New-York tribune., 1870-04-23
AMERICAN CITIZENS ENsLAvED IN MEXICO-A
CARD FROM RESIDENTS OF CHIHUAHUA

AMERICAN CITIZENS ENSLAVED IN MEXlCO-A
CARD FROM RESIDENTS OF CHIHUAHUA.
To the Rditor Of The Tribune.
SIR: In your issue of March 80, appears
letter from Washington entitled American Citizens En-
shaved in Mexico" reproducing, substantially, an aii
dayt said to have been made by ex-Goy. X H. Mitche
of Newexco. The principal allegations rected by the
affidavit are first that about 25 colOred American ct
zens are held in slavery in Chihuahua Mexlcoi and
second that some OF these were purchased as slaves
and are now held such by the American Consul mt that
place. the Hon. Charles Moye and the Governor OF the
State Don Luis Terrazas. Believing that great wrong
and injustice have done Consul Moye and Gov Ter
razas by the aforementioned communication, the un
dcrsigned residents OF Chihuahua, temporarily in this
city and personally acquainted with both the gentlemen
accused also with most Of the persons alleged 10 DC
held in slavery respectfully beg to submit to the readers
of THE TRIBUNE the following statement, founded upon
facts familiar each OF believing 1t Will be fuy cor
roborated in event of official investigation
The negroes were formerly slaves the property OF one
BRYANT who at the close OF the removed with them
TO Chihuahua intending settle them as free coonists
on certain OF the Government lands in that State. This
as informed was TO be the pioneer party ana IN
Mexico The only advantage Bryant could reason
ably expect to derive from the movement was the pre-
miIIm or bounty lands awarded by law to each en-.
presario the establishment OF prescribed number OF
coonsts. The emgrants were UNEXPECTEDLY deaysa "a
long time at the City, of chihuahua expenses were .
heavy and Bryant had to provide for the entire party
He procured them employment at the usual wages OF 70
cents per day. which certainly would no more than cover
their current expenditures. Pending this condition OF
affairs the colonization scheme came to grief and Bryant
died The negroes left in strange country, unac
Guanted with the language, and utterly helpless ana
destitute Not having the f to faye nO dhey TSTe T
ing present needs to supply asked for ana received a
vance wages from their employers and thus became IN
volved in debt This they could hope to repay only by
daily labor. s..o.
There has not BEEN for years slave IN that Republic
The negroes in chihuahua were free the moment
they the Rio rande and are as free to-day as
Mexican citizens Residing in foreign country, they are
subject laws: If in debt they are aenable 10 the
prevalent i'm Mexico is founded voluntary servitude
in this country The character and term or service
together with compensation, are always stipulated IN tle
contract between employer and servant On the expra
of his term the servant is free 10 DO as ne ps
guired discharge his indebtedness either IN money or
prolonged service, at the same rate of COMPENSATION
employer transfer his servants NTH Their consent TO
any other person. In the latter case II the servant
in debt, the employer assumes and discharges ~
thereby becoming creditor for the amount inns we
understand to be the case with the negroes now III te
empOyment of Consul MOye and Gov. IerfaZas
II their former employer ever received doar from
it was discharge of the servants previous indebted
and not purchase money Tor chatteIs or t
the persons thus wrongfuy accused universally cs
teeed as and kind hearted men, ana pOth nave
been heard to declare repeatedly that tney ,so
negroes solely from considerations OF charity ana human
ity until they could make arrangements 10 leave 'nc
these persons nave been from time time
DarraSSed
and were free to depart. But some Of them, instead OF
leaving when opportunity offered have preferred To re-
main and have even sought employ further IN the
Interior We have heard instance OF unjust or IN
human treatment toward them, and have never consld
cred of them being subjected 10 greater ais
comfort than the ordinary ab0rng classes or that c0u
number more or less indebted TO their employers have
attempted on various occasions to absc0nd from the
country. II they have been pursued overtaken' anu
dealt with according to law, we cannot conceive fow
that circumstance can construed into just cause OF
complaint against the American Consul
Wp offer upth "A
ates In 80 far as he Is concerned we simply tender
recital of facts as currently understood in Chihuahua
As 10 the situation of the negroes, emphatcaly deny
that they or any of them have been hedin state
OF slavery in Mexico or have been purchased or
sold by Consul Moye Gov Terrazas any other person
i'm thai country VI. III. MACwILLIE,
W. II. CRUMP,
Netc York, April ), 1870. JOHN kIRK