Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1851-08-11
Caban Declaration Of Independence,

The Declaration OF Independence Of tho
L:berating Society Of Puerto Principe, is
published in full in the N. Y. Post Of July
28ih. II is dated July 4th, and commences
in The following bold and energetic stroin:
| "Human reason revolts against the idea
that the social and political condition OF a
people can be indefinitely prolonged, in
which man, stripped OF all rights and guar.
antees, with no security Of person or prop.
erty, no enjoyment in the present, 10 hope
in the fu'ure, lives only by the will, and un.
der the conditions imposed by the pleasure
Of his tyrants: where a vile calumny.
prisoners oenuDciation, despot's suspic.
ion, WORD caught up by surprise in the
sanctuary of home; or from the violated
privacy ofa letter, furnishes ample grounds
tor tearing man from his hearth, ami
casting him forth 10 die ofdestilution or des-
pair on foreign soil; if he escapes being
subjected TO the insulting forms of barbar.
| rous arbitrary tribunal, where his persecu, =
Tors are themselves the judges who con.
denim him, and where, instead Of their pro-
wing his offence he is required to prove bis
Innocence
For having dared to give uiterance TO
principles and opinions, which to other ma
ions constitute the foundation of their NOR
al progress and glory, the Cubans most d s.
tinguished for their virtues and talent, have
found themselves wanderers and exiles.-
For the offence Of having exhibited their
opposition to the unlawful and perilous
slave trade, from which the avarlce Of
Con. O'DoRnell promised itself so rich a :
harvest of a lucre, the latter satisfied his re.
sentiment with the monstrous vengenLce Of
involving them in conspiracy wi b tho
Tree coored people and the slaves Of the
estates; endeavoring as the last :outrage
that any immortal government could offer
to law, TO reason, or to nature, TO prove the
object Of that conspiracy in which they inn
plicated whies of the most eminent virtue,
knowledge and pairintism, TO have been
other than e.the destruction Of their own
race.o 49, @e * ~
A II the laws Of society and nature tramp.
ej under loot, all races and conditions con-
founded together, the Island presented IN 8
the civilized world specticle worthy Of
the rejnicings of He'll. The wretched
slaves saw their flesh torn from them under
the lash, and despatched with blood the
faces of their executioners, who did not
cease exarting lrem their tortures denunci.
ations against their accomplices. Others
were sho, in plato without form Of trial. (
and without even coming to understand the
pretex under which they were massacred.
The free colored people, nfier having first
been lacernted bv the lash, we're then hur.
ried TO the scnffold, und those only escaped
with life who had gold enough 10 appense
the fury Of their execuiioners. And, ney.
ertheless, when the government or its fol-
lowers have come to fear something Of the
Cobans, the first threat has been that Of
arming the colored people against them for
their determination" se'sss g 7}os
The following is the substance OF the
definite charges made against the govern
meat.
"Publicly, and with nrms in his hands,
did General Tacon despoiI Cuba of the
Constitution of Spain, proclaimed by alltha u
powers oi the monarchy, and sent TO be
sworn to in Cuba, as the fundamental law
Of the whule kingdom.
Publicly, and by a legislative act, was
Cuba declared TO be deprived Of the rights
enjoyed by all Spaniards, and conceded by
nature and the laws, to nations the least ad.
vanced in civilization. sa.-..,l
Publicly, have the sons of Cuba been cut
off from oil admission to the commands !
and lucrative employments of,tbe siaie. - ss
Public, are the unlimited powers Of every
description granted To the Captains Gene
raj of Cuba, Who can refuse to those whom
they condemn, even the right Of trial,
and the privilege of being sentenced by
tribunal. 49, -.
Publicly, and permanent in the Island of
Cubo, are those Courts-mBrtial, which the
laws permit only in extraordinary cases Of
war, for offences against the state. 81
Publicly has the Spanish press hurled
against Cuba the threat Of converting the
island into ruin and ashes, by lIberating
the slaves, and Enchanting against her the
herdes of barbarian Africans.
Public in the constant creation Of the
army, and the augmentation of new bodies
OF mercenaries, which under the pretexi OF
the public security, servo only TO increase
the burtbens Of Cuba, and add still moro
harrassing vexaton to the espionage pruc.
tised against her people.
Public are the impediments and difficult
ties imposed upon every individual, to res
train him from place to place, AID from ex.
ercising any branch OF industry; no one
being safe from arrest and fine, for some
deficiency Of authority or licence, at every
step he may take.
Public, are the taxes which have wasted
away the substance Of the island, and the
projects Of other new ones, which threaten
to abolish all the products Of its richness,
nothing being left for US but the tolls to pro-
duce them.
Public are the petty exnctions and plum.
derings at every turn, inflicted in the most
unblushing manner, in addition TO the gen.
eral impositions by the subaltern mandarins
Of authority in their respective local cities.
Finally, the government has publicly
and officially declared, and the journals in
its pay have labored TO sustain the declafa-
tion with the foul commentary, '.tbat the
inhabitants of Cuba have no organ or right
Of action, even for the purpose Of directing