The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-04-24


Public curiosity has been greatly excited by the despatch
OF our telegraph correspondent, stating that Spain had
agreed with England to bsrate her slaves; and in the
absence OF tulilef advlees IN regard 10 IT, will pro-
coed 10 state facts that within our knowledge
BY special treaty between Eng land and Spain, made in
The year 1917 the latter bound herself in consideration OF
the loan OF some four millions OF pounds sterling abolish
the African slave trade within her dominions. from and
alter The year 1871 In accordance with this treaty. e
spanish government declared The importation o. negro
slaves from Africa into her dominions illegal Nowih,
standing this treaty and law, the trade was sulf carried
by the Spaniads and slaves continued 10 be imported
IN spanish ships Alter long neso,anon Lngiana 90,
the trade carried on under the Spanish flag piracy,
and by treaty the right OF England TO act as
the trade under the Spanish flag but through the con
nivance OF the Spanish officials in Cuba profitable trai-
fic has since that time been carried under the Poru-
guese and other flags, these powers not having declared
The treaty of 1917 has given rise TO continued eor
on the part OF England TO obtain The emancipation Of all
the slaves imported IN Cuba since 1921 in direct violation
of the treaty and she has also used strenuous exerons
TO Induce the Spanish government TO put stop the
collusion OF her officers in that island with the slave
traders, but only with occasional and partial
About ten or twelve years since, during The regency
EspaTtefo IN Spain, the demands OF the British govern
meni on this point became so imPounae that he con
scented TO entertain them, and series oil queries for
warded 10 The capaingeneral for information the
effect The proposed emancipation would have upon the
interests OF the country.
These queries passed by the captain general 10
the different branches OF the government 10 the municipal
authorities, the Junta de Fomeno (board of improve
ment and 10 several eminent private citizens for replies
These OF the most convincing kind against the
measure. The Count Villanneva. then inlendent OF
the island. plainly told the home government after de-
picRg the results similar measure had produced in Ja-
maca that il il acceded TO the demand Of The British gov
eminent every Cuban would be to leave the coun-
try with his wife, his children, and lis household goods
"if he did not adopt another course which desperation
would dictate" This uDanmity OF opinion stayed the
measure.
The British government have continued to demand the
fulhlmen OF the treaty of 1917. Lord Palmerson, in
October 1851. in letter TO Lord Howden, British minis
ter at Madrid, says:
"Wih reference to the satisfaction expressed by the
Spanish at the orders given to her Majes
cruisers TO prevent any band of adventures of any nation
IRON landing in Cuba to excite or TO fan insurrecton,
have to instruct your ordshp to say 10 the Spanish gov
eminent that the best way which it could make its
acknowledgements for this measure the part of her Ma
jestys government would be by punclualy fulfilling the
treaty engagements Of the Spanish crown against the
save trade, and rgdly enforcing the laws OF Spain
that subject
"During the last fourteen or fifteen years those treaty
engagements have been fagrany violated, and those
laws have been Systematically and VIGOROUSLY broken
through in Cuba and Porto Rico"
The wholesale emancipation has been continually urged
by England. and continually avoided by Spain The
latter country ia not ignorant of the ruin and desoaton
which il would bring TO Cuba and her cupdity and her
policy have combined not only to prevent the emancipa-
ton OF the negroes imported in violation OF the treaty,
but also continue TO encourage that Infamous traffic
which she has by treaty bound herself to abolish Her
cupdity is stimulated by the large the trade brings
to her Golfers, and her policy is carried out in the avowed
declaration that is necessary to increase the numbers
OF the black in Cuba that the whites may easily
be held IN subsection.
lis not necessary for 10 enlarge upon the import
ant consequences that would result from the measure
which 10 said 10 have been consented TO by Spain. We
will merely say that OF the slave population in Cuba
three fouhs have been imported since 1884, have de-
scended from them.