New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-02-01
American Citizens EnsInved.

Correspondence OF The Tribune
EAGLE PASS, Saturday, Dec. Il, 1850.
wish to PROFOUND grave question to those In
authority. and l will never cease putting it to
them and the people until these silent warders OF
Castle Doubtful make lawful response Are her.
lean creditors permitted TO make PeoR SLAVES Of
American citizens? | declare in the affirmative,
of nv OVID knowledge and to the moral conviction
of many officers in the service of the United
States and, moreover, declare that from the
highest to the lowest no official of our Govern
ment has manifested the slightest wish or inten-
ton to protect the liberties of our citizens, or
even the sanctity Of our soil, however invaded by
Mexican creditors in pursuit Of persons 70 be en-
shaved for debt.
We shall be told, in the face of the two millions
of peon slaves who are this day toiljuS aud
starving in peon bondage, that there is IA lnvol-
untary servitude Ia Mexico This qa5ble, put
of by knaves or fools, to deceive other fools VITA,
is solemnly euunciated in Mexican prOnuncia-
meItos, and even la our Congressional ADDRESSES
TO Buncombe, but al the world knows irs talaity.
The debtor is committed 20 q foul and noxiOds
prison, until he dies submits 10 a bondage tdtc
relaxes 70 nothing but the hand OF death. FMS
"rOinnt0YY seryitude" tie Mexican p lrty IN favor
Of q State Government now enjoy on their vast
haciendss, and this they wish 50 perpetuats Toe
sweets Of this voluntary servtude, and tae
luxurious allowance of peck of corn a week Tor
subsistence ard so much Of tho lash rs Ia neccs-
sary to retain them in obedience and industry" is
at this very hour the rich inheritance Of much the
largest proportion Of the free" inhabitants Of
New Mexico This may be met by some double
faced, evasive denial, but the facts are rgdy aud
practically as stated. If the rare luxury of
coffin and christian burial are allowed TO the dead
peon by his master, his children are enslaved for
the debt.
To those par excellence champions of human
liberty, who are firing themselves and all the
world with their clamorous sympathy for some
body who might, In some improbable contingency
become a slave in New Mexico instead Of South
Carolina | leave the task of mystitying away the
force Of the charge that Slavery now exists-and
if they have their way, will continue to eXiss-ln
that land of silver and suffering. To the sane
aud sincere sons Of justice and the Union | ap
peal for a close probing of this hideous ulcer OF
peonage which is cankering our whole Rio Bravo
border.
The utter absence Ofprotection for our citizens
however wronged in person or property, habitu-
ally manifested by our Government, prevents
and it may be is intended TO preyent-our injared
citizens from troubling the powers at w ashing
ton with their grievances; but it may not be amiss
10 state one or two acts, as well known and pub
lie as the noon by way of sample OF border pro-
lection.
On the Goth Of September, Manual Rios, Mex.
lean by birth, but who had taken up his residence
at Eagle Pass, two miles below Fort Duncan
was chased into the kitchen of an American gen
tleman, chased out again, had a pistol presented
TO his breast his hands tied, carried off from the
public highway on our side of the river 70 be fer
RED over 10 the Mexican side, and there bound
ike another Mszeppa to horse aud hurried t.
San Juan He WAS q runaway debtor and thus
81. 1 III -
trading house at this point Two other peons
were kidnapped the same day, with the sine
cool and open contempt for our laws, and 10 the
course of week another man and woman were
caught and transferred by force from our side b
the Mexican bank Of the river. There IS not an
officer at Fort Duncan that is ignorant OF this sys-
tenn of kidnapping, or Of the parties who make II
a trade. They are not clothed with civil autn)ri-
~, and nobody thinks of calling on our Govern
roent Tor them its agents. 70 protec, the dignity
Of ourfsg We who have seen ITS si0th and suo-
serviency 10 foreign powers will nOs waste time
In such a Ruthless quest. Only We know a
greater livsth" and we trust that some day the
majesty Of the people will be aroused to assert
it, integrity.
Victor Espeta is another case under my own
eve He is pet servant albeit he has the Mex
lean weakness for cards, wine, and black eyes.
Victor fell desperately in love with an artu Peon
woman of San Fernaudo-a lovely Mexican town
COMMANDED Oy LaBlc fass-thd ne gave us a.,
even to bis own liberty, to purchase hers. His
horse, his gun, his dashing, many.coored tresGfa,
and all the money he could persuade US % adj
vance him, was laid down TO buy her freedom.
A happy man was Victor when be brought her
over TO the American side and placed her under
the safeguard Of our laws. But to do this he had
not only paid all be was worth, and twice as much
as the woman fairly owed bat be was accused Of
having promised SIS over and above, and for this
sum he has by Mexican law forfeited bis own
freedom. He is an American citizen b. law i0f
he lived on the American side, aud b. treaty ana
national law became oars with his honesteeh
He can read and write, is American by cholce