The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-07-18
Important from New Mexico-slavery and
PeOnage.

New Mexico, copy OF the constitution 81 tha' nc"
State, which was adopted in Convention at SANTA
Fe, on the twenty.ffth of May last, and various
items of information connected with the eecnons OF
Senators, Governor, Lieutenant Governor, ana
Other officers.
We find that in regard TO the constitution OF New
Mexico there have been a great many false rumors
circulated throus hou the country by the telegraph,
as well as by the press, especially the National
IateLltgencer at Washington 1t has been reported
again and again, that the constitution of the new
State contained the Wilmot proviso-that it ex-
cludes slavery of every kind, and was in every
respect similar to the constitution of California 1t
may exclude African slavery, as we understand
the term in the United States but we are very
much mistaken, if the system of slavery which has
existed in the whole of Mexico for great many
years, and known as peondge, Is not tolerated and
provided for by that instrument. Let us refer to
this new constitution, and see what it says on this
subject The first section of the first article reads
as follows
All men being born equally free and independent,
and having certain natural inherent and inalienabe
rights, amongst which the :ujoying and defending
OF life and liberty, the acquienent possession and
protection OF property and the pursuit OF and attain
Of happiness therefore, male person shall be
held by law to serve person servant, slave,
apprentice after he arrives at the age Of twenty
years female in like manner, after she arrives at
the age OF eighteen years unss they be bound BY their
epn consent % hey aIire at such age, or are bound by
law for punis hme mt Of crime.
There is nothing about African slavery in this
section, but we think that it recognizes peonage,
which differs from African slavery only in this:
that it applies all colors shades and compile
from the pure white to the sooty African. BY
peonage, debtor can mortgage or transfer, for a
number of years, for his life, his labor and his
services to his CREDITOR the duration of the slavery
depending on the amount of the Indebtedness.
This system exists in Mexico to this day, and
closely resembles the institution of slavery in our
Southern States, with this difference, that both
whites aad blacks can make themselves subject to
it. If peonage is not slavery, we should like to
know what it is. The creditor has as much COM
mand the labor of the debtor, as the Southern
STAKEHOLDER has over that of the negro, for the
period of the peonage, be it long short; and in
great many instances this peonage is perpetual,
or at least lasts for the life of the debtor
by this constitution, we learn another important
fact, viz that the right of suffrage is restricted to
the white, and is not extended to the black race
at all. On this subject, the first section of the
eighth article is emphatic =
Every male person of the age of twenty one years
upwards AFRICANS or the descenda Of Africans
and indians excepted) belonging to either
Of the following classes and who shall have resided in
this State for SIX months next preceding election
shall be q qualified elector At such election.
The classes referred to, are citizens of the United
States, residing in that State, Mexicans who
elected to remain citizens of Mexico, but who may
take oath abjuring their allegiance to that
try, and TO support the constitution of the United
States and Of the new states. The black races
are, therefore, debarred entirely of the right Of
voting. In New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachu-
sets and Rhode Island, persons of color have the
privilege of voting, and so they have in New York,
two hundred and fifty dollars. The abolitionists,
therefore, were premature in rejoicing over the
formation Of the constitution n New Mexico, for
not only is slavery, in q modified form, permitted,
but their pets, the negroes, perpetually excu-
ded from exercising the right of suffrage.
From information which we have received from
New Mexico, we learn that the election Of the fol-
lowing named gentlemen, was matter of GER
tainty, at the last accounts Senators-Captain
Reynolds and Judge Jacob Houghton. These gen.
tlemen are democrats, and their opponents were
Z. W. Aueuez and X. II. Weightman. The
probability is, that Henry Connolly has been
elected Governor, and Ceran st. Vrain, Lieutenant
Governor, neither of whom is a partizan. Their
opponents were Thomas Bacon and Manuel Alva-
ez, both Of whom wings. There is no doubt
that the Senator'S and Representatives of the new
State are now on their way to Washington, and
will soon arrive there and demand their seats. 1t
will be complied with Immediately after it is made.