The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-09-02

lar the costly and desperate efforts Of Eng
land on the African coast were seconded accord
ing TO treaty by the Cuban authorities may be
inferred from the edifying fact that, on the very
day when Narciso Lopez dsembaIked on the coast
wi.h his battalion OF brgands, one thousand slaves
were landed from Africa at Havana, which real
lied an INN diste profit to the Captain General OF
no less than 3 Coo ounces Of gold. new Cover
ner s now 10 depart for the colony, in the person
Of General Jose de la Concha, who will take with
him formidable detachme nj of Spanish troops.
The circumstances Of the colony justify SO natur-
ally the maintenance OF strong garrison IN the
island, III at there is reason for attTibu,iDg any
extraordinary motives 10 the levy which the new
Captain General made an imperative condition OF
his accepting the command II can hardly be
doubted thai Cuba will shortly be the scene OF i'm
portant movements, the direction and result of
which will be determined less by the military
force al the command Of the authorities than by
the discretion and judgment exercised IN the Cabl-
net OF Madrid. In this country there can be but
one desire upon the point, and that is, that legti
mate commerce may speedily experience the bene-
fits which would result from the better administrs-
ton Of This spacious and productive island.
From the London Times, Aug. 19]
The measures contemplated at this critical mo-
ment by the Court of Madrid tor the improved adj
minsiraton of Cuba have, doubtless, been sugges-
ted by sincere anxiety to confirm the imperial te-
of that valuable colony; but IL rs less apparent
that they have been calculated with proper ap-
probation OF what circumstances actually required
The new Captain. General will be attended by a
military retinue OF imposing strength: Nor can II
be que STONED that the garrison OF the island, when
thus reinforced, will be sufficient to overawe mall
contents at home, no less than to scare away The
pratical desperadoes of the contiguous gull. But
The position OF Cuba is so extraordinary, and The
conditions of its tenure peculiar that unless APP
peal is made to the interests wei as the fears OF
its inhabitants it is highly improbable that the i'm
peral control can be permanently maintained.
The population of Cuba may be considered under
tripartite classification of social parties, each with
It's own distinct interests These are the cre0les,
the colored classes, and the slave population itself
exactly the elements which were summoned into
such fatal activity at ST. Domingo by the hrst
French revolution. To these may be added, as
separate class, the officers and retaneTs OF the colo
NAL administration, and the garrison of the island
a migratory and variable body, having little or no
share in the chief interests of the population, and
serving only 10 maintain and 81 mboze its political
Subsection Now, even the lrst of these classes,
though that TO which the imperial government might
most naturally appeal, is left, as we recently took
occasion TO explain, without any recognition OF its
rights, an grail portion of the Spanish people
They have no immed date dependence on the crown
or government Of Spain, but are considered the
peculiar subjects Of the Captain-General for the
time being, who administers the affairs of the CO.
lOny according TO special code which supplies few
practical checks upon absolute power. The larger
class OF the free population which partakes the
color Of the blacks is not as will be readily sup
posed, more highly favored by its rulers. Never
theless these cOloIed families are both numerous
and ntial, possessing very considerable wealth.
and ranking. not only among the chief proprietors
of slaves, but, also the case at st. Domingo
among the most resolute advocates of slavery. The
cTeoles and colored classes together form what
may be termed the natural constituency of the
colony, and yet they are vigorously excluded from
all access TO the more eligible grades of the public
service, whether military or civil. This arrange
ment, oil course, largely increases the patronage in
the hands OF the ministers at home, and enables
ponilcal adventufer TO fortlfy himself in the pos
session of power by lavish distribution of lucra-
places / ha af,d he eff final
enlargement Of these influential parties from the
interests of the imperial state, and it would proba
bly, have snapped the tie of allegiance long sine e,
but for considerations to which we shall presently
alude.
The position Of Cuba is such that we may de-
scribe IL without disguise of facts as virtually con-
ferring upon It's inhabitants the privilege of deter
mining their own political come ctons. A more
powerful state than Spain is eager, on almost any
terms that any party could dictate, TO annex their
territory 10 It's own dominlons Ii would, of
course, be vain 10 deny that if the inclination
OF the colony had been sincerely and generally
turned to the American alliance, even the eX-
pedion of Narciso Lopez would probably have ef-
iected the intended revolution nor can II be con-
ceivtd that the Spanish government, il unsupport-
ed, could offer an efectual resistance to a plain
declaration OF popular will, justified by years of
misgovemment, and seconded by the resoluie CO.
operation of the United States under pretexts which
would not be wanting for the occasion. On the
other hand, it has been recently demonstrated
that without such genuine consent of the colo
NAL population, no enterprise on which the
Americans would choose 10 venture lie likely To sue
coed IL may be thought, perhaps, that if events
should tend to a crisis eligible alternative might
be found in the absolute Independence for which
Cube, by It's wealth and resources is so respectfully
qualhed. such contingency has, in fact, be-,
much Kept IN view Of late years by secret discus
sions Of the malconents; but the Liabilities insepa-
fable from II are so formidable that never likely
TO be promoted OF accepted by the bulk Of the con-
suiutncy. With BLACK" empire lying at few
ga f1sfa 4 phnra
numerous ard excisble slave population swafming
On their estates, the Cubans would not forego the
security for HE end property offered by powerful
government. Their INDEPENDENCE would probably
seen resemble the Independence Of Hayti--a con-
summation 10 which u may be presumed that no
desires ale now pointing. They are thus practically
reduced TO the alternatives Of Spanish or American
connection, but within these limits their choice is
virtually free.
Both Ieason and experience concur in suggesting
that his choics would naturally fall on that con-
necuon which at present exists So preponderant,
in fact the attractions of the old Spanish crown
over those Of on Anglo. Saxon republic that nothing
short OF the most repus1ve and invetefate il-usage
could ALLEVIATE the coloDists from their original al
legisnce and we see that even systematic inus-
tee has hitherto failed in bringing about SUI h a re-
suit. Against these ties Of tradition and lineage the
Americans Cen only advance eluivocal prospects Of
improved prosperity and earnest assurances Of DO
lncal consideration. They promise the Cubans an
equality Of civil rights end confirmation of slave
intlutnce Of aboliuonist England--an influence
which will be necessarily exentd until slavery is
prescribed as shectually IN Cuba as in Jamaica
This view Of the cage Is Strengthened by the cir
tumsianoes under which alone EnQlsh agency is
yisihle in the island The Blush flag is rarely seen
besiGe the Spanish end American ensiRns in the
spscious haiLor of Havana, end the uni opular ir.
bunal Of the Mixed Commission serves To- represent
exclusively our interests in The island That Anne
mean influence, therefore, should largely predom-
nate, Lot only over our own, but even IN sense
over that 81 the Spanish government itself will be
rendy conceived. Still, such Is the instructive re-
pulsion existing between The American and spanish
characters, and such the tIadriona inclination 10.
wards the old connection that the Court of Madrid
might place lis egiumaie authority bey ond risk of
impairment by the most moderate concessions in |
favor Of the renonsttant colony. II the consttu-
tncy, Of which We have spoken. were ADMITTED 10
\ reasonable share Ia the administrator Of local
affairs end The hunors Of public service. there can
pe no doubt that Cuba would remain as thoroughly
Spsnish as any parties could desire
Considering that the largest portion Of the whole