Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1849-06-29
Caba---SlayCTy and the Slave Trade.

Cnba--NiaVCry and the NaYG Trade,
Mr.. Bryant, in a recent letter from Havana
to the Egening Post, states that the Slave
Trade between the Island Of Cuba and the
coast of Africa is carried on quite briskly and
openly of late, :he Government Of Cuba con-
niving at and p~rofling by the a%trocious traffic
A cargo Of five hundred human chattels was
recently landed on the southern part of the
Island, and it is understood that one hum
bred and seven more Of the poor creatures
died on the horrid passage from their native
land. During the partial suppression of the
foreign trade some years ago, slaves advan-
ced very much in value, and owners found it
for their interest TO treat them with that de-
gree of humanity supposed to be most condu-
Give 10 vigorous health and long life. But
under the present revival Of the trade their
lives will probably become Of less conse-
quence to their owners, and they will again
be owe rlasked and worn out without pity, as
they are said 10 have been formerly.
Hardly more than half Of the Island Of Gu
ba has ever been reduced 10 tilllge. There
is a demand, therefore, for laborerS, on the
part of those who wish to become planters,
and this demand is supplied not only from
the coast Of Africa, but from the American
continent and southwestern Asia.
Mr.. Bryant saw several Of the Yucatan In
dams who had been taken prisoners Of war
and sold TO the whites of Cuba under a pre-
tended contract to serve for d certain number
Of years. The dealers in this kind Of mer-
chandise were also bringing in the natives Of
Asia and disposing of their services 10 the
planters in a similar way. There are said
to be six hundred Of these people in the City
Of Havana. The authorities have issued an
ordinance declaring what shall be the daily
ration OF these new-made slaves; also, how
many lashes the master may infict for mis-
behavior.
Such, says Mr.. Bryant, is the manner in
which the Government of Cuba sanctions the
baTbarity Of making slaves Of the freeborn
men Of Yucatan. The ordinance, however,
betrays great concern for the salvation Of the
souls Of those whom it thus delivers over TO
the lash Of the slave.dIiver. 1t speaks of the
Indians from America as Christians already,
but while it allows the slaves imported from
Asia to be logged, it Directs tina! they shall
be carefully instructed in the doctrines OF
our holy religion.
Yet the policy Of the Government favors
emancipation. The laws of Cuba permit any
slave to purchase his freedom on paying a
price fixed by three persons, one appointed
! by his master and two by a magistrate. lie
may, also, if he ]pleases, compel his master
to sell him a certain portion of his time,
which he may employ TO earn the means of
purchasing his entire freedom.
1t is mainly owing TO these laws, no doubt,
that there are so many free blacks in the Is
land, and if the foreign slave trade could BE-
entirely suppressed the slaves would all
emancipate themselves ultimately. The pop
u~lalion Of Cuba is now about 1850, 600, ra-
Their more than half of whom are colored per-
sons, and one out of every four Of the coloTed
population is free. The mulatloes enamel
pate themselves as q matter of course, and
some of them become rich by the occupations
they follow. The prejudice Of color is by no
means so strong In Cuba as in the United
States. There is little difficulty in snug
Cling people of mixed blood, by the help Of
legal forms, into the white race, and if they
are rich, into good society, provided their
hair is not fTizzled.
Mr.. Bryant thinks there is no great pros
pect Of annexing Cuba to the United States.
Old Spain will, of course, not be found will
ling TO relinquish a possession from which
she draws an annual revenue of twelve mil
lions of dollars. Beside, she sends there her
needy nobility, and those for whom she
would provide, to Gil the lucrative Offices
The priests, the military officers, the civil au-
thorities, every man who fills a judicial post
or holds a clerkship, is from old Spain.
The people are not likely to take up arms
to emsncipate themselves; for while many
Of them would greatly prefer a union with
the United States, they are by no means suffi-
GENTLY united in that object to encounter sue
c~essfully the power of the mother country.
OF course, says Mr.. Bryant, if Cuba were
to be annexed to the United States, the slave
trade with Africa would cease to be carried
on as now, though its perfect suppression
might be found difficult. Negroes would be
imported in large numbers from the United
States, and planters would emigTate with
them. Institutions Of education would be in
troduced, IN and religion would both
be made free and the character of the island
ers would be elevated by the responsibilities
which a free Government would throw upon
them. The planters, however, would doubt
less adopt resolutions insuring the perpetuity
Of Slavery; they would unquestionably, as
soon as they were allowed to frame oTdinan'
ces for the island, take away the facilities
which the pTesen, laws give them for effect
ing their own emancipation.
Ascending SLAvEs.-Quite a number o
slaves have lately fled from Loudon Co. Va
and when some Of them were arrested they
IrAu0s; gel executed free papers, which
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