The Democratic pioneer. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1845-1853, 1847-03-05
slavery in MexicO.

exist in Mexico. 1t 10 true under that
name it does not, but under the name o
peonage II does, and in its worst form, con
fined to no color, but al perpetual bond
age and punishment for debt. Many larg q
proprietors control in this way hundred,
Of poems, both men and women. The deb bI
is perpetual-it generally increases in.
stead Of dminishing-and is rarely ever
paid. The peon being charged with in
terest as well as with clothing, subsis.
tence, medicine, &c. In this way il is
believed that more than million Of peo ns
are held as slaves, and may be seized as
fugitives II they dare to leave the empIo J
of their master; and the fruits Of their la
Dor 60 TO the master. and not to the peon.
In the speech of the H Hon. Mr.. Roberts, OF
Mississippi, by whom public attention has
been called to this subject, these laws are
given as follows:--U Uuion.
PEoN LAWS OF MEXICO.
CART, l. The masters are responsible
for the conduct OF their servants, and for
the same reason, the law gives them, over
those servants, the authority Of fathers
over their sons, that they may particular
ly correct and chastise them. The same
authority is given over the family Of the
servant that lives with the master
"ART.2. In consequence of the forego-
ing provision, the master should provide
for the education of the children Of the
servants dependant upon them.
"ART. g. Should the faults Of the SER
want be many or aggravated, whether be-
cause he frequently fails in his service or
whether for want Of respect to the master,
lie shall be chastised by the Justice (al
calde with six months in irons, if man,
or with the la ctuena) clog, if woman,
in the house of'the masters; the latter hav
ing the power to diminish this penalty at
his pleasure. If the servant should be
guilty Of overt acts against the ma tier, he
shall be punished 10 conformity to the ex
lsting laws
CART. A. He who being once convicted,
according TO the foregoing articles, shall
repeat the same ofsnce, shall be crimi
nally prosecuted and condemned to serve
one year on the public works, in irons;
and If oman shall be 50 convicted she
shall be condemned TO one year of seclu
sion with the clog.
"ART. 5. ln no case shall the master
lose the debt Of the servant, aud the term
ofpunishment being concluded, the set
want shall return TO the service of master,
If he can do it; but ifhe enters The service
of another, this other shall pay the debt.
"ART. 6. The law which prohibits trad
ing with servants, and the penalties which
those laws establish as TO those who con.
tracted them, are declared to be in force
"ART. Z. The master who abuses the
power given him by law shall be tried and
punished In CO nformity to law, according
to the abuse he may commit; but in no
case, not even in that Of the application
of fine in favor Of the aggrieved, shall
the master lose the debt.
ART. :. Payments shall be made ia
money or goods, if the servants ask Them
al the current prices. For settlements,
and ON plantations, where there are ~
stores, and the goods are brought from
'ther parts, they shall be charged with
he extra costs. The master who may
give his goods with higher charges than
The foregoing regulation requires, shall
De fined equivalent TO triple the excess
which he charges upon the servant.
CART. 8. AS the master cannot turn
away The servant without just cause, so
neither can the servant leave the service
Of his master without the same Just cause.
The servan, who shall do so, shall be pos.
lively returned TO the service of his mas
Ter, chastised by the justice in the house
Of the master, with two months 10 irons,
Or with the clog il a woman"