New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1854-05-09
Later from Havana.
MANIFEsro or WIN cApTA1N GENERAL.

4 a4
By the arrival of the steamship Crescent City
yesterday we have received dates from Havana
10 the 4th instant. The Official Gazette contains
\ by authority the following important document
It is q duty of those who govern, upon the
occurrence of important facts, to address them
selves to the governed in order to quiet their
| minds and to explain to them with clearness and
| frankness all that which spread abroad in
| different manner and falsely commented OF might
alarm them and seriously affect their interests
am bound, therefore, at present,sto contra
dict in the most solemn manner in the name of
our Queen whose authority | represent in this
great dependency of her monarchy, the report
maliciously spread of a pretended compact with
a powerful nation, of which compact, the eman-
| cipation of the slaves after term longer or
shorter is to be the recompense of their effective
aid for the preservation Of Cuba under the
banner which discovered it, peopled IT, and
maintained it,at large expense. for a long term of
years. 9w as
Although the aid of q powerful nation might
be, and will be useful to in case, as is not to
be expected, that we should be compelled to
repel the unjust attempt of another, which all
the while has still higher obligations to respect
our alliance, contracted in the cradle of its own
freedom, yet we would not purchase even that
aid at such cost, nor, besides, is it at all in
| dispsnsable for sustaining our rights These
are backed by a stout squadron and q disci-
plined army, with the loyalty of an immense
| majority Of the vigorous natives, before all Of
| which the babling and shameful war of letters
| and of lies that only serve the purposes of
hundred or two of corrupt rebels, are merely
| contemplate, and yet more contemplate before
| the justice of our cause and the strength which
the defense of one-half of ones law and of ones
God, bestows-of God who has fixed here hurri-
! canes and fevers for foreign enemies, and has
given as much courage to our hearts as there
| would be suffering to our bodies under such an
| invasion.
| The detestable fable is then false in every par
| ticular, offensive to our honor and to our repu-
tation, and as much opposed as possible to the
| feelings OF the Queen; and now repel it in her
/ august name, as an attack upon the prosperity
of this soil, and as q thing which neither now
nor ever will be accomplished so long as Provi-
dence has not extinguished in all Spanish
breasts the sacred sentiments of justice and
respect for property legitmately acquired
But just as this is, and although the Govern
ment never departs from it so long as it shall
fulfill it's duties, yet the people of Cuba have
other duties not less sacred to perform in obedi-
ence to the laws. 1t is not less necessary to
render the life of the Creole slave happier than
that of the white who, under different name,
tolls in Europe. And above all, the time has
arrived when we must terminate that infamous
African trade, the food of the most barbarous
X
in the country which permits it, stigma upon
the forehead Of every white man that is con-
cerned in it, and an everlasting dishonor to
human kind itself
The Government is determined to put an end
to it at whatever cost, There shall be no sub
terfuge, no deceit, which shall stop it in this
track indispensable to its dignity. What pre-
text can there be for any longer keeping up this
shameful traffic Not the need of laburers,
when the Government has adopted measures for
supplying them in abundance; not the quality
of the laborers, since all sides we are receiv.
ing reports from the most respectable men Of the
industry and docilty of the new colouists But
admitting even that they are no better, and
that all the difference lies in the different judg
! ment which men form of them, according t
. their Individual greatness Of gain, there is nc
q longer any reason nor any motive but that O.
vile interest; that interest not being that Of
the proprietors who cultivate the earth, but o.
: the ayaricious traffickers who must make Their
profits, though they should tear them from the
: flesh of their fellow men. The proprietors them
selves will exchange their present gains, unsaf,
though quick for others less speedy but NOR,
solid and lasting, which will pass to theil
t children and grandchildren without sinking
, away, as at present, in single generation, AMI
they will in this manner consolidate and con
ciliate true riches with religion, with laws, witt
manners, with happiness, public and private, il
place Of the present artificial fortunes and tn,
. perpetual alarm and want of confidence whiel
surround them. lit is only the traffickers VIII,
cannot change for anything else the monstrou
usury of their profits, and for this reason thei
hearts can find nothing to substitute. and thei
imagination everything to invent in favor 0
! these pretended advantages. What matters +
them faith, law, the honor of their Government
, Ii is that Government then, that must oecup,
itself with those cases. We do not speak of tn
smuggling of slaves, since this is now the con
slant effort of him who commands but the spec
tacle of the impotence of the Government, OF tn
moekery which ayariee and crime make of it anC
the impunity of few capitalists who prefel
| their own interests to the national honor 81
shamefully compromised, cannot last.
Considering meanwhile that circumstances
; have changed since the decree for the admission
Of apprentices, and that tits impossible to main
tain the spirit and the force which have hereto.
fore been given to the ninth article of the penal
law of the 4th of March, 1886, / have orderee
that without prejudice to still higher measures
for which await the appreciation of Her Ma
f Jesty, the following articles shall be observed
a from the LIST of August next, and / make then
public by proclamation for the information o
all, and forward them to the authorities anC
justices Of the island for their due observance
ID Art. l. For one complete month after Their
shall have been landing of slaves, the authori
ties shall be empowered TO examine the planta
OF tions Of whatever class that may be liable t.
i, suspicion, and may take lists Of the slaves ant
revisit these as may be found necessary Al