The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-07-16
The EmaDeipado system ana the Slave Trade
In Cuba

Ny Lord-ln reading over the debate which re-
Gently took place in the British House of Lords upon
the Cuban slave trade there were two things which
very forcby called my attention. The first was the
lameDtable ignorance which was displayed upon
that occasion to the real facts Of occurrences here
and which were then referred to the second was
your lordfhps extraordinary perspicuity in placing
Notwithstanding the source from whence they pro-
ceeded, Just as much faith In the assurances oil
the Spanish government and the Captain Generals
honest intentions for the future they worth
In the remarks which you made upon the occasion
referred to you sad Before you could be at all dis
posed to withdraw your charge against the Captain
General Of Cuba, you would wait to see whether
those good intentions were followed up by perform.
ances"
Now my lord, / think it is to be regretted that
such an august body as the British House of Lords
should apparently know 30 little with regard TO the
fourishing state Of the slave trade in this island
which 10 carried on in most instances, with the most
audacious inpunity, and with the scandalous and
notorious connivance of the local authorities |
therefore propose to place within your knowledge a
plain unvarnished statement Of the facts connected
with tie late Recommendations OF negroes which
have been effected on this island and leave your
lordship to draw your conclusions as to how
much faith may be placedi Spanish ASSURANCES and
honest intentions.
ought to premise that my information is obtained
from the best and most reliable sources; and that
although have taken considerable pains in thread
ing out the facts connected With the several nfrac
tons OF the law which | am about ~ relate, the
task has been easy one, because OF the great no
torie'y which almost Immediately attends the disem-
bsikatoD Of every cargo Of Bozal negroes which is
landed upon the coasts OF this island. This notorcty
arises from two causes one Is the strong opposition
eynced against the trade by the native population
Of Cuba, who dread an instruction amongst the
negroes; the other is from the correct thinking
portion Of the Spanish Qrom old Spain) community
who see in it, not only the the evil apprehended by
the Creoles, but also source OF Misunderstanding
with those powers with which Spain has bound her.
self in solemn treaties 70 abolish traffic long since
abandoned and detested by the rest Of the civilized
world.
The parties, generally, who carry on the slave
Old Spain, principally from the provin e of Catalonia,
called Galatians, who actually carry on the ab0mina-
BILE traffic, and the needy Spanish officials who are
sent ont from Spain, and whose only object upon
reaching Cuba is to make the most OF the short time
allotted to them in the official post to which they
may have been appointed-the latter, by winking at
and covering the proceedings of the slave traders,
are the real promoters OF this inhuman commerce.
During the experience OF many years resi-
dence ia this island there have been but two
Captains General who did not secretly cOnnive at
and receive brides for permitting the introduc-
ton of Bozal negroes from Africa. These were
Generals valdes and COncha; aud it is the opinion
OF all classes Of the people here that had
the latter-the wise and high-minded Concha---
been invested with the powers which he in vain
asked for from Madrid-to persecute with vigor
the infracOrs Of the treaties for the suppression
OF the slave trade-nOt a man would have dared to
introduce negro illegally into this island. Your
lOrdshp must bear in mind that the government of
Cuba in all but in matters of slave trade, which is
purposely left open for the convenience Of high
parsonage at Madrid, is that of the most arbitrary
despotitm. A person cannot go from one part Of
the Island to the other without q passport; he may
not go three miles beyond the city without previously
having duly provided himself with the requisite per-
mit-nay, my lord, ne may not move even into the
neigbborDg Commissary! lfsuch sthe law, and that
il l. expected most strictly to be complied wth-and
! will appeal to every foreigner who has ever visited
Cuba us to the truth OF my assertion would ask,
how on earth it can be possible such large gangs,
Numbering upwards of 600 sometimes,) of recent
ly imported negroes can march from one part OF the
iland to another without attracting the attention of
some Of the authorities, who swarm every district,
al who are ever watchful to pounce upon any I'M
wary travellers who may have thoughtlessly ven
tursd into the country and mielaid his permit
The late Prime Minister Of Spain, the Coun
Of Alcoy, made more money by the slave trade
than any OF his predecessors, Gncluding General
O'Donnel) ever did before him. ! do not make
this statement at random it was spoken Of
(throngh his secretary Sandoval,) the money; but /
had my information from still better Ihad
it from the Counts own agent, Mr.. Va, through
when the money was sent TO Europe, some OF
which was invested in the English funds
The income Of the Captain General of Cuba is est
mated at $50 900 per annum. The Count Alcoy was
mot quite two years in Cuba and returned to Spain
worth over half-a- million!
General Lersundi lisa mere puppet of the late Prime
Minister Your lordshp might well say you feel little
disposed to place much faith in Spanish assurances
they are worth now less than they were twenty years
ago, because then they were new, and supposed to
be honestly nteptioned but twenty years experience
eurely ought to have taught the British government
the true value Of the promises which that OF Spain
has always been ready to make and break, whenever
it suits their own cOhvenier' .
The new instructions Wiz it is pretended have
been sent out to Gennl..i Canedo by the govern
ment Of General Ler-~idi do very well to
serve as blind or = hoodwink the Bn-
t,sh Minister at AaG,i and probably an
swer the purpose int I'D. The result here
will be precisely that he reams upon realms
OF the public instructions f'n the subject of slave
trade, which have been 81 ut from Spain to the
Captain General Of Cubs probably long since
burnt as 80 much waste pu while the secret and
really to be acted upon will only be attend led
to, has always been IL &c, aud viii continue to
be, until other measures h Y sorted TO by the Brit
ih government, and Sa.l compelled 10 become
honest
have wandered comfortably, my lord, from
what had originally iIi, aoed to say, in bringing
before your nOLCe CIRCUMSTANCES COuneCU6O WIN
the recent audacious cases OF slave trading, and,
What il yet worse the scandaous and infa-
NOUS connivance Of those whose duty 1t was to
prevent by every means in their power, the land
ing Of the negroes from being effected. 1t may,
however, be not amiss that | should have done
So inasmuch as that | have stated nothing
but what is firmly believed to be the truth.
TO commence, then, with the case Of the 100
slaves landed on Cayo Pridra, (Stone Key,) in the
month Of March last, 800 of which their lordships
nnocentIy supposed had been rescued from the
mieres OF slavery through the exertions Of the Bri
fish Consul to whom they had been delivered up as
emanctrddos!
Nothing could exceed the barc-faced audacity Of
all the circumstances connected with the arrival and
decentralization Of this cargo Stone Key is immc-
distey opposite to the town Of Cardenas, and think
be seen from the windows Of the Governors resi-
dence. The expedition was under the command Of
Antonio Capo. 1t is perfectly true that when he
sailed from Africa there were upwards Of 800 ne
grues Oh board; but the slaves having more than
once tried to take the ship about 200 of them we're