The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-08-19

HAVANA, August, 1852.
A"fia Condition Of Cuba-Spmit Of the Goper's-

AmfM Condition Of Cuba-Spmit of the Gover,l-
A portion Of this community, and all the
foreigners, full of indignation at the conduct Of
the authorities, who are behaving in the most ras-
caIy manner. Governor Cancdo has given himself
up to the slave traders in fact, he has come here
for the sole purpose Of making money. There is
something stirring among the CreoIes, who are
getting very audacous; twenty three have been ar
rested within three days am half inclined to
think that the poor devils about to make some
miserable attempt at instruction There nothing
but folly in the attempt They are positively
raising large sums of money. l am inclined to
think that the Creoles in New York are again hum
bugging them with the idea that the Americans
will get up another expedition, and are SO getting
money from these people.
The way justice is administered in this island is
caution. While Governor of Cuba, the upright,
just, and wise General Concha used every means in
his power, by example and otherwise to instil into
the minds of his subordnates those principles of ho
which governed every action of his own but to
purpose. The herdes Of petty officers and needy
Adventures annually sent out from Spain, to feed
upon the very vitals Of Cuba, were too eager in
their thirst for gain to heed ought else but how
they could the most speedily make fortune out of
tho people over whom some trifing, but arbitrary,
rank entitled them to exact either the most de-
grading obedience, or unheard. of penalties The
despotic power Of these underlings in Office is very
great even in Havana, as many an American pass
ing through this city will be able to testify but it
amounts, in the interior of the island to tyranny
the startling, because it would seem impossi-
BILE that such things could take place so near to our
shores, in this age ofcivilizaton-the nineteenth
century. Having no salaries, the ssCapitan do Par
tidos.' (prefects of poce) "Celadors,' SC, (chef
constabes,) make up their incomes by extortions
from the people of the district committed to their
charge; so that any man, having the misfortune to
fall under the dispeasure of that officer is liable to
immediate arrest, under the most frivolous pretexs
to be only put at liberty upon paying SO much; and
as there is no appeal for foreigner, he must re-
main satisfied that he has been lucky enough to get
off with, perhaps three or four months imprison-
ment
General Concha, rs have said, did. all he could
TO RENE dy this great abuse, and he did not hesitate
to make examples even among the great ones but
such is the corruption which exists among the
subordinate officers sent from Spain, that he truly
declared it impossible for an homes, man to GO
the island of Cuba. He has been relieved
by General Canedo, under whose administra-
ton almost the first acts declared inno-
General Concha, and for which he was dismissed
from the governorship of Matanzas, tho no.
toIious General Pavia, who was known to have re-
ceiyed an immense sum of money to permit tho in
of this gear, at Camarioca and Sierra Morena, and
Tor having granted licenses for certain gambling
houSes Of MataDzas. contrary to law And yet,
wide is the corruption, great the inlue nee of mo.
ney that he has been declared not guilty by the
Raj -dudieacid, Supreme Court of Justice,
OF Havana. Well might Concha say, an honest man
carnot govern Cuba.
Five laenths ago. Mr.. Baker returned to this
island from visit to the United States He had
scarcely been week ct his plantation, when he was
arrested and confined III the jail at Cardenas, under
the pen that, twoy ears previously be had threaten
ed 10 shoot some Spanish soldiers. This poor man
bad unfortunately fallen under the dspeasure Of his
Calitaa dc Pa1ttdo, The facts Of the case were
theses about two years ago, several soldiers had
been hilleted uron Mr. Baker, who was then re-
siding with his wife and Spanish lady on their
tam il the country. The soldiers having procured
demijohn Of wine, became intoxicated and in the
night endeayored to force the door Of Mrs Bakers
bed room. The old gentleman, finding that the
door would not much longer resist tho force used
against it, threw it hastily open, presenting him
self before them with couple of loaded pistols, de-
claring that he would shoot the first man who
tured to advance into the room; happily, at this
moment Spanish officer appeared, who npsed the
men to retire. To the inquiries of the 5ser as to
the meaning Of the scene he had witnessed, the
soldiers trumPed up story to the effect that MIR.
Baker was an American, that he had made use Of
some disloyRl remarks about the Spanish govern
ment. and that they were about to arrest him when
their officer appeared Since then Mr.. Baker had
remained unmolested on his estate-was permitted
to make or two visits to New York, and in all
probability would soon have forgotten the occur
renee, hpa he not unfortunately fallen under the dis
pleasure of the petty authority of his district who,
for affair which had occurred two years previous
iy, had him arrested and confined in the Jail Of |
Cardenas five months. MIR. Barker owes his liberty
to Judge Sharkey, who very warmly interested him
SELF did the British consul, in his behalf Unfor
unately, the poor fellow was not released from Jail
until the Spanish authorities had exacted from him
$40 all the ready money he had.
Early in the month of May last, some American
and English sailors, somewhat intoxicated, were
skylarking together on the heights near to the
Cabana fort Being interfered with by some Spanish
soldiers, who off duty, melee ensued, and the
spanish soldiers wero well thrashed. The latter
rushed into the fort for their arms, and being
ioined by Others Of their omrades, they gave chase
the sailors down the hill but the tars got safely
on board the American bark Kate Swauton, at the
time laying at the wharf. Unhappily, two other
sailors-one American, the other Englsh-who had
had nothing whatever to do with the ARRAY, and in
d. were entirely ignorant of what bad taken place,
were quietly walking up the hill, when, observing
several soldiers advancing rapidly towards them in
a menacing attitude, the two gators turned back,
and ran down TO the wharf followed by the soldiers.
rbe men, unable to proceed further than the end Of
he wharf, which projected into the sea, stood still
The soldiers rushed upon the two unfortunate
saols, who bad nothing with which to defend them
elves, stabbing the American through and through
With their bayonets. The Epgishman also re.
aeived severe wound but is recovering. This
icing the second American sailor thus brutaly
murdered (for he died from the wounds BIO had re.
seived in this port within short time, no doubt
ludge Sbalkey has fully acquainted our goyernmen.
With MI the circumstances of the case, giving the
ome Of the sailor who was thus SO barbarously
murdered
IN the month Of April last young lad named
Charles Csllwood native OF the island of Tortola,
BE only con Of respectable black parents, having
lone gone in q small boat 10 ish, was driven by
quail Of wind cut to sea some ten or twelve miles
,om the land he was picked up, almost famishod for
s0nt If nourishment and from exposure, by Spa
1sh vessel, the crew Of which, instead Of extending
. the poor lad that kindness aud protection which
is situation required, and which humanity ought
0 have dictated, carried bin to Porto Rico, and
here sold him into slavery His Excollcncy,
ae English Governor Of tho Windward Islands,
svipg heard Of this atrocous act, and indignant
INT o person committed to his charge should have
zen so scandslously kidnapped by this buooaneer.
IL Spanish captain, dispatched the Hon. Mr.. Dyett,
l1nrnhor OF The Cnnnnil IA we'll d marisLrnAn nf