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

promised in tie colonial government How
Jar the costly and desperate efforts of Eng
ing TO treaty by the Cuban authorities may be
infe rred from the edifying fact that, on the very
day when Nsrciso Lopez disembarked on the coast
with 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 eco ounces Of gold. new Cover
ner liz 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 a strong garrison 10 the
island, that there is no reason for attTlbulDg any
extraordinary motives 10 the levy which the new
Captain General made an imperative condition OF
his accepting the command 1t can hardly be
doubted thai Cuba will shortly be the scene OF i'm
poriant movements, the direction and result OF
which will be determined less by the military
force al the command Of the authorities than ny
the discretion and judgment exercised in the Cabi-
net of Madrid In this country there can be but
one desire upon the point, and that is that legi'i
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. 19l
The measures contemplated at this critical mo-
ment by the Court of Madrid for the improved adj
ministraton of Cuba have, doubtless, been sugges-
ted by sincere anxiety to confirm the imperial e-
nufe Of that valuable colony; but II is less apparent
that they have been calculated with proper ap-
probation OF what circumstances actually required.
i
military retnue Of imposing strength. Nor can it
be que STONED that the garrison OF the island, when
thus reinforced, will be sufficient to overawe NAL
contents at home, no less than TO scare away The
piratical despeTadoes of the contiguous gull. But
The position Of Cuba is so extraordinary, and the
conditions of its tenure so PECULIAR that unless ap-
peal is made to the interests well as the fears of
It's inhabitants it is highly improbable that the I'M
peIlal control can be permanently maintained.
The population OF Cuba may be considered under
triparute classification of social parties, each with
its own distinct interests. These are the creoles,
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 retaneso 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 sy mboze lis political
subsection. Now, even the hrst OF these classes,
though that 10 which the imperial government might
most naturally appeal, is left, as we recently took
occasion to explain, without any recognition Of its
rights, as an integral portion OF the Spanish people
They have no immediate 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.
loDy 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, will be readily sup
posed, more highly favored by It's rulers. Never
theless these cOlOTed familios both numerous
and ranking. not only among the chief proprietors
OF slaves, but, as was also the al ST. Domingo,
among the most resolute advocates of slavery. The
cfeoles 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
me hands OF the ministers at home, and enables
political adventurer TO fortify himself in the pos
session OF power by lavish distribution of lucra-
i've places but IL has operated to the efiectual
estrapeement of'these influential parties from the
interests OF the impenel state, and il would proba
by have snapped the tie Of allegiance long sine e.
but Tor considerations TO which we shall presently
alude.
The position Of Cuba is such that we nav de-
scribe 1t without disguise of facts, virtually
errlng upon It's inhabitants the privilege of deter
INNING their own political connections. A more
powerful state than Spain is eager, on almost any
terms that any party could dictate, TO annex their
territory 10 its own dominions Ii would. of
course, be vain TO deny that if the Inclination
of the colony had been sincerely and generally
turned to the American alliance, even the eX-
pedlllon OF Narclso Lopez would probably have ef-
fected the intended revolution nor can II be con-
ceivtd that the Spanish government, if unsupport-
ed, could offer an efectual resistance to a plain
declaration Of popular Will, justified by years of
mHgovernment, and seconded by the resolute CO.
operation OF the United States under preexts which
would not be wanting for the occasion. On the
other hand, il has been recently demonstrated
that without such genuine consent of the colo
NAL population, no enterprise on which the
AHencans would choose 10 venture is likely to sue
coed. IL may be thought, perhaps, that If events
should tend to Crisis eligible alternative might
be found IN the absolute independence for which
Cube, by iis wealth and resources is so respectfully
quahhcd. such a contingency has, in fact, be, u
much kept in view Of late years by secret discus
sons Of the malconenis; but the liabilities insepa-
fable from II formidable that il is never likely
to be promoted or accepted by the bulk of the con.
"A lyip "a
Leagues dstance from their very shores, and with
numerous and eXcitsble slave population swarming
On their estates, the Cubans would not forego the
security Tor hie and property offered by a powerful
government. Their Independence would probably
s.on resemble the Independence Of Hayt--a con-
summation To which II may be presumed that no
desires are 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 reason and experience concur in suggesting
that This choles would naturally fall on that con
nccuon which al present exists SO preponderant
in FACT are the attractions Of the old Spanish crown
over those Of On Anglo Saxon republic, that nothing
short OF the moot repusIve and inveteTate l.usage
could ALLEVIATE the colonists from their original al
lcgibnCe aud We see that even systematic inius-
tice has hitherto failed in bringing about such a re-
suit. Against these ties Of tradition aud lineage the
Americans Cen only advance eluivocai prospects Of
improved prosperity and earnest assurances Of po-
liucel consideration. They promise the Cubaus an
eeutliiy Of civil rights and confirmation of slave
INSTITUTIONS. They represent Spain as under the
intutnce Of abolitionist England--an influence
which will be necessarily extutd until slavery is
prescribed as sfiectually In Cuba as IN Jamaica
THIS view Of the cage Is Strengthened by the cir
tumstances unoer which alone English agency is |
yisihe IN the slaud The British flag il rarely seen
be,,te the Spanish end American ensipns in the
gracious hafhor OF Havana, end the uni OCULAR tri-
bunal Of the Mixed Commission serves Co represent
exclusively our interests in the Island That Anne. |
Tcan iniiuence, therefore, should largely predomi-
nate lot only over our own but even IN some sense
over that 81 the spanish government itself will be
readily conceived. still, such Is the instructive re-
pulsion existing between the American and spanish
Characters, eBd such the traditional inclination to-
wards the old connection that the Court of Madrid
might place is iegiumaie authority hey Ond risk of
impairment by the most mode rate concessions In /
favor OF the fenonsliant colony. II the constitu-
tncy, Of which We have spoken. were admitted 10 /
a reasonable share IN the administrator II local
affairs end The hunors Of public service there can /
ne no douh' that CUBA would remain as thoroughly /
Spe nish as any parties could desire
Considering that the largest portion Of the whole /