New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-12-13
LETTERS ON NEW-MEXICO.-N0 III.
peDuu0p.
Correspondence OF The Tribune.

Peonngc.
Core pondence OF The Tribune,
EAGLE PASS Rio Gfande, Oct. 2t l54O
While the South and the North-or rather the
dcmagogues of the South and Of the Nortl--are
ready to tear each other to pieces and destroy
with unflial hands the lie Of their great mother,
the Union, about Slavery one defends as
is especial interest and the other attacks as an
especial enemy-both overlook still higher inter
ests and more immediate necessities. The South
cannot recall its wasted advantages which it has
thrown away-they arc gone forever but the
North can now prove that priuciple-not mar
row sectional riyHry-is the motive power OF It's
Anti-Slavery incursions into Southern fields. II
It is honest truthful and wise fifty thousand souls
will rise out of bondage at its word 1t is start
ling is il not 7 20 peculiarly accuse the North OF
endangering by it's default the freedom of fifty
thousand souls Yet make the accusation that
while Northern statesmen loosened not single
rivet hastened not by day the final breaking Of
the chain of African bondage thereby, they have
most carelessly pered the liberties of fifty
thousand hapless Indians, Let the statement
stand forth and SO clearly read, that the danger
may be averted, that the evil may be cured. II
the friends OF Humanity and Progress do not con-
fine all their tenderness to their brethren OF At1
H.
drectncss and energy for the salvation of the
thrice. wronged Red Race in New Mexico. There
is vet time to save the Poems Of that State from
harsh bondage of indefinite Duration
do not see the papers regularly, and have not
even thought Of following up the nterminable
BHncombizing of Congress, and it may have been
stated though have not seen any correct deiini-
ton of Peon servitude PeONage by the letter OF
the Mexican law, IS merely the claiming OF
mans personal services in payment of debt, If he
has no other means to satisfy his creditor, This
does not look so unreasonable on paper if man
contracts debts he ought to pay them and II he
has nothing but his labor to give he should be
wiling to pay in labor. No one can say this
reQds so very hard and unjust but in practice it
is base fraud on the liberty Of the debtor and on
the claims which his family and society to whom
he also owes his services) have the natural right
to present with his other creditors.
1t is but yesterday, rs it were, that the oldest
and most enlightened States abolished Imprison-
ment for Debt, and any OF them have politically,
the capacity to revive the old abuse. New-Mex
ico as State in its minority will be permitted to
regulate its domestic relations, and 1t has but
to so word it's statute that PeOu SeryitUde takes
the less distateiulname Of Imprisonmenttor Debt
The PeOn need not remain IN seryltude-nOt at
sill he is perfectly ree-tree to starve in jail or
work for his master, as before 1t is true that for
everything beyond his ratlons OF & peck OF corn
week he must contract new debts it is true that
for even his miserable blanket often his entire
wardrobe, for every dose OF medicine ii he IS
sick, for every pound OF meat, ne contracts ne"
debts and thus his cup of serytude IS kept per
petualy filed bat, after all, lie is free man :;
he may 90 to the prison, and be worked as pau
perhere be does not like to work for his creditor
There is say the law -givers no injustice no ser
vitude in the case-iti only flair legal lmprlson
mentf for Debt. And surely you are not so wIckcdy
disrespectful of the laws as to dispute the power
.,TN ifoEa 01g tN into
peon sefvitude ON her fifty Thousand homeless
landess Indians. Undoubtedly not her right to
regulate the laws Imprisonment for DEBT IS as
sound and complete as the righto Victoria to her
throne, or OF the State Church OF England to deal
out the measure oil liberty allowed to the con
sciences Of Jews and Catholics NeW.MeXlco
will henceiorth have the power to continue peon,
uge by making it imprisonment Tor debt. WI
she do 50 That is question for the active, eo-
Guent friends of Human Freedom to decide at the
next meeting of Congress. As part OF texas
she would have had 10 such power, and her peoh
class-fprobably twothirds OF her entire popula-
tion-1nust perforce, have walked forth from their
chains Let those who have given to the young
Territory the power to legslase in Independence,
watch well that the power is not absolutely lent
f0 the cause Of servltude. On TIER conscleuces
be the responsibility!
This evil of peon servitude. is the more difficult
of cure, as the soil is held by few large land
owners The peon has no home or land whereon
10 begin Independence. Think of one man own.
ing sixty or hundred square leagues Of land,
Ike some of the Armijos, Saiazars and Trias
family The chief part of the soil is held in this
way, and in some directions you may ride whole
day in a straight line on single estate. These
estates larger than the largest Counties OF New
York or New. England, are generally covered with
herds and Aocks that are counted by their owner
by thousands and tens Of thousands and yet
meat is not an everyday luxury with their peon
servants. Each shepherd and herdsman is kept
to rigorous account of his charge, If there is a.
default or suspicion Of default, the lash is not
spared. These Mexican masters, who look hea.
ven in the face and call themselves men, republ-
cans and Christians, have less interest IN their
poems than the planter III his blacks.
The burning eye OF Public Opinionis upon every
American He must feed elothe and house his
seryasts and when they are DID, manned Or help
less. he must still care for them the law and his
ielow:citizens Will not let him escape the duty
The Mexican master does neither, and nobody
expects il of him. The scanty sustenance allow
ed by law would keep this side Of starvation
nothing but this abstemi0Us Red Race, or their
cousins. the Ishmaetites OF the Desert. AS tor
ra:ment no city II TIE Union would tolerate for
az hour j. IS streets such q spectacle OF 11ctad
misery IS tGese neoH3 exHibic in ssei gsaa! zarb.
>. hen ;tey eag 10 .5Heer work .hsE MAY he 9F
GO = t-4.r e.