Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1851-08-02

. of insurgents, headed BY Don Joaquin AguerO
! had been beaten and dispersed by the Governo
of the Eastern Department, with the loss O
t five killed. The same Spanish accounts state
that FIVE of the insurgents were killed, tina
mauy horses and arms were captured, tina
:, numbers of the patriots had surrended, ant
5 others were willing to do so on receiving as
surances of pardon. Another letter, from {
Spanish source, says that Havana and the rest
of the island were quiet, and that the umorst c
the contrary are circulated only for the purpose
of creating excitement iu the United States.
1t is stated that two spies have arrived in
the Isabel, being sent to watch the movements
Of the friends of Cuban liberty in the United
States. One of them is named Jose NJ. Blan.
co de la Tufa.
The few Spanish men.of war in the port OF
Havana had sailed with Government troops for
Puerto Principe. Probably for Nuevitas, as
Puerto Principe is an inland town.--Eds. Pic
There are som contradictions in this dispatch,
and probably the number of those engaged on the
side of the patriots is somewhat exaggerated but
to the rational and unbiased observer, who does
not seek alone for what he wishes, but labors to
extract truth from the perplexing mass Of %intelli-
gence before him, conclusion is obvious and ire
sistible that revolution is proceeding, that it has
not been suppressed, and that it is spreading
throughout the Eastern part of the Island.
The following is the Cuban Declaration of In
dependence:
70 the Inhabitants Of Cuba and all
Treemen.
Every people possesses the unalienable right
of changing the form of government by which
it is ruled, whenever its interests, its honor,
and it's safety require such a change; since it
is only for its advantage that it has delegated
its powers to certain determinate persons.
A Government which is a standing conspira-
cy against the governed, loses its vitality and
becomes a despotism intolerable to rational
men. In such a case the sovereignty ~reverts,
of right, to the centre whence it emanated, to
be again remodeled into such a form as may
best suit the wants and circumstances ofthose
to whom that sovereignty appertains.
The people Of Cuba present a strong, per-
haps the strongest Of all possible causes, for
the application of these sacred principles, in
asmuch as the colonial despotism Of Spain
over this island is unequaled in the history of
nations: Wherefore, resuming our outraged
rights, we have this day determined to throw
off the shackles of our tyrants, and 10 raise the
bright standard Of freedom to lead us to VIC
tory, with the unalterable purpose Of raising
ourselves to the rank Of a free people, or OF
meeting on the field of battle a glorious death,
preferable, a thousand times, to the degrading
slavery which is now our lot.
But as a revolution is always attended BY
sacrifices, calamities and disasters, it is incum-
bent on us-in addition to the self.evident Ak
ION, set forth in the commencement of this So
lemn declaration-to expose the just causes
which have impelled us to assume the position
which we now occupy.
The world must know the grievous injus.
tice, and arbitrary yexations, which the Spanish
Government has exercised, and does now ex-
ercise towards the miserable inhabitants of
Cuba-injustice and oppression of such mag
nitude that the sufferings of any other people,
compared with ours, are but a shadow to a
reality.
The Spanish Government has deprived us of
all political rights, maintaining US in a state of
pupilage, Notwithstanding that our population,
wealth and other circumstances render US Sill.
perior to the greater part of her turbulent, poor |
and ignorant provinces. The natural conse-
quences of this usurpation is, that she imposes
upon US the heaviest contributions against our
will and consent, (Which alone could make
them l~egitimate,) and which, whilst they i'm.
poverish the country, are employed in the
support of numerous army and navy, in the
payment of many and useless salaried officers,
and the keeping up the luxury Of a corrupt and
vicious court.
The Spanish Government does, in effect,
prohibit us from embracing either the eccle-
~siastical or civil professions; because educa-
ton, instead of being gratuitous, is rendered
so costly that the rich alone-who in general
are absorbed in the management of their es-
tates, can participate therein. Such q system
has been evidently framed for the purpose of
keeping US in ignorance, in order that despo-
tism may reign triumphant.
The Spanish Government, SO far from en-
couraging the cultivation Of the mechanical
apply themselves thereto, with the sole diabo-
lical and ayowed object Of preventing the Gu
bans from dedicating themselves to those use
full and honorable pursuits. It has looked to
id'eness and ignorance, fostered by their
h~eartfess policy, as the surest means Of unfit
ting us for the assertion Of our rights as free
men, and the performance Of our duties as
men.
The same Government bestows upon the ma
Of the Peninsula all the Offices and pla-
ces Of emolument or honor, without any re-
gard to merit; and, faithful to its pernicious
maxim, it has provided no law for the Cuban
but the ever-changing viii Of the Captain
General Of the island.
The Cuban possesses no security for his
life and property /; for, besides the notorious
Partially Of the Government, always exerci-
against the native Cuban, the criminal laws
fallen into disuse, and most Of the civil
through the progress of the age, have
become inapplicable.
The Spanish Government, contrary to the
.plainest principles Of sound legislation and Of
humanity, and as if the island of Cuba were
constantly in exceptionable circumstances, has