Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1852-12-11
Gelrtteo Artttlrs.
The PeOn Slave.

The following story of the adventures of n
Mexican Peon is taken from Cora Montgom-
ery's Eagle Pass" n settlement IN Texas.
IL contains many expositions Of the character
OF the Mexican slave system
"Such thoughts forced me to look history
in the eye, when Victor, our confidential
servant, aud man of pure Indian descent,
stood in silent, motionlcss respect TO receive
the order of preparation for tie journey
lie was slight, rather well-formed easy aud
1.-the in his movements, but with The serious,
scli-eontained air that cliaracierizes his race.
His dark face was scanned with the small
poX, but II spoke intelligence aud courage,
and his eye wore a winning expression of
attachment aud confidence when it turned
OF his master. In few, but remarkably
well-chOsen words, Victor inlimate,. that he
understood his orders, and then disappeared
with noiselcss step. IN the future, my sole
trust for servants, domestic attendance, aud
the most part of my human companionslIip,
is in these tanned Indians. Well, | rather
like the prospect.
The early evening was sol, fresh and star
lit, aud remained in my room alone for nm
hour, nusing over n thousand confused lrng-
ments Of the past and present, when my at
tention was attracted by two figures in deep
chat, short distance from the open window.
"One lancied, and correctly to be Victor
the other was larger person, and as could
readily observe in the clear obscure, an lud.
an of fine aud graceful proportions. Victor
was waiting 10 speak TO his master as he
came out from supper, and as | soon gath
cred from their conversation, his companion
had seen him rs lie entered the garden for
eh,f Il
an old friend. At first | only noted the
flowing elegance of their mutual compli-
ments aud the rigid pOitencss with which
each entitled the other Senator but the
strangers remarks soon absorbed my entire
attention. Ii was n moving tale, and opened
TO me an unexpected tale Of border lite.
give II now, though in fact it was only com
pleted by nIter inquiry aud information:
"Severo Valdez and our Victor had been
scholars together in free school attached to
some convent in their distant and fruitful
GaudalaXara. They had both learned 10
read, aud Victor even 10 write, when they
were parted, Severe TO follow his parents
into servitudc, for they had fallen into debt
and were sold by debtors law as poems TO
the magnificent estate Of Santa Merccd
(lloly Mercy, many leagues this side of his
native city. Victor came eastward in the
service OF Il Mexican officer, aud after many
wanderings, found himself at Matamoras
some two years before the Mexican war;
Here he met again his old cass-matc, Seve-
ro. The hacienda of Holy Mercy was one
Of those vast peon holding properties pecul-
lar TO Mexico, and even in that lnnd il had
bad reputation of giving oyer-allowance of
work, and an under allowance of food
The peek OF corn per week to the peons, or
slaves, for debt, was of two or three years
old stock and often alive with insects, as the
fresh corn of the current year had TO he
stored. A thousand head of cattle ranged
on the outskirts of the estates, and seven
thousand sheep and goats divided with them
the pastures, but the poems only tasted meat
about twice month, and then each pound
served out was charged TO them, TO swell
their debt of servitude. Severe endured his
lot while his mother lived; but when she
died, he broke awny. Ills situation of ram
q1er0, or mounted herdsman, gnye him fine
start in advance, and he was fifty miles on
the road TO freedom before his flight was
announced TO the overseer of the HOLY Mer-
cy. The poor old iaiher was suspected of
counseling his escape, and, in his rage, the
major domo handled the old pcon so cruelty
that he laid down on his mat aud never left
II agnin. In week from Severo's depart
ure, the other poems dug hole, rolled up the
corpse in his ragged mat for coffin and
windins-sheet, aud cast il in the earth with
out further ceremony, for such is the usual
peOn custom of burial. All this, when he
came TO hear Of it, did not increase Severo's
desires OF return TO the sweets Of Holy Mcr-
cy and he worked, starved aud travelled
forward until lie reached Snn;illo. There
he fell sick, and, after enduring his situation
with indian forlitude for Two weeks, the pcon
who lent Him all he had to share-a corner
of his hovel for shade aud an OK hide for II
bed-induced him to sell himself to u baker
OF the place for the necessary medicine and
sustennncP. lie served his mnstrr, the bn-
ker, with fidelity and good will, for he wns
treated kindly, but the fear of being reclaim.
ed by his first owner haunted him coniinu-
ally, and lie was more than glad " hen il
was proposed to transfer his services to II
mulelecr bound for Laredo. To Laredo he
went, still in peon servitude, however, for it
is a sort of miracle for hound dehtur
10 regain his freedom, and there he ranged
the banks of the Rio Bravo in his uriainnl
capacity of rdquero or herdsman. Here
begins The eninnglement of his story. An
American merchant at Matnmorus wished n
reliable aud competent man to 90 down TO
the coast wiilasts mule train; aud hy n tr-
pie arrangement between Severe, his master
and the merchant, the active aud faithful
young peon was to serve six months for his
debt of $50, aud Then become free when the
American went to New Orleans in the spring
Al Maiamor0s he chanced to encounter Vic
tor, and renewed with him the friendship of
younger days. Victor was about to go up
the river to Laredo, and was charged hy his
friend with many messages to peon family
TO which il turned out Severe was united by
tho strongest bonds. lie loved deeply the
young neice Of a Laredo peon, Joseih, who
was free aud appeared likely TO remain "a,
as she was active, industrious, and good
seamslress. To earn her hand in legitimate
marriage was the great object OF his life,