The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1844-07-11
Horrible Atrocities at Matanzas; InfA'
my of the Governor of Ca rdenas.

1
my of the Governor of Ca rdenas.
The Philadelphia North American
has the following letter under date of Ha
vana, June 9th.
Since last wrote you, | have visited
Cardenas now another anti chamber o.
hell. Hundreds ofnegroes have persisted
under the lash during examination, all
protesting their innocence to the last J.
The place where the negroes are WHIPPED
has become very offensive 10 the neigh
borhood, from the quantity of purified
flesh torn by The whip from their backs
A short time since, Florida Indian, a
very worthy man, who had long resided
IN the island, was arrested on suspicion of
being one of the insurgents. He was Ia
ken 10 Cardenas, where refusing TO Grim
mate himself, he was whipped 10 death !
On sugar estate in that neighborhood,
forty-six negroes were most cruelty tor.
tured, several Of whom died under the op-
Grafton. On another estate, alter Tempt
ing ia vain 10 extort confession of guilt by
whipping, those iends called in Spanish,
iscaIes solicitors, ]applied red hot iron TO
The bleeding backs Of the negroes
The infamous wretch who is acting as
Governor of Cardenas, is another Robes
pierre, and q thing after O'Donnell's own
heart.
Many white persons principally for
eigners, have fallen under the dlspIeasure
of The hateful inquisilion. Samuel Mof-
fart OF Delaware. William Bisby of Yer
mont, and Mr.. Hogan a native of the u
nlIed States, are among the number
The latter has suffered long confne-
men: for having in his possession a letter
from friend in the Uniled States, advis,
ing him 10 leave the island The first
two named were arrested on testimony
extorted from negro after he had re-
ceived twelve hundred lashes
On being arrested, they were tied TO
gang of negroes, and in this condition,
were driven like convicted felons, under
the scorchihg rays of tropical sun,
through clouds of dust TO Cdrdenas. Mr..
Mofaft was confined in The Stocks among
the whipped negroes, loa!hsome from their
wounds, twenty days, and in irons ten
days. MIR. BIsby was in the stocks sew.
enteen days, and in irons nine days ; and
would have ended his days in irons, but
for the interpositlon of physician, who
assured the lnquisiiion that he could not
survive twenty four hours longer, being
very i'll of fever. Thereupon, he was
taken out of irons, and with the medical
and other assistance rendered him, he re.
covered. While at CardenaS, | learned
that all early representation of these outra.
ges had been made to our government by
our Consul at that place, Mr.. Gage; and
it is hoped that it will not be passed over
After confinement of several days in
Cardenas, Moflrt and Bisby were sent to
Matanzas for trial. On their arrival the
Officers having them in charge, allowed
them 10 stop at the United States Consus
office but the Zine was so short the Con.
sui, Mr.. Rodney, could not obtain from
them full account Of their sufferings land
called at the prison the next morning, but
was not allowed TO see them. He has,
however as am informed sent 10 the
Governor of the place, very spirited e,
against the proceedings of the
lnqusilion in these and other cases that
have come to his knowledge. Ii is still
confidently asserted here, that force is to
be seEt from the United States, 10 re-
dress the wrongs of our countrymen
who have suffered unjust imprisonment,
has bax
cerned in the plot OF instruction. Until
the arrival OF this force, Iiuie or nothing
can be done for their relief by our Con-
suls, who, | am proud TO say have dis.
charged their duty in the matter.
To O'Donnell and his tribe, the affair
Of the instruction will be very iucrativ We.
Properly 10 the amount of 100000 dollars
belonging to the free blacks and muIattoes
now under arrest, has been attached. -
That all o! them will be found guilty will
be readily perceived by every person at
all acquainted with the villalny and Gu
pidity of a Spanish tribunal. lndepedeut-
y ofO Donnell's salary as Governor Gen
eraI, his proportion of the plumber added
10 the qualification of II dollars per head
for every negroe lanced by the slavers
will give him,this yeara handsome fortune
| caanot close without mentioning cir
cumslance, while it is highly credtable to
Mr.. MOffat, which entitled him to better
Treatment than he has received atthe hands
of the lnquisilion.
He came TO the Island last year in
search of employment at his trade, that of
a carpenter he was soon engaged to do
ou an estate in Bemba. The
day after his arrival at the estate, the in
surrection of which you have heard was
begun, All the whites except Mr., Mot
Fart, fled in great terror; he with
an intrepidity without parallel attacked
IN horsebackiwith a sword, single handed
md kept in bay until the arrival of the