lished, or by which any attempt should be made to establish the service or labor of any persons as peons, should be null and void, and any person who should hold, arrest or return, or cause or aid in the arrest or return of any person as a peon, should be fined not less than $1000 nor more than $5000, and by imprisonment not less than one, nor more than five years, at the discretion of the court; that it should be the duty of all persons in the military or civil service in New Mexico, to aid in the enforcement of the act, and any persons who should obstruct or interfere with its enforcement should be liable to said penalties; and any officer or other person in the military service, who should so offend should be dismissed the service and be ineligible to reappointment to office.

Mr. Davis of Kentucky desired that a compre. hensive definition of the term "peonage," should be given for the information of the Senate. Mr. Wilson said it was a system of modified servitude inherited from Mexico. The system had been of the most wretched and degrading character and it was supposed that nearly two thousand Indians were held in that condition in New Mexico. The object of the bill was to make it the duty of the civil and military officers of the United States, to put an end to it. Mr. Lane of Indiana said that peonage was established by the laws of Mexico, which existed in New Mexico at the time of the conquest. The system was that where a Mexican owed a debt his

creditor had a right to his labor until the debt was paid. The debtor became a domestic servant and he and his family were supported by the creditor and the peonage never ended until the debt was paid. It was a kind of servitude for debt which was inconsistent with our institutions. Mr. Davis suggested the postponement of the bill until after the 4th of March. Mr. Doolittle said it was a system of serfdom, and that there were about two thousand persons held in that condition; they were in the employment of wealthy persons owning lands, and they lived upon them and cultivated them as serfs. Mr. Buckalew said that there was no doubt of our jurisdiction to enact such a law. He had some knowledge of the system and thought the necessity for the law was evident. Eventually the courts would weed out the system effectually, but it would remain there a considerable time unless Congress should interpose. Upon the publication of such a law, the whole system would fall to the ground. He thought it a disgrace that it should be permitted where the power of the Government could extend. In practice it was not a system of service for payment of a debt in view of which the servitude commenced. The almost invariable fact was that the peon continued accumulating debt, the terms of which were always unfavorable to him, and for a nominal consideration he was continued in service during his lifetime. It was a system which degraded both the owner of

the labor and the laborer, and the sooner it was terminated the better.

The vote was then taken and the bill passed without a division. On the 2d of March, it passed the House, received the signature of the President, and the Governor of New Mexico issued a proclamation directing the officers of the Territory to enforce its provisions.