The gazette and Democrat. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1860, 1860-10-04
White Slavery in New
Mexico.
EMMH1 LAW

We publish below, the infamous and in
human law Of the territorial Legislature oi
New Mexico, approved and sanctioned by
the vote of @. D. Martin iu the last Con,
g;rsss, BY which laborlng white men, "con,
tracing 10 do SERVICE" are placed com,
pletely at the mercy of their employers,
by which they may be sold into slavery
for debt; by which they may be whipped
by their master without redress in the
cour.s. d,
We ask the 'laboting men, Of this COM
muniIy to read it; read it carefully, then
vote for the man who gave it his approval
il they can. We ask our friends to re.
member, in this connection. the fact that
before this barbarism could become law,
ithad, by reason Of tle organic law Of
New Mexico, to be approved and sane
toned by Congress. (Sce organic law. J
Here is the law:
Sec. !. When any servant shall run a
way from the service Of his master, lie
shall be considered as fugitive from JUS
tice, aud in such case it shall be the duty
of all officers Of the Terri ory, judicial Or
ministerial, on being informed that such
persons are within the limits Of their ju-
risdiclion, TO ascertain whether such per.
sons are runaway servants or not. and il
they ascertain that they ara said officers
shall Immediately arrest them and pM them
10 uork OtpuJ!ic labor, or hire them out to
any person so that they may be employed
with security, until their master shall be
informed therefore, in order that they may
demand them, and to whom they sLal
Immediately be delivered.
Sec. 2. Every person Of this Territory
either contracted servant according tC
the law of contracts. or engaged on trips
or as sheperds, shall be compelled to serve
for the time stipulated for in the, contract
and any servant 80 contracted who shall
fail to serve by abandoning his master OF
properly placed under his care, shall be
held responsible for all costs aud dana
ges which through his negligence may
result to the owner: Provided, That il
the same manner in which the servants
shah be compelled to comply with this
contract, tile masters should also be eqtral
ly obliged, in case any servant should fal
sick on any trip, to furnish them, at theil
own expense, the means OF cure, and shal
not, under any circumstances, abandon
them; but on the contrary, shall convey
them to their homes. where the said ser
wants may be able 10 procure the mean
ne cssary for their substance. ...
SEc. 8. No persons stall employ th'
servant OF another without becoming re
sponsible by such act to pay the first con
tract; and il they shall furnish him witt
any money. and the servant shal j be com
PEELED TO return 10 the service. Of his frs
master for the. reason that the second dl
not have or die not desire to pay the mon
ey due, in such case the second contraC
tor shall lose his claim, or shall be com
PEELED to wait until the servant shall hav
paid the money of the FIST contractor.
SEC. A. No court of this Territory Sha
: haze jurisdiction nor shall take cqgaizanc
: of any cause for tile correction that maste'
E mag give their servants for neglect of Mei
duties as servants, for they are considere
as domestic servants 10 their masters, an
J they should correct Mtir neglect and fault
i for as soldiers are panished by their chig
aoitkom lie Intervention OF ciOH omhora
BY reason Of the salary they enjoy, a
S quail right should be grapted those pei
n sons who psS their money to be serve
e in the projection of their property: Pr,
= uided, That such correction shall not |
$ inflicted in a cruel m4ner with clubs
| stripes
u Sec. 5. Sections fourteen and fIftee
: Of an act approved July 20, 1851, relati'
D TO contracts between masters and servan
N are hereby repealed.
SEC 6. That all acts or parts of act
laws or parts Of laws. in Conflict with tn
act, ale hereby repealed.
J, Sec, 7. This act shall be in force ar
take effect from and after its passage.