New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-11-22
Attempt tn Revive slavery in Texas.

A most extraordinary bill is now pending
in the Texas Legislature. and has passed
the lower house, the entire Democratic
vote having been cast for it. which is in.
tended to establish a system Of peonage in
that State. virtually re-establishing the old
that people can not be bought and sold as
chattels. Tho first section provides that,
whenever any person is hereafter convicted
Of any Otfense III the courts, tho presiding
Justice Of the county can employ such a
person to labor upon the public works or
roads during the whole term of his impris.
0nment, or he may 'hire him out to the
highest bidder. either bv private or public
contract" The second section provides that
justices may also hire out in like manner
any person ''under sentence of imprisOn.
ment" for non-payment of a fine, until he
has worked out the amount of the fine: and
if there ia no necessity for labor on public
works. any person who will pay the fine
may have the cOnyict's labor. The third
section is the most remarkable Of all, as it
provides that ''all persons confined in Jail
on o charge of having committed misde.
meanor or petty otfense may be employed
in like manner from the time Of imprison.
ment until the time of trial. and if, upon
shall be paid not less than invent .iive cents
nor more than 81 per day, as the presiding
justice may contract: provided that, before
trial and conviction. no person shall be
held to labor without his consent The
fourth section requires sheriffs to capture
escaped conyicts and return them Co their
employers, in which case al! the labor pre-.
viOusly performed is forfeited, and the con.
vict is compelled to ,ecOmmence his term
OF labor. and continue until the expiration
Of the full time OF the contract made by
the justice.
These are the most important provisions
Of this very extraordinary and outrageous
Democratic bill. Upon the surface it might
appear fair enough. especially as it makes
no discrimination between blacks and
whites; but a little study Of it's provisions
will show the animus which inspires it. and
the results which it is intended TO compass.
Although making no avOwed discrimination
between whites and blacks. it is clearly
enough intended to operate against the
latter. and, as the justices have the option
blacks must be the eufereys, and the whole
weight OF the law must fall upon them.
The third eecsion is simply infamous.
Under the operation of this section any
county Justice can take man. the moment
he is arrested, however petty the misde.
meanor may be. or however innocent he may
be. deprive him Of the right Of bail. which
is one Of the fundamental rights in every
Northern State. as we'll az in offenses
against the United States. and hire him out
to hard labor. Let us take an illustration
and see how this section will work: A black
man ;s arrested for some tritling otfense. and
the justice. without allowing him bail. i'm.
iLedlately hires him out to his former owner
until his trial. That owner might jus: as
we'll own him body an,: soul. To al: jntents
and purposes. he does. The trial Of his
former slave may be postponed indefinitely.
The latter Is not in a condition to consult
lawyers, or prepare his defense. He IS con.
demnei 20 hard labor. although he may be
innocent. II Is easy enough to put Oft his
trial upon one pre:ext and another. for he
is SO situated that he knows nothing of the
proceedings IL MS case. and can nos even
enter protest. Or appca: IL cours person.
ally or by proxy. A. last. grant that trial
is awarded him. He has no counsel. He
has had no opportunity - make defense
or summon witnesses. Whether innocent
Or guilty, lie is sure to be convicted.
1t will not require much effort in Texas
to impose the extreme penalty upon negro.
It acquitted. his employer would have been
to pay him the pittance Of no.
less than twenty i've cents nor more than
81 per day; but. as he is convicted. the EN-.
plOyer gets the previous labor for nothing,
and can now make a contract with the
justice for his labor during the term OF his
sentence. which. Of course. has been made
"a long az the law will allow, if not longer.
Wherein does this differ from African
slavery. except that the employer can not
sell his laborer! Suc!, a bill as this can
easily be constructed to apply to debt, and
thus bring the negro into bondage as help.
less as that of the Mexican peon, by keep.
ing him in debt. It IS shrew3 device Of
the ex-sfavehoiders 20 get compensation
for the loss of their slaves. and it provides
ample means for doing go. The bill is so
adroit!y drawn that it can be stretched to
suit any case. and the black victim who
gets into its nesfes will be kept there until
be has made satisfaction for his loss by his
labor. 1t Is even more atroci0us and in.
famous than the Mexican system of peon.
age. as it strips the negro of his funda-
mental rights, and he, innocent or guilty.
'e9uces him to condition Of servitude.
The Texas justices will never apply it to
white men. It was made tn apply only to
black Republicans; and the friends OF the
blacks in that State. in case the bill should
pass, should organize q resOlute resistance
% it, not only upon the grounds Of human
ty. but upon the clear rights guaranteed to
very man by the constitution. In what
,ver form the curse of slavery may present
tself, it should be stamped gu. at once
Chicago Tribune.
Editorial Writer'S.