Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1848-11-22
ReOn slavery.

4 correspondent OF the \. \. Journal
OF Commerce. makes the following inte-
resting remarks in regard 10 Mexican Pc
Oh Slavery:
..Strictlv speaking. there is no such
thing as Peon Slavery in Mexico. as the
law by which Indians are held in bondage
is equally apple able 10 every class of So
ciety; yet il is rare that the law Is enforced
against white man. as pubiic opinion IS
opposed to IT, But | have known two
white men sent into the interior under
this law. Both were British subj Jets
They were accountants, and had become
very dissipa,c;l. and consequently were
overwhelmed in debt. They We're sent TO
i.acieRdas + i4Es-s- e. Eris.sss ai tho ,,lea>
sure of their principal creditors. who paid
all the small debts tchic. hare accrued be-
fore theirs. Thus they efiectually be-
came slaves. but they were always treated
with more Difference than poems or labor
ers: still. they could not leave without the
consent of the creditor or owner of the
Hacienda The manner of suing for debt
is very simple and very just. when one is
suspected of fraud: but the ilcaldes ex-
ercise a great deal Of discretionary power
in executing the law. on have only 10
present Your account TO the Alcalde. who
immediately sends for the debtor. and if
the account proves 10 be correct. there Is
no listening TO the plea: Il cannot pay.
or Il am not able TO pay" The Alcalde
orders him to pay IT at once. or come TO
some mutual arrangement with the credit
or before he leaves the office: and if ii be
a small sum- he is held in custody until it
is paid, or detained at the pleasure Of the
latter If it be large sum, the process IS
the same, only. If he have biens effects.
they can be seized at once, and in three
days sold at public auction to satisfy the
debt Mexicans of any standing in soci-
ETY.. however, exercise great deal Of lem
ity towards each other under this law; be-
sides. the Alcade will not decide against
his friends or acquainiances. however just
NAV be the debt, but viii find some way
10 evade the responsibility. 1t IS very
common remark: Il cannot collect the
debt until another Alcalde is chosen
The lew is made to bear more particularly
upon foreigners, degraded whites and In
dams. vet there is no verbal distinction
In the interior. far from the coast. the Al
caldes regulate the wages of the Indians.
who happen TO be free and out of debt. and
every foreigner is warned not to pay more
'
should become discontinued with the small
pittance they receive. | had occasion
once TO travel some distance into the inte-
rior, and it being necessary to proceed
about thirty miles on horseback, the Al
calde sent for an Indian to carry my bag
gage on foot. which consisted of a small
trunk. mattress, hammock, blanket, &c.
and was instructed to pay him no more
than four rials-a half dollar!
lin the towns which the Americans held
during the war. Justice was administered
with a ore at deal Of impartlaIty; the Amer
lean Governors informed all magistrates
that they did not wish to make any new
regulations. as their laws were good
enough if they were only impaftaily adj
.ninisIered Under this wholesome al
raneement. ! knew an Alcalde himself
brought before the first Judge, and com
PEELED to pay debt under his own laws,
which he was never known TO do before.
The people looked Oh with establishment
a. this even-handed justice. but the Judge
did not dare decide contrary to law. lie
knew that if he did, there would be an
end to his judgcship in "a hours