New-York daily tribune., 1845-05-31
LETTERS FROM HAVANA No. VI.
Correspondence of The Tribune
Reforms of Gov. -Railways-Treatment of
Slaves Gc

SId'CS, AZ.
Mr.. GREELEY: It i but a few years since. that
lie and property were unsa', in Havana The
civ as well as different parts Of the Island vas al
the mere. OF desperadoes who carried on iher
work of assassination and lunder even At mid d.Iy
People stepping from their own doors with rnoney
10 deposit have been a-saied in the stree, amid the
crowd ri.ied Of their gold and had the plunderer
fingers snapped IN heir faces by way Of ending the
compliment Assassinatous Were most frequent
and il was not strange thing for the city patrol 10
find hall a dozen Stilettoed men in the cutters at
day break No. tina; the military or civil ann was
weaker than now did all this occur but those IA
power were often the chief ahettor> and principal
sharers OF the plunder. Nothing seems to have
suited the Spanish people so well As a condition
in which they could CRAFTY their natural ierceneSs
and love OF wealth and power The Bandit ha,
been their beau-ideal more than the patriot-aud
they delighted in the ;unui OF revolution and dis
order before the quiet OF peace Bur, Il; TIE period
when til. b-vo.s1n had become worst. Spain fort,
natclv sent a. Governor to Cuba man too honest
TO be bribed and too fearless be nt.nidatcd aid
taking the rcins firmly in his hand he made the
Island and Havana what they now are You can
conjecture the character OF those who had gone be-
fore him. when YOU KNOW that splendid carriage,
mounted with gold, was made to be presented 10
him on his arrival by those creatures who had thu.
conciIiated and mockcd al justice for yearS-bui
Tacon. the new Governor sent to them this witler-
inr reply. Il cannot be brbcd, at least before the
duties OF my office are commenced The piGued no
bles and IaagnaieS went home pune their bps ana
the thousand and one crimes stalking abroad seeing
Il,
their masques or hid themselves in disnay. 1t > al
most astonishing how one man could effect 50 much
In 50 little tine His first steps the reform
abuses the modification OF bad statutes and tie
rigorous execution ofthosc that were GOOD. Those
VINO had existed on the previous disorder attempted
to CRY him down but he had power at his back. aMI
like true physician he determined to apply tic
remedy placed III hi- hands. He first built large
and strong prison; nor was this allhc put h-h AID
low into il according TO their deserts without fear or
favor He next destroyed several oithe monaserie-
and drove ont the sleek lazy monks 10 some kind
of labor useful To themselves and the State. He
knew that they were not State officers. and was IL"
50 base as 10 employ tin. ministers o. Heaven sacred
ministers whose lips should be sealed beyond the
cnnes>ional-io eke out the last secret OF the multi
tude- heart, and bear it up all smoking, accepia
BILE incense before the tyrant, whose fingers cTcr
twiiCh for his subjects purse and throat. The worst
saw an end 10 their gaInc-thc few good rcjolCed-
while corrupiion, fraud. violence and banditism
fled with terror from his visasc-and before his
term Oi office cN pir"d. they Were all danglin. IN
chains or noddiug before the Garotc! Traces OF
racon rule ale every where vIsIble-n new aud
improved public walks IN squares, fountains shade
ircc-. and u thousand decorations which he show
cred upon hc city aud country entrusted TO hi care
Tie people pride IL The momory oil Iacon. The
great theatre bears his name 1t is craven pubic
roads and statues. ard the stranger cannot refrain
from heartily en- nrsinG tire general tribute Onr %
tho b si of his acts was TIE war upon the monks
well would il have been had he lett no ycStige u
them. 30 far aid he change the tone of "a airs that
a 10 bcr. or ASSASSINATION Is - uncommon no %
Havana H. il wa common L cH. and ta occ.t;-
scba.t - "A the cit NJ York. ~Elvers IL
C.ha .,S mes a new rm from that among Us
Spanish -laves cannot become their own masters
and are not allowed To purchase their freedom a. IN
the States. Nor arc thcy allowed 20 erow yellow
by amaigamati0n there. a. IN our Soutll-thcr own
eTs know too well that the blacker, the better l.
Il iruisin when applied 10 slaves, and they act upon
the hint. When there are Signs OF too near ap
proach 70 Spanish or other than pure Negro blood
the slave is disposed or and Pedro Blanco, or am
other shrewd dealer furnishes fresh from the
Coast OF Africa to fill his place Much is said about
suppressine the slave trade, but under the conn
vance. of the Authorities, and in the hands U such
men as Blanco. and others | could name, it iour
i-hrS a. much a. ever Blanco has most splendid
house or palace rather in Havana and Is OF the
that Internal traffic understand tia; the Governor
General is paid something like doubloon Tor each
slave landed. and this may account tor his not
sccouding the Pt0H> and ptaaathrop5c efforts OF
the English more heartily Slaves so Tar as | cond
see We're in as good condition II Cuba, As IN the
United States clothed and fed a,-Hell. and treated
as well generally The only exception is on tue
sugar plantations here i; i said thar Negroes are
often worked 10 cath IN the iurruw. Ot Internal
improvements there are except the railroad
running from Havana several miles INTO the interior
of the Island under the supervision OF Yankee En-
siucers. The Spanish hate most thoroughly any
Improvement that is likely to infringe upon the slow
and solemn pace OF their fathers, and they will re-
sist inventions just as long as they can. With Il
determined character, strong spirit OF energy
what an influence this Island, larger in itself than
England, might have welded Now, lis influence
lies in the slayish ability to give coffee sugar and
tobacco 10 the world, and pay taxes yearly, sutt
cicnt to make itself continuous palace garden
When will the real owners OF this natureavored
soil seize it TO themselves and drive out the troops
of Old Spain with is little rcnorse as they felt
when they drove the Indians into their Ocean
Grave! L D. :.