Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1852-12-11

some TnlSlOftunc, Dut CeNCIO ulu wv Htsidlo |
to become surely for her debt of Sl5, and |
make her his wife. This exposed him to be |
peonized himself any day, but his work was
! mainly devoted to the service Of the creditor,
who kept his own open account with them,
advancing, while they were at work for him,
| the beans and corn for the daily bread of the
couple. They settled from the first on the
cast side of the river, and when, nj the close
/ of the war, all the hithcr bank was recog-
niscd as United States territory, they became,
/ by the express terms of the treaty, American
| citizens. This, which should have been
sure guaranty of liberty and protection, cast
| the unhappy family into the most incurable
misery. I would state the case distinctly,
| for il presents, what most Americans will
| find it hard TO believe, that our country per-
mits OH her border an arocious and peculiar
| system of kidnapping.
| When hosiiiiics first kindled with Mexico,
Severe entered into the employ of q tnule-
| teer, who continued with aud near the army
during that memorable first campaign in
which such splendid victories were won TO
10 particular end, and such massive move
mems were so bravey pressed for no partic-
ular object. This service kept Severe far
from home most Of the war season, but
more than once the fond husband mounted
his horse and rode all night through dan
gerous region TO pass one day with Joscia
aud his child; and then he would repeat the
same rough ride the next night, and report
himself nj sunrise ready for his usual duties.
About the conclusion of the war, the knowl-
edge of their citizenship, and the enhanced
security aud prosperity they hoped to attain
under the American laws, began to make n
deep impression upon Indian families Oh our
side of the Rio Bravo, and on none more
than the frcedom-lovng Severe. To cdu-
cate his first born, his boy Marcos, to the
stature of n free born American was a dream
of delight to his soul. When peace was
proclaimed, he made an eager, hurried visit
to his home at Laredo, and then fastened to
the healthy and romantic town of Corpus
Christi, TO solicit permanent employment
from the celebrated Col. Kinney, the promi-
oior of Il DOMAIN exactly three times MS large,
aud ten times MS fair, MS the principally of
Queen Nctoria's lalher-in.law. The sorrow.
stricken Indian returned TO iiud his home
desolate. Although American citizens by
law, by service aud by loyalty, the Mexican
| hawks bad not feared to swOop down upon
our soil, aud clutch away his helpless ones
in his absence. The thrice paid creditor of
Josein had conveyed her by threats and
| force to the Mexican side of the river, where
there was little trouble in having her assigned
10 him ms debtOr-slayc. Her young Amer
lean born son was consigned to the same
fate TO meet the cost of bringing him up,
and thus with every form of Mexican law
they were sent, mother and child, TO wear
out their lives in the harshest Slavery known
on this continent [eXcept, the author should
have added, of the United Statesl.
"Severo appealed to an officer in the Uni
ted States army for redress--it was not in
his line of duty. lie applied to the civil
Judge he could not pursue the offence into
n foreign country; this provision so necess-
nry to border tranquility, had been over
looked in the haste of making the pence
treaty. In his despair of other help, and
perhaps with lingering faith in the sanctity
OF his American citizenship, Severe set forth
| TO have nm interview with Josefh and her
muster, and, if he could make no other offer
for her freedom, he resolved to give his own
body To redeem his wife and child lie had
few dollars in money and u good horse
perhaps he thought he could prevail Oh Don
Mathis TO accept them-as they were of
more value than the original debt-togctlicr
with year or two of their united service
and then dismiss them all in freedom. Ii
wns an lllusive hope. Instead of listening
to his proffers of triple payment, Don Mathis
| coolly claimed the horse as nn estray of
| some friend or other, and seized Severe MS
Ills own lawful peOn. Severe heard the SEN
tence of the alcalde in the stern, uumoved
silence Of his much-enduring race, and
whatever he nourshed in his heart, no Sc
verify OF labor or suil6ring wrestcd COM
pant from his lips. lie toilcd aud watched
more than year before an opening for es-
cape offered for Joscin, and without her he
would not leave Al last, when Don Maths
returned near the bank of the Rio Bravo
and placed them all on rancho, or cattle
farm, not far from Mler the time of deliver
nnce seemed AT hand. Patience aud courage
brought favorable moment for the attempt,
aud il was made. The river was gained,
was crossed; the whole family stoud free
citizens Oh the soil OF tine Union; some miles
were travelled in the direction of the town
of Brownsville, for Severe had learned 10
fear The absence of protection at Laredo
and the happy family lay down to rest in
Tie serene ireslIness of the open sky. They
folded themselves in their recovered liberty
MS IN garment of joy, and slept without
fear Alns, for the weakness and obscuriiy
of our laws! their pursuers had followed
keenly on their rack, aud before the dawn
, they were Overtaken, bound, and re-conveyed
| Ia the Mexican bank aud more enbllercd
/ Slavery.
"Four months Of suffering, distinguished
only lay the death of their boy, again lermi-
nuled in the escape Of Severe by desperate
! flight, in which Josela could not share. This
lime lie did not pause until he reached the
interior town Of San Antonio, whence he
proposes TO despatch the money for the pur-
chusc of his wife, if, indeed, her broken
health holds out until he can earn the
amount"
From the Ohio Farmer