The Express.
London, England, 1853-10-04 00:00:00

THE CUBAN SLArE TRADE.

lIAVANNAII, Srrr. i.
The steamer from Vera Cruz arrived yesterday
morning, and is to leave at 3 p.m. for Southampton,
rio St. Thomas. By this vessel we have intelligence
that Santa Anna has in progress the organisation of
an army of 80,000 men, and that the drafts are
made to cover all ages from 16 to 50 years. We also
have definite information of the capture of the cele-
brated Lady Suffolk, slaver, after she had left the
harbour of " Leguna de Terruinos," by a Mexican
vessel of war, and that she was on the way to Vera
Cruz with a Mexican marine force on board. This
case has been one of open shamelessness on the part
of the Spanish authorities.
The cholera upon the estates in the interior has
been of very malignant type, and it is estimated
that from twelve to thirteen thousand slaves have
fallen victims to the scourge, besides many of the
Asiatic apprentices, and white enipkyr's. Some
estates of force, from 250 to 300 people, have been
reduced to 80,100, and 120. Though a little more
prudence will mingle with future operations, yet
there is no purpose of desisting from the trafic in
slaves.; and under the pressure of lost labour ma-
terial this year, most strenuous exertions will be
made to fill the demand within six months from the
African coast. A well known agent for the Portu-
guese Brazilian Company, located at Trinidad, south
side, is now expecting five cargoes—looked for daily
from the coast—and tor which he has made the pre-
monitory pecuniary arrangements with the local
authorities of the several municipal jurisdictions,
which he may be compelled to use, for transit of the
property to the estates of the proprietors.
Another agent and chief director of the Portuguese
Brazilian Company has been for several months in
the city of New York, procuriug and despatching
vessels for the coast—all first class, fast sailing ves-
sels, and of capacity, according to the Spanish custom
of negro stowage, of carrying from 400 to 1,100
and 1,300 persons. This gentleman is expected
here, having concluded plans to embrace the im-
portation of from eight to ten thousand, ac-
cording to circumstances that may attend the ven-
ture.: and after having arranged here for reception
and disposition of the cargoes as they may arrive,
he will leave for Brazil, and probably to visit the
coast. In this connexion, it is here well understood
that a screw-steamer is being built in New York,
for service on the coast of Africa, that will be adapted
for towage, for taking off cargoes to vessels in
offing, and for evading the cruisers of England.
We have rumours of two or three small cargoes
landed since my last advice, but I have not been '
able to obtain the data necessary for a report of the
facts, and in this way, at remote points, many
negroes are landed, unknown to the government
but not unknown to the subordinate authorities of the
locality, who by concealment defraud the more ele-
vated functionaries of participation in the bonus
paid. When discovered they are made examples of
by removal and reprimand—not for dereliction of
duty, but for forgetfulness in rendering four-fifths
of the plunder. The Asiatics brought here as ap-
prentices under the sanction of the government are
in much worse condition than the negroes, for the
' simple reason that the planter's only in-
terest is the amount of money paid for
seven years' service, and they are tasked with
more severity than the blacks in field labour, and in
food stinted to the least possible amount consistent
with almost constant labour; while for shelter and
clothing they are far from meeting so much con-
sideration as is extended to the black. General
Canedo seems to be very anxious to establish himself
more favourably in your public opinion, and, for
some local differences, he had a healing dinner in the
palace, where were found at his unusual hospitable
spread Salvador Sama,and others of theslave trading
fraternity, who had not quite comprehended his
imprisonment of Julian Zulneta, and the policy
associated therewith. Since commencing this
letter, I have ascertained that one of the vessels
which was purchased in New York by the agent or
director of the Brazilian company, Abreu, was the
American clipper-built barque Republic, very much
resembling in structure the ship Lady Suffolk,
having more curvature than slope in her eutwater,
and of the same appointments and deck conveniences
for her business. It is well understood in Havannah
that the organisation of the above-named company
here, in the United States, and on the coast, is very
perfect : that an active agent is always sta-
tioned in the city of New York to pur-
chase or hire there vessels most suitable for
the slave trade, or in the neighbouring cities
as may be most convenient; that on the coast there
are several, under the control of one of the principals
of the enterprise; and that Don Salvador Castro, at
Trinidad, has the principal charge of management
for the island of Cuba, having his subordinate strikers
at every point where it may be necessary for safety
to run a cargo, the favourite spot for consummation
of this piracy being the " Rio Zarza "—River Zarza,
near to Trinidad. I learn from excellent authority
that General Canedo, in a late report to his govern-
ment, stated that several vessels which had been re-
ported as slavers were actually engaged in honest
and legal traffic, naming the Spanish Cora and the
American barque Jasper; the first having been
seized after abandonment and condemned by Spanish
justice, having on board the material, water casks,
and berth decks which designated her character;
while the second has three of her sailors, Ameri-
cans, yet lying in prison, charged by Gen. Canedo,
or his immediate representatives, as being employed
on board of the Jasper as part of her crew while
occcupied in piracy as a slaver—the same vessel
having also been reported as discovered near to
Millen sunk, where the landing was effected by an
officer of the government. 'these misstatements
will only servo to make the odium of his official
faithlessness more permanent.
The speculations of this dark character are alto-
gether confined to the old Spain Spaniards; the
Creole planters want no more introduction of slaves,
considering both the value and the safety of their
present property. Nothing but the meet energetic
measures on the part of her Majesty's government
will restrain or break up this infamous trade.