Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1850-05-31
Gen. Lopez, the Cuban Patriot.

From q very long and diffuse account of the Life
ofGeneral Lopez, which appeared in the New Orleans
Delta Of the 10th and 18th inst, have condensed
the following sketch of a career which is brought to
point of interest by the enterprise on Cuba which
attracts much attention.
Narcise Lopez was born of wealthy parents in l79S
or g, in Venezuela, and Is now little over fifty
years of age. He the only that grew to man.
hood, though he had numerous sisters He vas train
ed to the saddle is the custom in South America
His father being obliged by civil disturbance to re-
remove to Caracas, where he entered upon a COM
mercal life, his Narciso superintended a branch
of the House at Valencia in the interior Here dur
ing the troubles of Bolivars time in 1914, young
Lopez took prominent part on the popular side.
and narrowly escaped from massacre At length
when reduced almost to desperation, he enlisted in
the army, as his only chance for life. At the end
of the war between Spain and the insurgents Lopez
found himself a colonel at the age of %. He had
also received the of San Fernando asa further
reward for various gallant deeds during the war
On the evacuation of the country by the Spanish
army, Col. Lopez returned to Cuba
Since that time 0823,) Lopez has been a Cuban
having married and established himselfin the island
He was known to be possessed of liberal principles
which prevented him from obtaining Office in the
island, and thus remained in retirement During
the first Of the Carlist troubles in Spain Lopez hap.
pcned to be in Madrid with his wife, urging a pri.
vatc claim the government He distinguished
himself on the government side was made first aid
decamp to the Commander in Chief Gen. Valdez
and received several military decorations. He be-
came the warm personal friend of Valdez who was
afterwards the most popular Captain General of Gu
ba- lie was for time, Commander in Chief of the
National Guard of Spain, and subsequently COmman-
der in Chief of several provinces. During all this
period of favor with the royalis party it is said that
he remained faithful to his democratic principles
and though caressed by the Queen Mother Christina.
he despiScd and dstrustcd her.
On the insurrecton which ended in the expulsion
of Christina from the regency, Lopez was made Gov
crnOr of Madrid, post which he held until Espar-
tero became regent, when he positively refused to
hold it, in spite of the solicitations Of Espartero As
Senator Of the Kingdom. from the Liberal city of
Seville, he studied the politics and institutions of
Spain, and then first learned the condition of the
Spanish colonies, and especially the expressions
der which Cuba, the country of his adoption, labor
cd. The expulsion of the Cuban deputies from the
Cortes further disguised him, and, resigning his Of
Ices he departed for Havana without some trou-
bic in obtaining permission
At this time, (l839) General Valdez was Captain
General of Cuba. During the various political
troubles of SPAIN Lopez held different posts of honor
and emoument in the island, but, at length he re-
signed all except his rank General, and then
dertOOk the working of an abandoned copper mine,
pretext for returning to the Central Depart
ment Here he began to mingle with the people
and concert plan for the liberation of Cuba. The
"nterprize of last year, which miscarried COM
pletely, the result of his first efforts The
nnd effort, better matured and more extensive is
on foot