The Sun.
London, England, 1858-07-05 00:00:00

CUBA. AND THE SLAVS TRADE.

It appears that the traffic in slaves has tended
more to the demoralisation of Africa than perhaps
any other cause could possibly have done. It has
been the source of nearly all the internal wars that
have desolated the African kingdoms—wars more
terrible in their consequences than any yetrecorded
iu h'story ; for,- independent of thousands being
slain, still larger numbers are carried away into
bondage the most degrading that human beings
were ever subjected to. Men being articles of com-
merce, captives are reckoned by dollars. Any
pretext will serve asp, reason fur making an in-
cursion into a neighbouring kingdom ; sometimes
no pretext is needed. A chief as,embles his forces,
and at night surprises some neighbouring villages.
These are set on fire, and the alarthed inhabitants,
endeavouring to escape, are entrapped and carried
away to be sold. Then commences the journey to
the sea shore, where the dealer waits ; and what
a scene of misery do these journeys present. Lying
closely packed, in flat boat 9, exposed to a burning
sun, sickness soon comuibuces, death follows, and
I those who depart first must be deemed the happiest.
For what is the position of the longest livers ?
Chained amongst dead and putrid bodies, in con-
tact with the most loathsome filth, and
panting for a draught of water, some still
linger on. In the journey from the interior to the
coast, it was estimated that five-twelfths of the cap-
tives died. Accounts have been furnished by British
officers who have boarded thews slavers, that they
found living teen chainedto putrid corpses. Negroes
are generally manacled in couples on board ship,
and if ono happen to die the survivor is doomed to
a fearful companionship with death. Slavers pur-
sued by British vessels, and finding themselves iu
danger of being captured, have frequently thrown
their human cargo overboard to be devoured by
the sharks. In a chase of this kind, five hundred
negroes were thrown in the w iter, and an English
efficer on board the pursuing ship says that these
poor creatures were so quickly devoured by the
sharks that the river was dyed red with their
blood.

One fact is certain, that the number of native
Africans annually taken from their country has not
diminished, and that their transportation is accom-
panied with increased severity. The 'great slave
market is Cuba. With this Spanish settlement it
ought not to Le difficult for WI to deal. Spain
signed a treaty binding herself to the abolition of
the slave trade in tier dominions, and received
from England 400,0001. as compensation for
any lens she might sustain. It is clearly in
the power of England to. enforce the fulfil-
ment of the treaty. With slavery as it exists
in the United States we have not the right of inter-
ference. There it is a domestic institution. The
slaves are born in bondage and are natives c f the
country. But in Cuba slaves are not allowed to
marry, and every year thousands are. imported.
The Spanish Government ostensibly reprobates the
slave traffic, but secretly connives at the practice.
It is well known that the governor of the island
finds in the poll tax paid him on imported slaves
one of his chief sources of revenue.

The great means we propose for the suppression
of the slave trade are, first! cloying the market at
Cuba by obliging Spam to fulfil the conditions of
the treaty. Secondly, by endeavouring to improve
the condition of the Africaii at home, and teach-
ing the chiefs how much more certain is the gain
that might be drawn from the cultivation of the
soil than what is cbt.lined by the sale of men.
Having expressed our stiong indignation at the
part played by Spain, we would be unjust to our-
selves and to the cause we advocate did we neglect
to advert to the conduct of Fiance. Enthr the
pretence of bringing free labourers froni- Africa she
has entered into the slave-trade ; and the terrible
z.ernnagua to z
itnhe.e
vengeance wreaked by negro slaves upon a French
slaver, will, we hope, serve as aij.vv
Ltebil
Gallic nation. —Coiburn's United sn

THE LATE ACCIDENT ON THE SOUTH-EASTEBN RAILWAY.
—CHILHAM. Sunday Enning.---This morning, shortly
after two o'clock, death terminated the cuff: rings of Mr.
Channon, the commercial traveller of Gravesend, who
whar
onon b
,adly injured at the ncent accident Dear the
S
Chilbam station on this branch of Vie South-Eastern
Railway. The other sufferers at Garerbury are going
on as favourably as the serious nature of their inju-
ries will ail tn it. . .

A GEOGUAI'IIICAL PARALLEL. London on llama
and Frankfort on the Oder (our).