Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1840-02-06
TYR the Herald Of the TiDcs.



rs the prosperity ofthe Island of Cubs
has Of late been alluded to, both in pub
lie docume nts and Cong gressionnl speech
es, by supporters of the present admin
istration, as nfording proof Of the su-
periority of a specie currency over our
own, and held up as model to the
people Of this once prosperous Repub-
lie, as worthy Of imitation,--i may
perhaps be as well that the public should
be made acquainted with the workings
Of some other institutions peculiar to
that Island. The people may thel eby
be enabled to form better opinions with
regard to the most prominent causes of
its vaunted superiority over our own
country, and may possibly come to
different conclusion as to that Islands
apparent wealth. For this purpose, ]
would thank you, Mr.. Editor, to insert
the following article from the Boston
Recorder.
"TEE COST OF SuGAR.-Dr. Medder,
the traveller, now one OF the mixed
commission at Havana under the treaty
for the suppression of the Slave Trade,
and at present in this country or behalf
OF the Amistad, stated while in this city,
one or two observable facts touching
the production in Cuba of this necessa-
lIry of life He states from his own per-
sonal observation, that during the season
of cultivation, about eight months III
the year, the Slaves arc worked TWENTY
hours out Of the irertg-1our.-They are
constantly seen dropping asleep over
whip of the driver No woman, or not
more than one or two to plantation
are allowed on the Island Estates. Ii
1 is needless To dwell on this abominnble
feature in the economy of the system.
| The men are Of course soon worked to
deaih-and as the natural increase falls
far short Of the demand, their places
must be supplied from Africa. This
| plan is defended as the most economi-
cal and profitable. Tint it is SO is pro-
we'd by the fact thut enc slave in Cuba
| produces three or four times the amount
Of sugar raised by one in Jamaica be-
fore the emancipation. These atrocities
are chiefly confined to the interior plan
tations. The domestic slaves Of the
better sort of SpaniarIs are treated with
great humanity, and the laws of the
Island are much more humane in their
provisions than is generally supposed
but their operation is chiefly felt by
the towns-that of the inland estates il
in general beyond their reach.
" In this humane and profitable bu
siness in Cuba, are engaged multItude'
ofAmoricans-mnny New England mer
and to our shame be it spoken, al
least few Bostonians. The loss o
lie on an estate owned by one of th'
latter, when it was preparation for suga
, cultivation, was stated by phy sicla'
who resided upon it in his medical ca
pacity, to have been forty per cent.-
c Il Perhaps these facts, toge,her with tn
= circuu stance that the African Slav
Trade is carried on 10 great exter
by northern capital-northcrn men, an
northern bottoms-and is defended an
o conniyed at by our National Reprss0
= 'diires at liavana--may help curiou
enquircrs to an answer to the guestio
which som, times pcrpleyes them
What has the North to do with Sla
= veryi"
: When Mr.. Walker, a Senator fror
: the State Of Mississippi, and supportc
and friend Of our National Administra
: ton, addressing the Senate OF the u
, States in speech advocating the pas
- sage of the Sub Treasury bill ard
= Specie Currency, not only nvowed il
common with Mr.. Buchanan and other
the necessity of lowering the price &
: labor in this county, in order to sue
i ccssfuIIy compete with the starv;n
e population Of Europe but TO cap th
T. Il limaX had the hardihood to instanc
t this Island "a province of degrade
$ Spain, with its blood-coined currenc
N as an example for our once happy an
y prosperous country to imitate-wel
indeed, might that firm and undeviatin
c friend of the laboring man HENRI
G CLAY, exclaim-" Has II COME I
= THIS" II.
III 'Consul Trust.