now purchasing
and shipping from this town, through
NIessrs. Williams, McGilvery 81 Coz. sir
hundred bushels Of corn. as present TO
his suffering countrymcn in Scolland.-
A deed worthy Of the noblo name he
bears.
Correspondence Of the Baltimore Sun.
WAsHINGTuN, Feb. 23-S, p. Nj.