The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-08-08
Important Meeting Of the Cuban Slave Trade
Committee.

AT the sitting Of the English House of Commons,
on July 26th, the Slave Trade Committee moved for
tcbairrnan) Sir G. Heathcote, Mr.. Moffat, Sir G.
Pechell, Hon. Mr.. Tollemache, Mr. Raikes Curis,
and other honorable members.
Er. j. LIGGINs, who had recently visited the slave
coast, was examined, and he stated that the slave
trade was generally increasing in Cuba. The profits
OF tie smaller sugar estates amounted TO twenty-five
per cent, and Of the larger TO forty-i per cent.
The rum and molasses paid the cost OF production,
and the sugar was clear profit. The Governor of Ma
t.lnzas received two douhloons per head, and the
deputy governor one and q half, Cor guinea and a
half for every slave that was introduced there.
The Creoes rs well az the Spaniards were engaged
in the slave trade. The authorities were also en-.
gagged in it. There was no natural increase
in the population. The slaves, who cost f15
each, worked from eighteen to twenty hours
day in the crop time, and they also worked on the
Sundays. The crop time extended from January TO
August. The governor and his deputy were paid
by the slave traders, who carried on the traffic In
spite Of the British cruizers. The stdce trade tds
conhred at ty The authorities, and he belicred carried
on bg then. Sometimes the slaves worked all night.
planter told him that slavery was not state Of ex
stence that secured the greatest amount OF human
happiness, but he endeavored TO make his slaves as
happy as he could so long did not interfere with
the general system The present prosperity OF Cuba
arose from the increase Of the cultivation OF sugar
and It's shipment to Great Britain and elsewhere the
mentati on Of labor through the medium of the slave
trade. As much as 100000 was invested on
some estates. There acaS great deal Of american
cGpfGt in Cuba, and strong fnieyieon fetiHg;
and planter told him that Citba ,road no doubt,
SoCa became altogether american. Arrangements
when he was there he understood were making for
importing some hundreds of thousands Of Chinese
into the island, which might possibly diminish sla
very. The increase OF the slave trade in Cuba since
1886, was to be attributed to the change that took
place in the policy OF this country with reference to
tie sugar duties, but so highly did the Cubsn plant
ers value their admission 10 the markets OF this coun-
try that he believed if the abandonment OF the slave
trade 10 be made the condition Of THEN continued
admission they would at once make the sacrifice.
hr. JAMES KENNEDY, for ten years Commissioner
at the Havana and member of the Court OF Com
mission, said--It was the Spanish who were chiefly
engaged in the slave trade but one Forcat, Il
Freedman, was o1e Of its most active promoters.
The increase that had taken place in the slave trade
was attributable, IN great measure, to the opening
OF the English markets to slayegrown sugar II
rested with the captairs.geneTal TO suppress the
slave trade II permitted by the Spanish government.
These captains general, however, were interested in
a contrary direction The salary of captain general
appointed by the Spanish crown was IS 900 ye9r,
but the profits they made in the shape OF doubloons
or head money amounted to many thousands more
and captain general had retired after four years
with fortune of el00 600. The Spanish govern
uent had continually violated its treaties with this
county, and the English government knew it. As
far as the commission Of atrocities on the slaves was
concerned, there was nothing so atrocios but he
was prepared TO believe it, and as general rule the
slaves were very severely treated. The slave trade
might be entirely suppressed If the Spanish govern
mont could be induced TO send an honest captan.
general cut with that intention, AID this would do
for mole towards is abolition than declarations
treating slave trade az piracy, OF British cruisers
the nigh seas.