The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-07-31
WAsHlscroN, July 29th, 1850.
Mexican Freedom

y y ! sf 4 ii Il
We find the following notice Of the system of
Mexican Peonage, in letter from Colonel G. w.
Hughes, of the Typographical Engineers addressed
to the Bureau of Washington, and published in the
report of the Secretary OF War 1t no doubt truly
represents what Mexico actually is, while claim
ing to be, and bearing the name of free country.
1t reminds us of what was said by that eccentric
genius, and political thorn, William Goblet, who
some years since so industriously pierced the side
Of British Monarchy, with regard to the freedom
of England and Ireland. with all the boosted
freedom that Britain dispenses over her empire,
he says, her poor subjects in Ireland and England
are worse whipped in the belly, than any black
slaves on earth are on their backs. The mere name
and mode is all the difference"
+" The system of peonagc, or domestic slavery,
keeps in bondage at least four-ffths of Northern
Mexico. No system Of slavery can be more harsh
and degrading for it carries with it none of those
kindly sympathies and early associations which
so often alleviate it in the United States. Poems
are persons sold for debt, and it rarely happens
that one is ever redeemed from bondage till old
age renders him usee> $ to his owner, who then
chariiably permits him to beg for the remnant of
his life. The only appearance OF liberty which
he enjoys, is that Of selecting master who
may choose to buy him from his owner by paying
the claim against him, which, when rendered,
with the consent of the slave he is compelled by
law to accept as discharge of the obligation
The poor peOn lives In a miserable mud howell or
reed hut (sometimes built of cornstalks; matched
with grass He is allowed peck of corn a week
for his subsistence, and small monthly pay for
his clothes; but all his purchases made from
his master, each year generally finds him still
deeper in debt, for the payment Of which he at
last pledges all he possesses--his children and
they are bound for the parent till they are legally
capable Of inc urring debts Of their own, and be-
come eligible to state Of slavery on their own
account. And yet Mexico calls herself free
country.
With regard to the extent Of this system Of
peonage in some Of the States, Colonel Hughes
remarks, that more than half of the whole State
Of Coabua belongs to two brothers (Sanchez)
who own over thirty thousand poems; and their
relations, nearly all of The remaining lands and
population.
MoRrALITY OF New YoRK.--It will be seen by
the Inspector report in another place, that the
health of the city continues TO be about as good
as it usually is at this OF the year. There
has been, however, considerable increase in the
number of deaths since last week, when The whole
number was 1888. This week it is 467. OF this
increase % have been by cholera infantum "a by
commissions; by diarrhea and II by dysen-
| tary. OF the whole number dead, $40 were of
children under ten years Of age, and 169 of chill
dren under one year. Last year the deaths for
the week ending July 18th, were 1852, of which
500 were by cholera, 40 diarrra, 70 dysentary,
! I08 cholera infantum. In 1913, the whole num-
Der of deaths for the same week was 299.--Epen-
ing Post.