Indentured Servitude

In addition to slavery, the 13th Amendment outlaws “Indentured Servitude”, something your public school teacher probably didn’t teach you about.  

Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.

Sit back for a little story… it’s the 1700s…

Farmer O’Smythe is out in his field weeding his potatoes and looking after his sheep…

Stranger:  Hello there!   I’m from the Government and the King sent me out to give you a hand!
Farmer O’Smythe:  Thank you but I don’t need any help – would you care for a meal?  You look like you enjoy good food
Stranger:  Well, thank you but no.  I’m on official business actually.   The records down at the Sheriff’s office say you haven’t paid your tax yet.
Farmer:  Tax?  What’s that?
Stranger:  Oh, don’t pretend you don’t know.  It’s been in all the newspapers
Farmer:  I can’t read
Stranger:  Oh, I see.   Well, the king has ordered everyone listed on the census to pay their tax – you do remember that nice woman who came out and did the census a few years ago?
Farmer:  Yes, she said if I answered her questions, I would get help
Stranger:  See!  Here I am.   If you give me twenty of those pieces of paper with the picture of the King on them, I’ll check you off and be on my way
Farmer:  Money?   I have no need for money, especially paper money.
Stranger:  Well, you need to find a way to get some money or the Sheriff will come out and make you pay
Farmer:  I don’t understand.  What gives the King the right to take my sheep because he says I have to pay a “tax”?
Stranger:  It’s called the “Divine Right of Kings” – it’s in the Bible.  You are a good Christian, aren’t you?
Farmer:  I don’t think Jesus wanted Kings to order people to pay taxes
Stranger:  You don’t understand Latin, do you?   Trust me – that’s what it says “Render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s”.  You aren’t a heretic, are you?   The King is God’s representative on Earth, and God gave him any powers he needs to protect God’s people.
Farmer:  I think the church uses Latin just to lie to us about what the Bible really says.
Stranger:  King James agrees!  That’s why he had the the Bible written in English.  See – his name is even on the cover.
Farmer:  I wish I could read English.   Could you read it to me?
Stranger:  Maybe, but not right now.
Farmer:  But my family has lived on this land for hundreds of years!
Stranger:  So you’re admitting you’ve been squatting on the King’s land for hundreds of years!  This is much worse than I thought.
Farmer:  That’s not what I said
Stranger:  Well, since you are behaving like a criminal, You’re not leaving me a lot of choices
Farmer:  I’m not a criminal!   
Stranger:  Well, you could take a chance with a trial, but the law is very clear.  My brother is the judge.
Farmer:  Well, I’ll demand a jury trial!  My neighbors will never agree to this.
Stranger:  Sorry, you can’t have a jury trial.   It’s up to the judge.
Farmer:  What were those choices?
Stranger:  Well, option #1 is you could volunteer to join the King’s Army.  We’ll give you a snappy looking red coat with white pants.   Women love men in uniform – trust me!….    The natives over in America are getting restless and we need some help making sure they follow the King’s law, too.  After you serve your time, your record will be wiped clean as if nothing ever happened. 
Farmer:  But what about my land?
Stranger:  Don’t worry, we’ll take care of it while you’re gone
Farmer:  But I’ll probably be killed fighting for the Army!
Stranger:  Don’t be silly.  Divine Providence is on our side.  You’ll be safe.
Farmer:  I don’t like that option.   What else?
Stranger:  Well, you could move to the city and work in the factory.  They’ve started making some thing called an iPad 2 – I’m not quite sure what it is, but everyone wants one
Farmer:  Oooh, I need an iPad2, too!
Stranger:  You’ll need lots of pictures of the king to get one.
Farmer:  Oh….   Any other options?
Stranger:   Well, there is a guy in town who will pay your tax for you and we won’t have to send you to jail.
Farmer:  So what’s the catch?
Stranger:  Well, here’s the deal.   He’ll pay your tax and he’ll pay to book you passage on a nice ship that goes to America.   When you get there, a nice man will let you live in his house and feed you and clothe you – he might even teach you how to read.   You’ll work for him for three years doing whatever he asks.   At the end of three years, you’ll be a free man and can stay in America or come back home.
Farmer:  But I’m free right now!
Stranger:  Not for long…..
Farmer:   Okay, of the choices you offered, I choose #3
Stranger:  Good choice!   We’ll come by tomorrow morning after you put your affairs in order…
[….  Time Passes ….]
Thomas Jefferson:  Let’s see….   “We hold these truths to be self-evident….”   Arrgh…. my quill ran out of ink.   Servant – come here, I need you!”

Servant O’Smythe:  Yes, sir?
TJ:   My pen seems to have run out of ink.   Could you run into town and pick me up a fresh bottle?
 O’Smythe:   As you wish, sir.
TJ:  Thank you.   When you return, perhaps I can read some passages to you from the Book of Etiquette.  I think you might find it helpful in your duties.
O’Smythe:  That sounds like a splendid idea, Sir.

At the time of the revolution, 70-80% of the people living in America were or had been indentured servants.   America was not created as a Democracy.   The founders knew very well the difference between a Republic and a Democracy. 

Breathless aide:  Mr Kaddafi – the crowd outside is demanding a Democracy!  
Mr: Qaddaffi:   Oh, I see.   Let them eat oil!
Aide:  I think they would prefer cake
Mr Q:  As they wish.   Have our servants from Bangladesh bake up some cakes.   I think they’ll enjoy the special spices they use
Aide:  Consider it done