New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-08-15
CONDITION OF SLAVES IN CUBA.
F,ou tn, Commercial, Adre,,i.er.

From The Commercial 1drcyfiser
Mr. Gerrit Smith declares that slavery in Cuba the
"crueest ard most brutfyng Of all the types of bondage
This assertion has induced to look into the authorities
on the subject and ascertain what is the general opinion
of those whose studies and personal observations have
qualified them 10 give information In an annual report OF
the American and Foreign AnSlavery Society, of which
we presume Mr.. Smith is member, it is said that Not
wthsandng the conduct of the authorities and people
of Cuba with reference to the Africans slavery there is
some respects, more olerable than in the United
States The laws permit any slave to purchase his free
dem paying price fixed by three persons one APP
"poiDted by the MASTER and two by the magistrate. He
may also, If he peases, compel his master to sell him
"cerain portion Of his time which he may employ to earn
the Of purchasing his entire freedom. Don Mar
ano Toente in his recently published memoir entitled
CSestton sobre la EscIdrtud en- Ia Id de Cuba says:
"There slaves also, who Notwithstanding their hav.
ing than ample capital for the purchase of entire
liberty, prefer state Of correlation, which the master
refuse them their offering at the least $50.
"The portion deposited by the slave deducted from
his value; and his days labor which is the produce of
that capital is prcportionately shortened In such
case the slave cannot be compelled to work at the order
Of his MASTER but is only compelled TO pay him the pro-
"porton Of his earnings due after deductng the capital
he has land which is in the ratio of per day for
"every 500 of his value 70 unpaid. Mr. NJ NJ Balou,
whose work Cuba has just been published In this City
by C. Derby confirms these statements, and adds other
particulars. He says:
According to the Spanish slave code the slave can be
kept at work in Cubs only from sunrise till sunset with
an interval for repose at noon of two hours But this
not regarded in the manufacturing season. which, after
ALL the slaves do not to dread they granted
more privileges at this period and are better fed with
variety Of meats and spices and with other agreea
BILE indugences. The slaves upon the planta
tons in al outward circumstances seem quite thought.
ess and happy; the slave code Of the island which
lstes their government is never widely departed FROM
The obliged TO instruct them oil in the Catho
he faith and they each baptsed they
understand the signi6caton of the ceremony. The law
also provides that the master shall give certain quantity
and variety Of food 10 his slaves but on this slaves
rarely ever have of complaint il is plainly
for the planters interest TO keep them in good
diton There in redeeming feature in Spanish Slave
xh that f fharp try nd
thai is that the laws favor emancipation If slave by
his industry able so accumulate money enough to pay
his rH cost TO his master, however unwilling the planter
may be TO part with him. the law guarantees him his free
dom. This the industrious slave can accomplish fur
thest in seven years with the liberty and convenience
which all are allowed Bach one for instance is permit
ted TO Keep pig and to cultivate small piece of land
for his purposes; by raising corn the land yielding
two crops to the year they can render pig fat enough
and the drovers pay $50 apiece to the slaves for good
There doubtless instances Of cruelty toward the
slaves but the writer is forced TO acknowledge that he
never witnessed single evidence of this during his stay
defend Slavery institution yet he is satisfied that the
practical evils Of IFS operation are vastly overstaed by
ignorant persons
In addition 10 this testimony enabled to make an
interesting extract from unpublished narrative Of twelve
years residence in Cuba by an American merchant who is
living in this City ana who sss US with the
1.-THE laws relating to domestic slavery IN Cuba are very
advantageous TO the slaves. They must be provided with
food and raiment and not overworked all holidays neu-
ding the Sabbath belong them and they mast be bsp
tsed and instructed in the Christian religion Before the
instruction in the Havana, not than twenty-five
lsshee could be given at time. The slaves can choose
their master and they allowed three days x hna
to their liking They also have the privilege OF buy
ing their freedom by piecemea; for instan 20,
negro worth $500 can never be sold for more than
$780, and be adds the his price be reduced
An Officer called the SRdeo annually chosen that
the slaves protected in their rghs and slave can
supmon his master before this official answer any
charge This s Statute that perhaps, other slave
country in the world show. Tie master must take
care OF bis sevent wher sick and bury hn when dead
In The e;tes many slaves arrange with their owners for
her TINE by psyisg monthly stipend, and earn what