14'74
AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION'.
gence that a band of Robbers had stationed themselves on the rond to attack the Americans who might be returning to Refugio from the fair and what americans are in this place have concluded to join together for their mutual defense-We certainly sta.rt the day after tomorrow-I have this moment taken my leave of the members of the Legislature-they have assured me to dispel all doubts relative to the 13 A.rt.-The representation you made on the subject appeared so just and well founded that tp.e Author of the Article himself (Carrillo) asked permission to withdraw it-I think the children born after the publication of the Constitution will not be freed under fourteen: Several of the members since I have proposed it, are in- clined not to free them under the age of 25 or 21-the arguments and reasons adduced by myself to convince them of the justice and neces- sity of this law are to lengthy to insert in this communication but the principle was the advantage that would result to the slave as· well as to the Public to be freed at that age possessed of some useful branch of industry whereby they might gain a livelihood-instead of becoming vagabonds and [illegible]; without any certain way of pro- curing the necessaries of life except in a dishonest manner-which must be the case if they are freed at 14. after that age they are com- pelled to stay no longer with their masters unless they choose-At any rate it is presumable that no Master will maintain a large family of young Negroes a term of years without receiving some compensa- tion for it-and I say for the trouble and expence the master is at to maintain them from the time they are born untill they are 14- let the slave serve a few years to recompense them-after that he can be freed possessing health, strength; and M eam to support him- self without being a Public pest and continually a subject of cor- rection- I have stated every reason that I can invent-to try and procure this last clause as favourable as possible-I am confident if I had not arrived here, the children would have been declared free from their birth-and if the Art is passed-extending the period of Emancipa- tion to 14-21-or 25-I shall flatter myself as contributing in a small degree in obtaining it- Since my last to you I have had much conversation (reserved) with Padilla relative to your situation-and touching the subjects gener- ally you have addressed him upon- he is your warm and di.rrinterested fnend-he informs me that he is afraid at present to do much on the various points you have been so frank as to submit to his consideration-because he has no con- fidence in the members composing the Legislature except the Bnron and one or two others the ballance I may say are bought by Carrillo-- he says have patiene&-as soon as the new Legislature takes its seat-- he will present the points you wish granted and has no doubt of sue-
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