The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-08-10

Letter from a Cuban.
PHILADELPHIA, August S, 1854.
TAs k1snls Of euoa asd Porto Proposition
~ THAR Purchase Character of the C,sok Popu-
hstias- Their Opposition to The Sale of Cuba, and
Dssrs tor its Frsesoss through Reuolution.
IN. BENEFIT
DzAR SIR-As the proposal Of the administration
- buy Cuss and Porto Rico from Spain, for the sum
Of t70e 600 900, meets with considerable favor both
koa the press and people Of the United States, 1
hope that you will permit me to use your columns
Il expressing the feelings OF the Cabanos upon this
subject. The very erroneous opinion prevails in this
sssAhy that the crSsIiOs Of those islands are an
s1ets hybrid race, whose oppostisu or approval Of
annexation would have hnt little weight In the con-
siderahon Of the question. A mistake SO great a.
= which possibly may result In unpleasant conse-
anensss. should stand corrected. The white popu-
haisa Of Cuba viii compare favorably with that Of
~ portion Of the United States. The lack OF enter
psss and business energy is not attributable to the
want u these qualities in the people themseves but
= entirely owing to the tyraDnical restrictions Of
Ne government I have frequently heard that trite
prsvob quoted, Who would be free, themselves
nust strike the biow;n but those who use these
words know but little Of {, Q situation and circum-
saAses Of the taos. Subjected to the punish
q severe penal law II found In the possession Of
CDs-sufered to have no intercourse with each
stAsr but in the most purely innocent, social, or
busbess relati0ns-wstched by the shrewdest con-
ssalsd spies-the bare thought Of conspiracy is har-
bored with fear. The best government is that
Too much government finds aa instance in my ma
tive Island. With all orr tyTannous subjugaton,
honor has not been totally hidden farewell IN that
beautiful gem Of the sea. Disgrace ia dreaded there
IL ffeemen Of the United States suppose that their
American brothers of Cuba can be bought without
nnrnur. like SO many African slaves, they exhibit
nsentsble ignorance Of our nature. TIE blood Of
the ndalgos Of SPAIN in her palny GAYS has not yet
lost hs qnick beat in Cuban veins. We are net such
kDsbo SONS Of illustrious fires. Let the glory
Guba be extiHguisbed, not like the slow waning
sxtinguishsd then BY torrent food Of blood
Y var. II the thirty pieces Of silver" paid
for our possession Is paid either to Cariist,
Ohreainas, Bourbons or socialists, the unhappy
puEoheSer will find his bas gain but . sorry
eLe. His chattel will moreover be troublesome, and
unless We like Dsub0rdinate negroes are chained to
NO aoor Of the csiabo0se, we will not rem Ain Ameri-
eAn citizens. No Cuban with single drop OF honest
Mood his heart could look his brotaer In the face
after the unhoy barter. Our liberty is . sacred
right, withheld BY tyranny. 70 secure that right is
psw eur ain. Your assistance We ask-aye, i'm
plors. Independence would be our ruin. Our fair
tslc would be the plaything of the commercial ma
lions Of the world. BY territorial position, natural
symSeshes, and polite commercial considerations,
We ore nothing but Americans. But we would never
vih an entrance into this brotherhood Of 6tates II
the remaing thirty greet with the eodness which
. bastard meets-or favorite slave. No! we wish
ons star proud preeminence in the brilliant con.
steIasien, Is glorious a. any Of the old original
MEASURE We never will be. do not now speak the
sent nents Of the young but Of old and young, high
and low, rich and p DOR, merchants, planter, and
monteros Of the whole island. Instead Of squander
hg this immense sum Of money-(the interest Of
WITH win be greater by twice than 5pain's ne ne
venue, let the neutrality laws be suspended, 30 that
Ae American people, proverbal for their respectful
mbmistion to their hws-may see with pride the
gallant Quitman with his fifteen thousand volunteers,
sail from these shores on freedoms mission, with
cot pang Of regret that his government Is dsfed
and te regulations violated. Let this be done, and
The history Of Spanish oppression will soon be
ended. Yours, respectfully,
FRANCISCO GOMEZ QUESADA.