New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-03-08
THE SOUTHWESTERN BORDER.
Three Forms of servitude on the Border.
Correspondence Of The Tribune.
EAGLE PASS, Saturday, Feb. /, 1851.

Correspondence Of The Tribune.
EAGLE PASS Saturday, Feb. l, 1851.
The Rio Bravo Notwithstanding the strip of
country about which so much is said and so little
done in the way Of protection-will present, as It
developes, a geographical arrangement OF morals
peculiar to itself Like three layers Of different
colored earths ranged one above the other and
showing their edges on the uncovered face Of the
bank, we have between Santa Fe and the sea the
three colOrs of servtude. W have on the upper
line the Red Race in peon slavery, which is
thought a most moral, excellent thing by the Mex
icans-that is, by those rich enough to own poems
49, and it will be counted as a kindly and harmless
thing at w ashington until it can be manufactured
into some kind Of cOmbustible gas whereWlth to
light up the province of BuncOmbe. Then comes
the middle region, the land Of ores and wheat and
vines into which the White Race are rapidly
forcing their servtude of wages Here the cords
Of bondage are twisted of the triple strands of
want, ignorance and intemperance. In this
Astounding country the first would soon dwindle
TO a cobweb but for the other two bat together
they hold q numerous and miserable race OF
slaves in bondage. They are mostly foreigners,
but wherever born they are as little their own
masters TO any honorable purpose as the lied
seris in the district north of them. or the black
slaves on the south. They live and toll, grOvel
and die in q closer equality with their different
coored neighbors than they aud other whites care
to admit-snd, of course, society Is never to blame
for their fall. The army and navy would be- a
lively and instructive parallel II the gentlemen OF
the whip and gallows school had free way
Well, enlistment. or whatever cramping debase
mept can be imposed upon the ignorant tOier for
wages, is also innocent and moral 1t must be,
or why do gallant officers aud wise Congressman
and rich capitalists cherish it as a heaven.
ordained thing? If opposition to 1t is not wrong,
and ridiculous besides, why are we sneered at by
these high ones, when we speak OF instruction,
employ ment and support as the natural right oil
all the children of man Decidedly, this must be
an absurdty, and the Golden Rule of Him the
Stable.Born was only intended to regulate gen
teel life and the proceedings of legislative bodies.
The third class of servitude is more stringent
and unchanging than the other two though gem
orally attended with less personal suffering.
Black slavery is more sharply defined, but 1t is
the best fed
A line drawn in the most direct and available
course from Santa Fe to the Gulf-and as the
Government will not find it out without help, In
Years, it may as well be mentioned again, that IL
would run nearly hundred miles, or something
more than that to the east of the present nearly
imprRctcable road to Preside del NOrte, do Vn 20
the grassy and well watered wales in which the
higher sire ans Of the Colorado approach the
sources of the Pecos, and thence sklrtng and de-
Tending as it went, the settled edge OF the coun'
try il would keep southwark TO the Gull TO meet,
and TO some parpose, the Rio Grande llne oil de-
fence, and make safe all that is inclOsed between
them On this line, like three beads on string,
will be 'found the three shades OF serytude to
which the maternal forethought OF society devotes
her children from their brth-each one as best
be fits mercy, justice aud bis color. Geography
has more 20 do than people are willing to own
with the ir moral views on servitude. Negro ser
yitude is abominable in Great Britain, bat 1t IS
perfectly moral there, il not absolutely pralse~or-
thy, 70 keep soldiers and sailors aud servants In
their rroDer piace Now in Louisiana slave
holders may be found tho think 1t improper to
brutfy enlisted men with the lash, and to CON
press the life of factory children into an iron coffin
Ia which mind and body is pinched down to
senselets clod. Then some people have preJu'
dices about the enslavement of the Red race 0ut
| it is not an immortality in the latitude OF Mexico
| though African slayeryis, aud SO they hold the
chain of the crouchng peon In one hand while
with the other they beckon the negro to steal MS
owners horse and fly on it to their arms and lib
erty That we may see side by side the beauties
and the blessings Of all the varieties OF we'll re5u-
lated servitude known to our domestic and Chris
tian Institutions here they are unrolled together
aud offered TO our comparison in the genial soil OF
Texas Like her vast diversity OF soil and pro
ouction, which enables the most opposite tastes
to find what peases them best, so those who wish
pet morality can have it OF any race or color
they fancy; or they can choose the sin they
have a mind to" and make all right with their
conscience and what some people think more OF,
with public opinion, by double amount Of sever
ity to those they are not inclined To- ,,,,,,,
CORA MONTGOMERY.