Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1853-11-13
O. m M umitatf6.
slaves in Cuba.

Il
TO the Editors Of The Washington Sentinel:
Some fine in June last there appeared in
the National Intelligeacer,r of this city, d
communication from a Cuban gentleman ex
posing the many abuses praetised by the Span
ish government in the treatment of emancipa
dos, as are called the slaves captured on the
coast of Cuba by British cruisers and by them
imported to that island. That letter was copied
/ by large portion of ours and the British
press. The London Daily Ne,os," in abiding
to it, urges iii forcible terms upon its govern
ment to do MS duty, and to adopt such meas
ures rs may prevent any further violations by
Spain Of the compact entered into between her
and Great Britain
As this is q matter of no small interest,
both to my native country and to the United
States, and as recent rumors, which bear every
semblance of truth, tend TO prove that Europe
considers herself equally interested as our
selves, deem it to be my duty to call public at
tention to the stipulations of the existing
treaties between England and Spain for the
suppression of the slave trade in Cuba, and to
show also, that whilst England has gone to an
enormous expense to suppress that trade, she
has materially co-operated to increase it. Let
us, for moment, glance over these treaties, in
order that your readers may better understand
| the subject
The second treaty between Great Britain and
Spain, concluded, at Madrid, ON the 2sth Of
June, 1885, not only establishes the penal law
against the slave trade, but there was, also, an
appendix added thereto, marked c, guarantee.
ing kind treatment TO the ensancipado negro
Article first secures them q good treatment" and
an entire and complete emancipation" The
1 second article stipulates that, "as soon as the
prize is decided, by the mixed commission, to
be lawful one, the slaves SO captured will be
delivered 10 the government of the cruiser qolich
made the capture.' BY article fourth, the Span
| ish government guarantees to see that the
| cmancipado negro receive the same treatment
as manumitted slaves of Cuba, and avows to
| promote and insure to the emdncipado negro
| frankly and loyalty the preservation of that
| freedom to which they are entitled; also, good
| treatment, the knowledge of the dogmas Of the
| Catholic religion, morals and civilization, and
| the necessary instruction in mechanical trades
| so that they may be able to earn their liveli-
hood" Articles fifth and sixth provide that a
register be kept OF the cmancipddo, in order
that the captain-general may report, semian-
nualy, to the mixed commission, q correct
| statement of their condition; and, by article
seventh, both contracting powers reserve to
| themselves "the right Of adopting such mea-
sures" as may tend to better the condition of
| those unfortunate victims Of covetousness and
cupidity. This treaty was ratified on the Gath
of August, 1885.
[lAMORA, legislation ultramarina.l
| Let us now see how it was observed in the
| Island Of Cuba.
! In the first instance, the Spanish navy has
| not only neglected its vigilance, but criminally
| tolerated the traffic.
| Shortly after the celebration of the treaty of
1917 for the suppression of the slave trade, and
OF the commencement of its execution in 1920,
began the system of smuggling negroes into
Cuba, and to such an extent was it carried on
that the British minister dt Madrid com pained
of it to the Spanish government, which issued
royal order, commencing thus: "The minister
OF her Britannia majesty having claimed against
the fraudulent introduction of negroes into the
Island Of Cuba in manifest violation Of the
treaty oflSl7," &C., &c.
From that early period the emancipados were
introduced into Cuba, and they have been in.
creasing since up to the present day, as we have
but too much reason to know. 1t is true that
at the commencement of the treaty, some Of
them received their freedom, but these, as well
as q few individual cases, during General
Valdes's time, are mere exceptions without
example since.
The first emancipados introduced into Cuba
were turned over gratuitously to the inhabitants
tor the term OF ten years, as apprentices, but,
III fact slaves. Planters at first were not will
ing to take them to their plantations, fearful of
Offering through them an example Of freedom
to their slaves, and thus, they were generally
divided between the inhabitants of cities But
gradually this fear wore away, and ceased en-
tirely when it was observed, that after the ex-
piration OF the ten stipulated years of appren-
ticeship, the emaacipddo still continued in the
bonds Of slavery, and became an object of scorn
even to the slaves and in fact, his condition
was inferior and lower if possible, to the creole
slave, for he was stripped Of the right which
slaves possess in Cuba, of purchasing his free
dom whenever able to do So
During Tacon's government, two doubloons,
or $34, was the price brought by the emanci-
pado or the sum which was paid for every one
who had served his time and was again sold for
another term. Gen. O'Donnell made a change.
and the term of service was reduced to FIVE
years, and the price increased to nine doubloons
the males and six the females, and thus it con-
tinued without material change until the gov
eminent Of Gen. Concha
\ 1t is needless to state, that the gold thus
scandalously obtained by this piratical and
dsgraceful transaction, went to engross the
well-f filed Golfers of the, captain-generals,
and Queen Christina has the credit of not
being too scrupulous to accept her share
Of the spoils OF Tacon, it is said that he des
tined such funds to public works. Whether
this be or not correct history win reveal, if
ever there be a writer able to trace the black
and criminal deeds Of Spanish rule and despot-
ism in Cuba,
General Concha, and also General yaldes,
are two honorable exceptions, on which the
spirit wearied and fatigued in contemplating
so many inquities, may pause and rest. But,
however willing we may be to do them justice,
we must be candid and confess, that though |
it is true they never polluted their hands with |
the bloodstained gold of emancipado traffic. |
and we're opposed tothe slave trade, they never.
theless tolerated it when they could have
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