Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-07-01
SCEILA EOUS.

lc ANC SANs"F N'
THE HISTORY OF a
p..ns,,rp,,v dedicated 10 the lI,ls,rious inventor OF the last Americas
Bull vi EXcomnIuiHcauoh'
BY Ell EsrRASGERo.
am a Guiana Creole Of the siiltering star OF the ANU;
lea Where The little Rio Canine winds its silver threao
down through the rocky hills east OF NlatanIas, 10 me oa''
still stands the house where l was horn; a grand, nass,se
old caetle, built ere The red cross OF England w W ,Ga ,re q Of
strangers I, the last SON OF my race, am u u eAne ~ % = ~
reign land-sentenced 10 death at home @ M ERE beeantifui wife wife
INV Sabanito-lies low in the grave. My boy-the nope
of nv manhood-was struck to the heart oy inc ance VI q
brIral soldier, because he would not tell whltncr MS ialnef
had fed; that father on whose head a praee nae o &c -
: pnce which the liveried bl"od-houlnds coveted me anu
OF nv fathers, seized by the same tyrant bands, nave peer
sold 10 a stranger. The fragrant coffee telds wherein wan
toned, In my happy childhood, are titled by those VINO nave
no associates there TO love, save the sordid gain they may
yeild! sand why is this ~ the reader asks. l VIII reply;
IND wonld Thai in lines of living fire each word might be
written TO burn evermore before the people OF a country
once oppressed, now free and happy, though SUCH pirates
asa Lafayette-a De Kalb-a De Grasse-a DEstalng-a
Pulaski Montgomery aided 10 gaining 70 het Inat ~
When Tacon, iron hearted and iron handed, was Governor
General of Cuba, l had attained my majority ana as soon
as | was released from the surveillance OF the guardian APP
pointed by the Government, Il should have promised that l
was an orphanJ l married one whom | had loved from my
early boyhood, and never bloomed a lovelier flower oeneath
a lropic sun. I'VE loved-were happy. | was rich, and though
taxed heavily, under constant Government espionage, moved
on through a few years in peace. When aeon hau gone,
and after Espelcta-less a iyrant, but more a villain IMAM the
trst-came in, times began to alter. Privileges OF the silent.
est kind had 10 be bought. Did wish a pound OF powder
and shot, and a gun to kill the pheasanis that new across my
fields, a license was required. fur which | had 10 pay a tax,
heavier thap ever was laid Not a grain of cotee-not a Zeal
of tobacco-not 4 cane Of sugar grew, that was not counteo
and taxed. Murmur not, We 1.-THE paying men OF England
Do not complain, We men OF Russia, whose lives and fortunes
are cast on the very breath OF your !Autocrat! DO not leel
discontented, ye sons of the Crescent, (no home ouusson)
whose lives depend upon the bowstring and tickle mind oil an
imperious Sultan Yea are safer far, and happier too, than
the Creoles of Cuba, who exist under the control OF those
who, born afar of, have no sympathies no ties 10 BIND thcm
TO the soil of the Island.
But, back to my tale. The time oil Espeleta passed away.
Laden with riches, wrung unjusIy from the people, ne re-
turned TO Spain, rich in all save honor, and that was hidden
by the tears and blood Of those whom he had wronged. An
coma followed. But he could not stay he was too honora-
BILE. The blood of the Cid flowed in his veins; He was re-
called. O'Donnell came-the descendant; of a Celtic, q brave
people. Years of connection with n corrupt government
had mingled alloy with the gold of his nature-yet ne was
not all that the "mother government" wished. he could
not be all a villain He was cruel-hc needed not the value
of life-yet he was at least human. He would not hlre snies
10 enter the bosom Of happy fa.nilies7he would nor ~ on
suspicion! He, too, was recalled, and Alcoy came! Then
clouds-red as blood and dark rs the beginning OF a storm
when day closes-arose over the people Of Cuba. Inc BUR
dens of the people were never felt till then And did they
1nurmur, a hired spy was near to catch each word! Every
sigh they hreathed-a threat, whispered between closed ana
grating teeth, was reported land what followed! Deatn OF
exile, and confscation of property-the garoite, a voley OF
musketry, or a rapid flight from the land OF their oirth -
Yet, why do i wander from my own bistory-lt is brief, and
! will NOT trouble you long, When A. h,c0 y,f sa waess b mg IEy'
though a matron. My overseer died, and | employed a ne"
one, who came well recommended, even as a gentleman
whom poverty forced TO ask for such a situation. Regarding
poverty as a misfortune rather ,nan as a crime, l treated
him as a gentleman and as a friend. That man was a spy
of Alcoy's! Not u word passed from my lps-not q muir
muir nj Injustice did | utter that he did not record. and send
TO his master, as l afterwards learned!
One night never shall l forget II, for my poor wife was
living low with a fever, on i couch from ~hlch she never
rose-a merchantSfrom New York, whose vessel layan the
harbor OF MatanZas, was my guest lie came TO arrange
for the purchase of my crop-und while entertaining MIN, l
made remarks contrasting the freedom of his government
with the tyranny Of that under which | suffered. My over
seer was present, and marked every word. When my guest
had retired for The night, fastened 10 the side OF my SICK
wife II was the last time | ever saw her. Alter we mao
left him, the oversccr mounted my best horse, aud rode iuli
speed 10 Matanzas, TO report to the Governor all that | had
said.
Il was nearly morning, and still | 81, by the side OF my
suffering wife. Suddenly y faithful servant rushed into the
room, and told me that the orcrsccr and Il guard of soldiers
were riding towards the house. In an instant l Knew all
comprehended my danger, and 50 did my angel wife Fly,
nv amore ~ she cried :" it will be death II they seize you.
az cannot, and leave you! y was my reply.
"They will not harm me" she answered =" go, l Will get
well. and with our bow will follow !' l kissed my boy, and
prepared TO hy. How 10 20 was The next question. MY
friend had his boat and crew in The river. l hastily awo6e
lefti il by a back entrance, gained the boat, and in three hours
] was safe in his vessel. Hastily we sailed, and soon arrived
At the great city of your Republic. Oh how anxiously did /
wait for news from my home When il came, il was terri
Bile! Death had not such ierro!S. Ny boy was killed, that night
BY a soldier, because he would not tell him which way | had
gone, or reply 10 his insulrnt questions. Within three days
nv wife was in her grave. 4 price was placed on my head
my estates confScated, i registered as a traitor, aud all TINS
merely because murnureG against injustice and wrong. !
am here-widuwed, ciidless, poor, wretched! And, because,
and free my fellow Cubans from chnins, l learn that l am
considered u rub5cr and a pirate. j torbear TO comment on
this! Though the land wherein | have sought refuge, casts
this stigma upon me, will! not complain, but, blding that
time, when might will Yield 10 right, when Cuba nN De free,
Remain the EMILE"
New Orleans, May 81.