The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-07-25

This law, from the beginning, was paramount in
Spain, and Of course in Mexico, as Spanish coli
ony. All our notions on the subject are derived
from the civil law; slavery being first introduced
from civil law into common law countries; ana TO
thatlaw we refer in matters of slavery. One or
the principles Of this law, which is now IN full
force In Mexico, recognizes peoaage; and II Inc
law abolishing slavery exist IN the acquired terri
tory, II must be remembered that the law when
authorizes the peonage system, exists there also.
Slavery, according to the civil law, is based on
the ground Of debt due from the slave TO has
master; as, when he had been taken IN war, IN
return for saving his life, he was Obliged TO be the
slave of his owner, so long as his life lasted.
This principle is farther carried out; and IN Mex
leo, at this moment, if an individual owes to
another dollar, he becomes virtually his property
he and his family--until the amount is paid;
and he can be brought before any alcalde, and
compelled TO yield service. This is the kind of
slavery which has existed in Mexico, and which
has obviated the necessity, if not caused the abo-
lition, of African slavery. On this subject speak
what know, for have stood by and seen the
law declared and carried into execution by the
acalde. The moment an individual fails to pay
debt, due to another, that moment he and his
family become the servants of the creditor unit
the debt is paid, which may be forever; because
the creditor charges the debtor what he peases
keep him in his debt. Ii an escape is attempted,
the laws aid the creditor in the arrest and restora
lion of him to the fugitive debtor. This kind of
slavery is far better for the master, but infinitely
worse for the servant, than the system Of African
slavery as it exists in this country.
Here the owner Of slave is bound TO furnish
him with rament, and food---to take care of him
when he is sick; and when age or disease has
rendered him totally useless, he is required by the
laws Of every State in this Union, where the insti-
tuition exists, TO take of, and provide for him.
But under the system of peonage, no such obi
cations are imposed on the master; and if gentle
men prefer that kind of slavery to the slavery
that, exists in this country, am ready to give
them all the credit due their choice That 1t is
great deal better for the MASTER there can be no
doubt; because the moment slave, from age or
disease, or any other course, becomes worthless,
he can throw him on the public for support 1t
is not so, as all are aware, with the save-owner
in this country.
But we contend-and, as think, farly--that
this matter should be regulated in this way: This
territory has been acquired by the Government of
the United States; and to whom does that Govern
ment belongi Whose Government is it that in
the first place acquires this property? II is the
Government of the people, and the Government
Of the States of this Union. The property has
been acquired by the joint effort Of all the States.
The Government in prosecuting the late war with
Mexico, called upon Massachusetts and upon
Texas for troops-as it had right to, and did,
call upon every State of the Confederacy to fur
nish men to go and fight its battles. 1t took out
of the Treasury funds raised by duties imposed
on every citizen, and all the States--saveholdi
as well non-slaveholding- this Union, to
defray the expenses Of the war. All were equal
in the fght all stood AN equality, so far as fur
nishing the men for the armies is concerned; all
were on perfect equality so far as paying the
expenses of the war was concerned; all were per-
fecty equal, the slaveholding and non-s!avehold-
ing States, in these matters and these black spots,
about which we have heard so much, were not
perceived then. They were not perceived when
the treaty of peace was sanctioned by the Senate,
by which all this property was acquired
Now, we contend that the citizens of the slave
holding States have equal share in the property
thus acquired, and have right to go there with
their property. To say that man may go there
as his right, and not take his property with him,
is, in fact, to confer right at all. It is barren
right, and therefore amounts to nothing at all.--
But, say gentlemen, the possession Of such prop
erty is great sin. There was no such talk at
the formation of the Constitution. Gentlemen
cannot reconcile 10 their conscience, as they tell u.s.
to establish slapeyy in California. This is sort Of
figure of speech. You do not establish slavery by
permitting it to go anywhere. If all the slaves in
the United States were permitted to go to these
territories, is it the establishment of slavery any
where' Can it fairly be called the establishment
Of slavery To establish slavery certainly means
to convert free man into slave, and nothing
else. 1t can mean but that The truth is, that
this cry about the establishment Of slavery, so
much harped upon as an outrage upon the sense
of the civilized world, and as a sin in the sight of
God, which ! have often heard, and sometimes
even in this chamber, all refers to matter which
took place long time ago, and before this Con-
stitution had its existence At that time all hands
were about equally involved in the crime, if crime
1t be. All sections of this country took about an
equal share in its establishment | do not know /,
for was not here then, but have heard il said /,
that northern ships, manned by northern sailors,
brought the slaves into this country.
The establishment of slavery was, therefore,
participated in by all the North as well as the
South and 1t seems to me then, if we do repent
over the sins of our fathers, we ought to do it
without such loud lamentations, the more espe-
cially when those lamentations are offensive to
one portion Of the Union, that does not consider
slavery as either political or moral evil. hap
pen to be Just one of that kind OF men. | believe
that the slaves in the South, take them all together
are in much better condition than they would be
in state of servitude in the country from which
they were brought. | have not been to that quar-
ter of the world, and will not absolutely assert
this to be the fact I; but this much do know,
that they infinitely better off than the free ne
groes whom have seen at the North. They are an
offcast, despised and degraded race among you.
You tell them they are free, but you give them
none of the privileges Of freedom They fill your
poor-houses and penitentiaries, and swell largely
your revolving statistics of crime. | repeat, that
the negroes Of the South, as class, are immea-
surably better off than are the free negroes of the
North.
1t is clear you do not establish slavery by re-
moving the slave; that you do not make slave (;
but is said you are extending the political rights Of
the South. How so, viii they not be repre-
scented, if they are confined to the States where
they are, just as much as when they are removed
to California or New Mexico, 1t is only extend
ing the area over which they go but it does not
increase their numbers. But i have been told,
that the institution must be confined to narrow
bounds, in order ia prevent its increase, What
does this argument amount to- lis 1t creditable to
human natures You must so confne this unhappy
race-you must cut them Off from every COM
fort, 50 disregard them as human beings, as to
check the natural increase of population If you
wish to get clear OF Them take them out and shoot
them, beseech you, because then they will die
immediately but do not punish them with a liy-
ing death, which is to last for generations. We
claim this common right, and you seek to deny il
to us, on the ground that it is sin land you con-
slider this no nsult-no degradation--to those who
,l,,1x LAT for