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

CUBA AND THE SLAVE TRADE.

It apr,ears that the traffic in slaves has tended
more to the demoralisation of Africa than perhaps
any other causo 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 yet recorded
in history ; 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 as a reason for making an in-
cursion into a neighbouring kingdom ; sometimes
no pretext is needed. A chief assembles his forces,
and at night surprises some neighbouring villages.
These are set on fire, and the alarmed 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 boats, exposed to a burning
suu, sickness soon commences, death follows, and
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 these slavers, that they
found living men chainedto putrid corpses. Negroes
are generally manacled in couples on board ship,
and if one happen to die the survivor is doomed to
a fearful companionship with death. Slavers pur-
sued by B:itish vessels, and finding themselves in
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 water, and an English
officer on board the pursuing ship says that these
poor creatures were so quickly devoured by the
sharks lliat 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 'us to deal. Spain
signed a treaty binding herself to the abolition of
the slave trade in her dominions, and received
from England 400,0001. as compensation for
any loss 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 of the
country. But in Cuba slaves are not allowed to
marry, and every year thousands are imported.
The Spanish Government ostensibly reprobates the
slava 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', closing the market at
Cuba by obliging Spain to fulfil the conditions of
the trea+ y. Secondly, by endeavouring to improve
the condition of the African at home, and teach-
ing the chiefs how much more cartain is the gain
that might be drawn from the cultivation of the
soil than what is obtained by the sale of men.
Having expressed our strong 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 France. Under the
pretence of bringing free labourers from Africa, she
has entered into the slave-trade ; and the terrible
vengeance wreaked by negro slaves upon a French
slaver, will, we hope, servo as a warning to the
Gallic nation.—Colbui.n's United Service Magazine.

THE IMPERIAL Guann.—At the camp of Chalons this
year there will be no troops, either cavalry or infantry,
belonging tJ the Imperial Guard ; and the turn of that
select body to lake part in the grand ma! ceuvrez of the
camp will not come round again for twn or three years.
[ADVERTISEMENT.)—BiIious affections induced by un-
usual atmospheric heat, or too liberal diet, if not early
clocked, are often attended with serious consequences,
When any one finds his ideas less clear than usual, his
eyesight dimmed, and his heal dizzy, while he is indis•
posed to all exertion, physical or mental, he may be quite
stile he is in immediate need of cooling and purifying
medicine. Let him send at once fora box of Holloway's
Pills. After a few doses of these inestimable pills his
head will be clear again, his spirits elevated, and all his
energies restored.—Sold by all medicine vendors through-
out the world, and at Professor Holloway's Eitablish-
ment, 244, Strand, London.