Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1851-09-04
Correspondence of the Daily State senuneIJ
Life on the Border.

/ lcotteSpcnoencc
H Life on the Border.
BY coma MONTGOMERY. 80 -t
- > EAGLE Pass, Texas July s, 1851.
An evil genius to follow one Of our servants
He is a character in his way; knows every thing on
earth that useless and much that is useful too for
man in his rank of life. He read Spanish like a
padre and write it like lover. He talk nonsense
by the hour round sonorons hundred foole5 words
which fall from Spanish lips like heroic and seems
tne httlng language oi poets and demigods But
through this resoundng spray sparkles up unex.
pected bt Of keen practical philosophy that would suit
the pages Of Plato, least would seem natural
there than the lips Of a Mexican who is almost
slave Neither is Victor Mexican, though born in
that world of marvellous beauty that glows along tbs
line Of Tehauntepec. He has lived long the eastern
bank oil the Rio Grande and by the final treaty became
citizen of the United States. He is by right and by
law citizen and voter of Kinney couny but that did
not prevent his coming very being e1slaved for
debt the other day in Mexico II will surprise some
American citizens to hear that you i, any
whose eye may rest this sentence, is liable by the
laws OF Mexico solemnly and officially endorsed by tho
American Secretary Of State may he sold for a slave
IL they owe any thing Mexican and can be caught
on Mexican soil. Nay, you may be seized this side
al your door, and conveyed the passcd
into the Interior and there live and die slave have
the law set down under Mr.. WebsteTs inallibe
hand He says this Government is not called upon to
interfere if the kidnapping is done by officer Of
the Mexican Government. In the case of Rios, the
question put the Secretary Of State, whether
soil was free to Mexican kidnappers who like the
pasiime Of man-hunting and that his official answer
IN good clear official language If the kdnapper is
official, then indeed as IN the case of Rev in New
Orlcansah! then you shall hear him gently
as sucking dove, for the said official please bring
back the stolen The unruly democrats getting
cross and talking peevshypcrverse mob that they
of citizens rights, and the majesty Of republican law
and said Spanish official is impored TO consider the
pepexity of the officials here and quietly send back the
man. Well, our poor, poetical, warm-hearted, weak
headed Victor gets himself in debt some three dollars
(Which his creditor makes ten) to a Shyock a
scale DOW living the other side. The debt
racted here on the American side, and nearly paid uT
but this balance of three dollars for months and
the creditor has been laying in wait catch the cupit
the Mexican side and enslave him Victor naturally
fearless and has high ideas of the dignity Of citizenship
ard Of the omnipotent protection of the Of the
Union. We knew Government better, and warned
him to be careful, Englishmen and Frenchmen,
whose flags much better represented than ours
have been, and now, peonage in Mexico. But tho
lady OF his love bound ball on the other SIDE
and the enamoured and jealous Victor TO be
prevented from following her watch his interests
His creditor guessed much, and hardly had Victor
touched the Mexican shore when lie was caught thrown
into the calaboose and told prepare for bondage He
wrote to his employer to his aid and agreed TO
admit the whole charge of dollars If his creditor
would but convey his letter to Eagle Pass
I'VE will bring this question 10 an issue, and compel
both Governments to settle the principle whether an
American citizen be enslaved for debt - the
sponse Of his MASTER he buckled his ive-shooter
" But Mr.. Webs ster has settled it in his letter to Gen
Hugh Mcleod, in which he says all persons from
side, complaining of being unnstly held bondage in
Mexico must submit to the decisions Of the tribunals OF
that country" This ventured to observe; for /
profoundly defeenta 10 the fiat of the great urist who
owns the enlightened State Of Boston-yet always
saving with the Apostle, Lord help mine unlc-
lief" "Ch, that applied to persons kidnapped from
our SOIL" was the reply; +" and even Mr.. Webster
cannot nullily all our citizen powers, think shall
al must be of this party /" said friend and forth
with another horse saddled and another sxshootcr
buekled by hands that perfectly understood its use
''I, too have curiosity" added he repenishng the
while the neat flask and pouch that keep the sxshooter
company, decided curiosity, TO hear the opinion Of
the Mexican Commandantc on the propriety oi making
slaves Of our citizens"
Sand /, too, must be of this agreeable company"
puts in our gay, careless, good natured FRIEND McG
Il like my share in them when such interesting conver
sations hand" With the word he was armed
and mounted as promptly the others.
Victor himself might like word to say on the occa
son and hero spare argument for his use SAID QUO
of the party throwing no spoke extra pistol over
the saddle bow
In as brief time and as lightly have written it
armed in saddle and under spur TO do their errand
the soil of Mexico and in the precincts of OF her
military colonies They 60 10 festival with smiles
and words af courtesy their lips bnt they are esoue
and well armed men, accustomed to be altogether suf
cient unto themselves whenever the government fails
be sufficient unto its duty TO their rights They feel that
American citizens should be ensaved in Mexico, and
could not if their public servants were not derelic
They go claim him. and however they speak OF peace
they not likely return without their man. Tor ero
others who feel they do about the custom OF sell
ing citizens for debt If blood shoold flow in such
quarrel first last it WILL whose head rest the
guilt and the shame7 Who shall condemn who chastiso
onr people for invading Mexico to ensaved
fellow citizen Our Cabinet will not have the audsciiy
Their Chef in his letter to Gen. McLead Of Dee II,
1850 lays down the law that any unofficial Mexican can
come soil and kidnap residents with impunity
and if the captured do not relish this, they must
appsa to the Mexic laws, which laws settle the whole
matter nv making them slaves for debt Now il is 10 he
hoped that as Mr. Webster find way 20 punish
Mexcans for coming soil to kidnap free Ameri-
voters he will not be anxious to wiring out one to
punsh citizens for going Mexican soil
n them His long sweet drsught Of Cuban tears ought to
satisfy his magnanimous devotion to foreign and antre
publican interests for a short season. c. M.