The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-05-04
CuBA-THE DISMISSAL OF coNcHA

April2th:
THE DISMISSAL OF CoScHA.-We were
conversing yesterday with friend WIZ
turned from Havana few days ago, wheIe nc
had many opportunities OF learning ,ne pomm
cal on dts and mnneuvres when are Known
cnlv in certain circles. Many rumors have
heen in circulation touching the cause OF the
S;sr;ssaI Of Concha, the late Captain Gene-
I'll nrCuha. That which appears TO be most
crsd;,ed;n Havana, among the knowing Ones
Those of our readers who have been to Ha.
vsna will remember that the city proper is sur.
rounded by Notifications, which, OF course,
take up large space OF ground. The city
has overleaped it's walls, however, and now
denseIy built faubourgs stretch beyond them in
the country.
II has for some years been favorIte idea
with Spanish spectators and capitalists 10
remove this wall and its appurtenances, and
build new one at some distance outside OF the
faabourgs. The work 10 be paid for by hand
ing over to the epeculators the ground within
the CITY previously occupied by the old FORTH.
cations. A very profitable affair this would
prove, as this vacant ground would be I'M
rnensely valuable. Among the head men IN
this grand moneyed plot is the Queen Mother
of Spain, Christina, whose reputation for talent
in stock. iobbing and such pursuitsis matter OF
common news.
The speculation has been for some cause or
other held in allowance for the last few years,
hui il was brought up in full force during Con-
cha's administration. He, however, firmly
opnosed II. expressing his determination not to
allow few avaricious capitalists to monopo-
lie a source of wealth which ought to be
thrown open to public competition and among
the inhabitants of Cuba. With his offcial
communications to the Spanish Court on this
subject. Concha forwarded his resignation in
case his views were not acceptable to the
Queen and her Ministers. He had twice be-
fore sent in his resignation, when other official
plans for plundering the inhabitants OF CUBA
were proposed from Spain.
The CAPTAIN General was weaker in Spain
than in Havana. The powerful inuiguers at
home succeeded in obtaining his dismissal, IN
a manner which, it seems, cut his Spanish
pride to the quick. The rstintimatIon he re.
ceived Of his approaching dismissal was thro'
a letter from his brother in Charleston who re-
ceiyed the intelligence from New York by tel
egraph, and Immediately sent il by steamer to
Havana. Concha received Just four or FIVE
DAYS before the arrival of his successor, who
brought the official order for him to resign his
government. This, it seems, is considered an
official disgrace, and Concha goes home de-
termined to bring his enemies to an account.
His departure was universally regretted IN
Cuba. The people of Havana and the envi-
rons focked to the quav in immense numbers
with boats filled with spectators, and when
the ex-Captain General appeared on the deck
of the steamer that was to convey him to Ca
diz. the entire multitude broke forth into loud
cries of sylvia Concha - Conoha was much
affected: this expression of the general feeling
towards him must have consoled him for the
treatment of his Government. The rain was
pouring down in torrents all the while. but the
people remained to the last
Concha is the only Captain General ofCuba
who ever left the island without having well
lined his purse. At least this seems to be the
general opinion in Havana. Our informant
stated that he was told on good authority, that
the ex-governor went home in debt $30,OO0,
for which he gave drafts on his brother in this
country. The merchants of Havana made up,
in "a hours. a purse of 100000, which they
presented, not to Concha, but to his two little
daughters, thinking that the most delicate
way of expressing their regard for the father.
Our informant also stated that it was frequent
ly told him. on the most respectable authority,
that C0ncha was strongly opposed IN the
council to the execution of Lopez and Critten-
denis unfortunate band. He wished the Gev-
eminent at home to decide their fate.
We give all these statements and rumors
as we received them: our informant was much
inclined to put trust in them. and we to put
trust in him. Whatever credence be attached
to them, it is evident that the people of Cuba
have lost in Concha an administrator whose
frmness, energy, intelligence and Integrity,
will render it difficult for his successor to
make more paatable the iron rule of depotism
which Spain sways over the Gem of the An
TILES.
Comment.-The only stain which has ever
attached to the name of Concha, is his treat
ment ofCrittenden and his party. We rejoice
to see that they were executed against his
will, and we recognise, with pleasure, in his
person, genuine representative of the old
Castilian chiyalry, when Spain was the most
powerful nation on earth, and her knights the
very flower of all that was brave, magnanimous
and humane.
When Lord Give was arraigned before the
Parliament Of Great Britain, for having made
an immense fortune out of the unhappy ma
tives of India, he defended himself, not by de.
nying the charge, but by asserting that he had
not made 1-10th part ofthe sum that he might
have made. The whole country, rajahs, zem-
dus, begums and peasants, all orders and all
castles, were ready with their money, to bribe
him for doing, or emitting TO do, whatsoever
they might severaly wish to be done, or to be
left undone. Concha came to country very
much in the same condition. He found |
the grandees, who are all natives of old Spain. |
corrupt to the very core. He could have
commanded any sum of money he might |
have thought proper. Before his time, the |
whole government had been nothing more
than a job, for the benefit of few specula. |
tors. The people were ground to the yerv
dust with taxes too heavy for them to bear
The proceeds Of these taxes were not ,nen, for |
the benefit Of Cuba. They either wen, ),
Spain, to swell the luxury of an effe,e and d;s.
soiute Count, or into the pockets Of specula. |
.ors' or were appropriated by the Captain
GENERAL himself The person holding this Of.
nee invariably became enormously rich. In
iaet' he was in general sent out, for NO other
purpose, than to recruit his Golfers. Some of
N