The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1850-05-27
Grievances of the Cubans.

In the Declaration of Independence Of the United
States Of America, the right Of life, liberty, and4he
pursuit Of happiness, is claimed for all men. A
less rhetorical but more definite proposition is
laid down by the great English commentator, in
his division of rights of personal liberty-the right
OF personal security-and the right OF property.
The Cubans are deprived Of all these.
The liberty of the person is constantly violated,
and often with other warrant than the arbitrary
order Of the meanest official, and from which no
redress can be obtained except by means Of heavy
bribes.
During and since the time of Tacon, the seizure
and immediate deportation of persons OF respecta-
bllity and distinction were, and have been, of COM
mon occurrence, and this without hearing of the
party accused, and without granting any opportu-
nifty for defence
Individuals for the slightest possible causes of Of
fence-often, indeed, without any cause whatever
are seized and banished from the Island what ia
still worse, ncarcerated in loathsome prisons.
Within period of little more than eighteen
months, about 200 persons were deported, and
about 700 banished for life, from the Island by
Tacon. These acts of despotism continued,
with more or less frequency, to the present time.
lnnumerable instances might be named to sustain
an assertion which no one will venture to con-
tradict.
So far from affording personal security to the
Cubans, the Government has taken every method
to endanger it under the pTetence that it is
sary to keep the native inhabitants in state of
constant apprehension in order insure their con-
tinued allegiance To this end every kind of judi
dicial enormity prevails and every description of
imposition is practiced upon the helpless creole.
If he commits wrong, he is punished without
an opportunity Of being heard in his own defence,
or, what is the same thing, he is tried before a
prejudiced tribunal. If he has suffered an injury,
he finds the means of redress tedious that en-
durance Is preferable to the formidable task Of OBJ
tanning justice. There is but one means of avoid
ing prosecution-but one way of escape when
persecuted-but one method to obtain justice when
seeking ordinary redress. Its bribery. Gold will
open prison DOORS procure dspensation for falsely
imputed crimes. obtain tardy decree ofong-sought
justice. Thus personal security is only to be en-
joyed at the expense of the right of property
Look at the revenue derived from less than half
million people in 1874. 1t amounts in sum total
S24, 4,S64,427 AZ, nearly $50 each to every white
man, woman, and child. 1t was derived through
tax list, the chief names of whchare the following
Acabaa Cor six per sales of real estate of slaves
Bulls Of the Pope.
Brokers' tax.
Cattle tax.
Ehopkeepers' tax.
Tax on mortgages.
Tax on donations.
Tax coekfghtng.
Tax on grants Of crosses or uses Of uniform, etc.
Tax on promissory notes, or bills of exchange
marquises, and other titles
Tax on all deaths of non-insolyent persons.
ak on Investments in favor of the clergy sale of the public
Offices sealed penalties in favor of the royal household
az on the property OF the Jesu sales of public lands.
Tax uonr per cent? on law expenses.
Water canal tax, royal order of Charles ILL., etc.
Custom-hOuse duties on imports and exports
and tonnage on vessels:
The revenues from the Customs maritime and inland, in