Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-04-23
LATE FROM HAVANA.
Editorial Correspondence Of The Nsv York Express


+ HAVANA, APRIL II, 1853.
The prisoners who ordered to be executed las,
week, with others who confined with them in the pr
SON here are on their way to Cadiz to await the orders
OF the Queen They received presents Of money before
leaving had their passages paid in the best places Of the
vessel visited by their friends and counrymen and
by ladies' who contributed to their relief and finally
left on Sunday morning, in good spirits The worst
them viii probably be banished and the rest pardoned
and it is probable that part of the number will find their
way to the United States To all the proered attentions
contributions friendships and yors there has been let
or hindrance whatever
The Government here, stimulated by constant COM
plants of the British Government is making show Of
suppressing the slave trade. great many slaves
recently landed at Cardenas, and in conspicuous
that the Government had to take notice of the
matter to escape the charge of wnking palpa-
BILE violation of the treaty Eighty young slaves of the
party arrived here from Cardenas Saturday and one
hundred and fifty previously They win ultimately be
given their owners who fined and punished for the
nonce or, too much fuss is made about the matter the
slaves will be Free The authorities fear England and
for two First because there is always large
British force here, 1--WE have not cock boat y and
second, because England keeps here very able
very faithful and subject to changes Of administration
at home. The influence of the United States would be
precisely equal under precisely the circumstances
omitted to mention, in my last letter, that common
rumor here, Spanish and American semi-ocal and pr-
vate statements declared that the Spanish Government
had authorized the payment George Law of $780,
for detentons annoyances and losses experienced in the
troubles fasyear by the conduct of the Cuban author
ties towards the steamer Cherokee The sum- it is also
Sera by the
rites here and it very just the Island should be taxed
to pay it. Unhappily however, by the local law, the
great bulk OF taxes comes out Of foreigners.
Can't. WARD. of the COrnea New York has been in
some little trouble here again, owing to his bringing in
two seamen, sailor and apprentice boy, without
having their names properly entered upon the ships pa
pers in New York. or properly filed here. His fine
$40 for himself and $25 for each Of the persons illegally
brought in; in ALL about 70for neglect of duty The
demand, like many other impositons inflicted upon Ame
rcans and other foreigners would have been avoided if
there had been an observance of law at home Through
the Consul the captain has protested agansthe exacton
and in whole part hopes have his fine restored One
of the sailors thus rreguary shipped deserted for
time, and had he not been found the Captain of the
Port gave notice that the vessel would be detained until
the lost man was produced and reshipped. Happily he
was discoveredjus the Consul called upon seek
release or redress for the ship at the hands of the Captain
General.
The number of American ships in the harbor of Havana
the obvious Importance and extent of American commerce.
and my inquiries from residents here suggest
inquiries to the observance of American laws in for
eign ports. One reason why our ships experience SO
many difficulties here is because laws fire.
quenty violated in the shipment Of and the sailing
of ships Sometimes crew is shipped after the clearance
OF the vessel and true record appears of the
This is in violation of law at home and abroad The
vessel arrives here with of fact upon the record
and another in the ship itself There is of twenty
reported and there may be Of thirty fact The
captain Of the port discovers the discrepancy and de-
mands explanation; or, it may be- imposes fine of $50
for each delinquency Again, laws require that
thirds Of an American ships shall be American
men, but in reality not onethrd of sailors Ameri
cans by birth naturalization To evade the laws they
purchase American protection papers, themselves
off for American both at home and abroad Por-
tuguese Spaniards Danes Germans English and Swedes
all have such papers, and they purchased home for
fifty cents each Recently whole came to Havana
in Portland ship, but two of whom could
speak English They refused to work. were discharged
by the consul for INSTRUMENTATION and the fact was
veaed that they in possession of purchased papers
The captain of the port called upon the captain of the
ship TO give the usual bonds 900 in each CASEY that he
por The ceptain of the snip declared that he no
negroes board The captain of the port the
American papers to prove that he had The shpmaster
appealed the CONSUL and the consul referred the
ships papers, where upon the record stood the o negroes
but in reality there none and the consul finally asked
and secured the captains release from the payment Of the
line. This was not an uncommon case; and with dis
position to obey the law at home and the law of the
try where the ship arrives there would be comparatively
few difficulties in foreign ports.
Power here is great respecter Of persons and the
subordinate, if not paid compels each feel the
rgor Of the law. Two days since the black driver of the
American Consul found leading his horses be shod
upon the wrong side Of paseo outside of the gates With
out notice warning Of any sort the police took the
horses from the ignorant but innocent driver sent them
to the station, and the Consul paid fine Of 49, which
was imposed by the Comisdrio The Government would
hardly have permitted this ron if it had known Of the
occurrence and from all accounts there is daily multi
tude of such petty exactons No carriage for example,
allowed to leave the city gates except upon road
to enter them upon any other than prescribed road
to travel upon than few streets foreigneri
presumed to know every thing, and to be always rg