Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-06-05
THE NEW MEXICAN SLAVE CODE.


New Mexico,-that nobody would ever think
of introducing it there,-that climate and all
cultural laws" were against it and would keep
it ont forever Daniel Webster insisted that
for Congress to enact prohibition against
slavery in New Mexico would be like ere
enacting the laws of God" Many believed
these representations. AT any rate, they pre-
vailed and = section forbidding the existence
of slavey In t4fat territory was not inserted in
the organizing act Mr.. Webster, and others
who talked as he did, proved to be bad inter
preters of the Claws of God" and the DEGREES
of nature and therefore, they were false
prophets Slavery has found its way to New
Mexico and they now have, in that territory,
with a few slaves, one OF the most elaborate
and atrocious slave codes in existence.
We have frequently made reference to this
slave code, and now we will give more par
ticular account of it. 1t is contained in two
acts of the territorial legislature, one relating
to contracts between masters and servants,
and intended for white men, and the other TO
slavery proper. The first provides that mo
court of this territory shall have jurisdiction
nor shall take cognizance of any cause for the
correction that masters may give their SER
wants. for neglect of their duties as servants"
This system of lawess whipping is intended
for poor white laborers who serve by contract;
and there is another provision, making it the
duty of "al officers of the territory, judicial
and ministerial" to hunt down and catch SER
wants of this class who may run away, to
treat them as ''tugitives from justice" and to
keep them at hard labor until they are called
for by their masters. The other act, which
relates wholly to chatte slavery, is quite as
barbarous and internal as any thing of the
kind that can be found on record. 1t con-
tans thirty one sections and covers the whole
subject. In the second and third sections it is
provided that every person who shall "steal'
slave, or assist slave in running away, or be
in any way concerned in such matters, ''shal
suffer Imprisonment for term not more than
ten, nor less than four years, and be fined in a
sum not more than two thousand dollars, nor
less than five hundred dollars" Sections ten
to fifteen, inclusive, provide for the arrest and
Imprisonment of all colored persons who go
about without masters and, therefore, may be
treated as runaways. They are to be adver'
tised and, if no master calls for them they
must be sold at auction. Anybody may arrest
such actual or constructive "runaways," and
any sheriff who refuses to receive and keep
them in custody, becomes liable TO fine of
mot less than five hundred dollars" besides
liability to "the owner" for the value of the
slave. TITS act totally prohibits the emanci-
patton of sa"es within the territory, forbids the
owner to suffer any slave "to hirehis own time"
and provides fines and imprisenments for a
great variety Of offenses against slavery. 1t is
code which would do credit to community
of the greediest and meanest slave traders and
Legrees on the face of the earth.
A majority of the people in that territory
came to us from the Mexicans. Slavery ant
slave laws have not been introduced among
them by any wish or want of theirs. These
things went there through the agency of exc
cutive and other influences from Washington
and the slave states. The federal officials in
New Mexico do what they will there and the
establishment of slavery in that territory has
evidently been regarded as the most importan
part of their duty. There are now before the
public, documents to show that Gen. Reuber
Davis, member of Congress from Mississippi
instigated Miguel A. Otero, member from
of that territory, to procure from the territorial
legislature the passage Of slave code act
Every Washington influence that had any
potency in that quarter, was set at work
and the desired result was easily reach
ed The bill for the white slave cod
was passed Jan. 26, 1859, and that for tn,
black code, Feb. 3, 1859. 1t was the work o
government officials, chiefly, to whom the lie
gislature was very plant. Public sentiment
there is so little in its favor that nothing bu
their influence. used very unscrupulousIy, pre-
vents its repeal; and they would not be good
democrats" if they did not insist on having
the minority rule. In the territorial legisla
ture, last winter, there was movement to re-
peal it, Of which letter from resident of
the territory, dated April 10, 1860, and ad.
dressed to a member of Congress, gives the
following account:
Judge Keithly (who was Speaker of the
house of representatives in the legislature Of
New MeXico,) introduced bill for the repeal
of the slavery law, but as he is plain, honest
straightforward old farmer he took no step.
to get hackers amongst the other members o
the Legislature, holding that the bill was certain
to pass on its own merits.
The introduction of the bill came like ;
thunder-clap on those corrupt Office holders VIII,
had procured the passage of this law, and
Santa Fean arose i'll his place, and moved tina
the bill (of repeal) be rejected at once Thi
motion found no favor in the House, and the,
proceeded to the discussion Of the bill, Judg
Keithly making speech in its favor, in whic
he was ably supported by two Mexicans, VIII
advocated its passage. The opposition ito til
repeal) having nothing to say, and dreadin
the result of free discussion of the questio
on public opinion, the House adjourned. n
What they despaired of effectng in the Hous
they determined to accomplish by an outsd
pressure. Government officials kept ope
house that night. John Barleycorn did h
work and mint drops were freely admin
tered where other means failed. 4 One
the Mexicans who advocated the passage
the bill flor repeal was brought over by
promise OF the speakership. The result wat
that on entering the House the following morn
ing, Judge Keithly was presented with not
by the doorkeeper, informing him that tn
Speakers chair was vacant and the membe
above mentioned 1.-THE Mexican) was at one
Installed in the chair. Judge Keithly entere
solemn protest against these summary pre-
ceedings, and defended his right to express hi
own opinions, and those Of the people he wa
sent 70 represent, but could gain no hearing
ne uen, y, mat the proceedings in his cas-
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