American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-09-15
Taxation I'm Cuba.
A detroit paper says:

"A uetrolt paper says.
"We met Mr.. Bryant in Cuba, and know
how well he understands the affairs of that
country. The general facts he states are suffi-
cient to astound any man. A white population,
not third larger than Michigan, pays an an
nual tax of twenty four millions of dollars. This
is of itself enough to put mankind upon inquiry
1t is generally supposed that the Cubans 1.-THE
natives) are not inteligent-that the old Span
iards are the producers. This is a gross error
The Creoles are the producers and the payers
of taxes. They are under a close surveillance
and, not having any voice in the government
are not permitted to go from one estate to an
other without passport. Taxed not ten per
cent. only, as Mr.. Bryant says, but really more
than half their productions taxed in gross and
in detail; taxed about three hundred dollars to
comply with the law at their birth and bap-
tism, and from three hundred to three thou
sand i'll going out of the world lis it wonder
that they should squirm They are totally
deprived of all semblance Of personal rights.
1t is high crime for three or more men to pc
tition the government. All weapons of defence
are prohibited. The colleges have been abo-
lished, their schools discouraged and prevented
They are taxed in gross ten per cent. for keep
ing the hogs, the cattle, and the poultry their
farms, and again near fifty per cent. more when
they send these things to market. Ice is a
government monopoly, and costs six cents per
pound. The very fish, which are caught in
great abundance in the sea, are monopolized,
and cost the consumer thirty cents per pound
The. right of marriage is purchased from the
government. Flour is taxed nine dollars and
eighty.foe cents duties per barrel. One dollar
and fifty cents tonnage duty is levied upon yes
sells carrying away produce; and this sum is
levied in other port eharges-all of which the
producer pays.
"At least thirty thousand officers are sup
ported, not one of whom is taken from the peo-
pie of the country. All are seat to them to
govern them and eat out their substance These
men are rulers with full power and with hostile
feelings. There are no social relations existing
between Spain and the colony. The parties
hate each other with fervent hatred. They
never intermarry. There are not ten men in
Spain having any other interest in Cuba than
to retain her as an object of plunder-legally,
of course.
Let us now disclose another fact connected
with the government at Havana The lady of
the Captain General, for pin money, had the
contract for cleaning the out-houses Of the city,
at yearly profit of nearly one hundred thou
sand dollars. There are other equally dignified
perquisites belonging to the Queen mother
Christina, whose husband was lucky in being
wel-built, good-looking sergeant in the Span
ish army, now revealing in the affections of
Christina and in the property of dukedom
The people Of Cuba support the profigacy of
the present court at Madrid, with the young
and handsome Gen. Serena, the prince de fdcto.
who comes in for share of the benefits and
pleasure, but none of the responsibilities Of
loyalty"