The New York herald., 1849-05-10


own consciousness, and in the faith his friends
have uniformly and steadfastly held in him. He
has perseveringy refused to admit the application
of the word quarrel to the assaults that have
been made upon his character; and, with the APP
proval of his friends he now, in preparing to leave
the United States places in their hands the evidence
Of the parties mentioned in the accusations ad-
yanced against him, to justify their confidence in
his undertaking reverence tor truth.
Annexation Of Cuba to tho United States.
Correspondence of the St. Louis Union.
HAVANA, March 19, 1919.
1t needs no argum ent, perhaps, to demonstrate
that II Cuba were portion of the American UnlOn
our resources, wealth, and maritime advantages
would be greatly enhanced that then our coA-
iederaoy would produce, within its own limits, an
abundant supply of all the necessaries, and even
iuxurles, of the temperate and tropical climes.
Large are the present exports of this island un-
der American auspices they could be readily qua
drupled. Many Of the best sugar and tobacco dis.
trcts yet uncultivated, and they can be worked
cheaper or more proftably than similar lands in
the United States.
The nsular position of Cuba makes it healthy,
and gives it large number Of harbors, many OF
on with great facility, and the railroads already
finished in progress, with the addition of such
as American enterprise would suggest, would give
easy access to every district, and render military,
know some persons doubt whether the possession
of Cuba would strengthen the United States, in
military sense They think that the additional
length of coast to be guarded would more than out
mand OF the Gulf outlet Although those better
skilled in such matters must decide that question,
yet 1t seems as If an island only one hundred miles
distant from Florida, with which there would be
daily, and probably hourly, steam communication
that island, too, inhabited, as it would soon be,
by three millions OF persons, and lntersected with
rar1adsmcoud a be very easily defended against
possession, that part nearest Jamaica would re-
quire most Watching because, in the event of a
with England, it would probably be first assailed
to exclude from the Gulf all Of foes, and hold
complete sway over it.
The insurrection in st. Domingo drove many
persons for safety and shelter TO this island, and
they not only gave a vivid account Of the horrors
then perpetrated, but infused into the minds of
Cubans an intense dread of British Vaccinations,
or so-called philanthropy, about the negro race.
1t Is now part of history that the st. Domingo in
surrection was planned in London, and remem-
brance of that event, with constant information of
the subsequent anarchy on that island, has made
the Cubans fear that on the first opportunity SINH
lar plot may be hatched for them-the more espe
Nassau many black regiments, Destined unques
tonably, to operate where slaves are to be reach
ed-that is, in our Southern States, and in the
Spanish West Indies. The British possessions in
until negro slavery can be destroyed in
Cuba, Porto Rico, our Southern States, and
Brazil, England must continue to fret under the
fact that her Emancipation Act destroyed her
West India colonies, and conferred only injury
upon the blacks. The price she paid her
planters for their slaves was by no means a re-
Enumeration of their losses. The value of their
estates far deprecated, thatthose appraised
before the emancipation act at two hundred thou
sand dollars, can now be bought for fifty sixty
thousand Many of the owners of those estates
resided in England, and had mortgaged them for
small part of their value, in order to raise funds for
erecting on them the proper machinery and build
ings for sugar-making and dstilllng. Soon they
found their property sacrificed for the mortgage
money. and themselves reduced from affluence to
penury. They have not failed to keep up that
agitation for redress which will yet be even more
annoying to their ministers. If, however, like the
fox in the fable, she can get other nations to be-
to recover from her previous lmpolicy. Her plant
ers and some of her naval officers this station
say she is fast becoming weary OF her pseudo phi
lanthrophy, and that she will soon withdraw even
those which she is required by the treaty with the
United States to keep there. Here West India ex-
pertinent has been worse than failure; but doubt
whether public sentiment in Great Britain will per-
init her to relax her operations against the slave
trade,-nor should she do so. The Cubans look
upon her movements with great suspicious.
BY the way, in one of my letters, alluded tore
pararion made by the authorities of st. Jago de
Cuba for Hoggng British sailor. AS detailed by
me, there were some inaccuracies in the matter,
which II may be well TO correct. The man hogged
not sailor, but British subject and the par
~ mulcted was the planter who ilogged him. Not
long ago. an American mulatto, from Philadelphia,
was taken to aplantaon on this island and treated
as a slave Through the agency of our active
Consul at this place, to whom the matter became
known, his restoration was obtained, with ample
compensation. The planter could produce no title
10 the mulatto and they show none to their
imported Africans. If it had been necessary for
our Consul TO have gone into the courts here with
that case, the grave question would have arisen
whether planter can hold negro without title,
when the latter sues for his freedom-a point which
is SAID TO have been decided once coaterally, and
whics, ii IL were pushed, might give to England
the obloct she has long sought. The slaves inn
ported since 1921, have been brought here in viola
ton of the Spanish law, with the connvance of the
authorities; and to cover up those transactions the
purchasers do not receive bills of sale. As three
hths OF the slaves now on the island would be be-
rated, II the law OF 1921 were enforced with all its
consequences, the Cuban courts dodge it whenever
they can; but an appeal TO Spanish tribunal might
cause great trouble.
The contemplated revolution by the Cubans,
about which the New York papers had much to
say year OF more ago, was suppressed without a |
movement, IN consequence of information procured |
tom Washington by the Captain General. Some
leaky vessel there let out the secret that 1t came
TO the ears of the Spanish Minister. The names |
of most of the parties implicated were forwarded |
TO Roncali, who summoned them before him, one |
by one, informed them. that their contemplated |
treason was known, and threatened them wIth |
halter on the first movement. AS the whole plan |
was thus revealed TO the authorities, nothing eec-
tive could be donc--and the day of revolution was
for an indefinite period. Many of the
wealhest and most influential men were then en-
gagged in the matter, prepared for the result, with
purse and sword. The ramfcations of that
scheme, extending over the island, sustained with
ample contributions, and supported by some por
tons of the regular army, would probably have in
sured success, if the whole had not been discover
ed. That fact shows that the tenure by which
Spain holds Cuba is very weak-and all the Span
Isb officers know that the inhabitants cordially de-
test them and their government During my visit
hare, have convcrsed much on this subject, and
learned that the creoles still hope for annexation
or lrdoPendcncc-'ha they will not long rest quiet
more than Spain.and fear the Vaccinations of the
iormci power. There is no danger that they will
ever submit voluntarily 10 British sway, and The