The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-03-20

Peace N SAFETY.
By the last arrivals, We have received sone highly
Interesting information in reference 70 ths political
And social condition Of the beautiful iaand Of
Cuba, especially in reference 10 the slave trade.
ID appears fron authentie data, that, In l84S,
thers were over 5000 slaves landed IN Ouba, from
twenty vees engaged IN the African trade while in
1850 and '6l each, tho number Of these slave ship
arrivals were reduced. We apprehend these figures,
however, do not tell cns half the story. Al
present, as informed, there are some
twenty-five vessels engaged in the slave traffic be-
tween Africa and Cuba. Those vessels are from two
TO five hundred tons burthsn, and carry each cargo
Of slaves of from three hundred to Ave hundred,
averaging $500 each spon delivery upon land
Allowing two trips year to each ship, and the
average of three hundred and fifty slaves per trip,
We have an aggregate importation OF seventeen
thousand five hundred for the year, but the actual
number is probably not over fifteen thousand. This
is a large traffic for the single island Of Cuba;
but when it 10 taken into the account that upon
the sugar estates the entire working force Of the
slaves dies OF within the limit Of seven years. and
that the African importa6ons almost exclusive
~ of males, the supply will not appear r,xsh above
the current demand. The wild African, transferred
from the Incidence of savage life, 70 sixteen,
eighteen and twenty hours Of hard labor Per day.
upon Cuba sugar plantation, must inevitably suf-
fer from the transition The hazards Of running the
African squadrons Of England, and the cheek which
the republic Of Liberia has given to the dealers on
the African coast, contribute 70 increase the price
Of the imported negroes An article which is con-
traband, necessarily brings good price.
The African slave trade is . contrahand traffic.
To the decree declaring it piracy Spain is party
Nominaly, it is . lawless business, even in Ouba
But the subordipates Of the local authorities are
the victims Of strong temptations gratuity Of fifty
dollars for each slave, upon cargo even Of thrcs
hundred, i . hard sfer 10 be refused by the
officials Of any Of the numerous little ports around
the island. Practically, therefore, the law is .
dead letter. Its emily effect ie rather to encourage
than suppress the traffic, by the persuasive induce
ments which are, by sort Of regulation, allowed
to the government officers for their conniyance or
their ignorance. The former Captain Generals
of the island have been accused Of sharing
the profits with the slsve ships. General Ooncha,
the present Governor, we are satisfied, Is free
from this charge; but his efforts to suppress, or
even to discourage the traffic, have been wholly I'M
availing. Aefor Spain, the immense revenues which
she derives from the enormous annual products Of
Cuba, have probably disposed her to be lenient
in a matter which contributes 20 materially as
the slave trade to the develspemsnt Of the
wealth Of the island But there ie no other excuse
than cupidity, far citizens Of the United States
are concerned in the supply Of vessels. The
slave chips are mostly built in this country, and
chiefly in the New England States, where anti
slavery runs mad at every election; and too often
the owners and shareholders in these vessels and
their sargoee, from the iberty-loving Puritans
while, the other hand, excepting the port Of Bal
timore, the South is comparatively free from any
participation in this illegal business in any shape or
form.
But the slave trade cannot much longer be tole-
rated in Cuba, without the most deplorable results
in connection with the rigid discipline to which the
slaves are subjected. One or the other, or both,
must be abandoned, if peace is to be preserved The
Creolcs are aware Of 1.-THE example Of St. Domingo
is before them. They are also aware of the advan-
tages and safety Of the humane slavery system Of
eur Southern States; and they especially aware
Of the advantages of cheap and liberal govern
ment over an expennve-extravagantlye expensive
and despots sovereignty. The annexation Of Cuba
to the United States would remove the restrictions
upon the general commerce and producing classes Of
Cnba-it would put a stop at once to the African
slave trade-it would introduce humane system Of
working and treatment Of the slaves, which would
be followed by the same ratio Of natural increase -
in South Carolina or Louisiana. Thus the slaves
would become identified with the island and their
masters families, and the same kindly relations of
confidence and dependence would follow, as now pre-
vail in the South.
The Creole population Of Cuba are aware Of all
this; but they no rcvolutionists. The bond be-
tween them and the wild and savage slaves from
Africa lie slight, and easily broken. If the Spanish
government were, in the event Of an instruction,
to declare freedom to the slaves they would accept
it, and reenaet the bloody chapter Of Hayti without
remorse. They are not aversc to bloodshed, as the
constant warfare among the tribes from which they
taken in Africa will attest. But, in addition to
this obstacle to revolt the creoles prefer peace and
the profits peaceful industry to the hazards Of an
intestine war, with oil the odds against them nor
would they with the assurance Of success be ant to
rise in arms against the State, church and people,
with which they are associated in history and ances
try for a thousand years.
The policy then Of the Cubans is obedience TO the
present government, but ultimate peaceable annex
alton to the United States. If it can be effected,
according TO information, the experiment
will be tried. The plan will probably be the ap-
pointment Of trusty diplomatic agents by the Gre
oee to agitate and promote the object Of annexa-
ton, in Washington and in London--in Washington
to encourage Congress to enter into the scheme
and in London to persuade the British government
Of its advantages to them. The developement Of
the mighty capacities and resources Of this great
Union, and'the expansion of our vast commerce,
particularly through the Gulf Of Mexico fore,hadow
the ultimate destiny of Cuba II must ultimately
be enrs, or an Independent nation, or mock empire
like Hayt We can permit no other foreign power
than Spain to hold it; and Spanish slavery and tho
slave trade are tending to black revolution, which
will not be left without aid and sympathy from the
British West Indies. when any symptoms Of gene
tal outbreak will justify their cooperation.
We have shown that the chief internal element Of |