The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1854-02-24
Cuba.

1t will be recollected that some months ago there
was considerable interest taken in a statement
made IL the New York Herald that England had
acquired great a control in the affairs of Cuba,
as to induce Spain TO modify lis slave system in
that Island that those changes looked 10 spe-
cifc abolition OF the system within fifty years.
Nothing definite given in proof OF the state
men; and the public incredulity was confirmed
by letter written by Lord Howden TO Il Vlr
ginia gentleman, wherein these imputed designs
on the part of Great Britain positively
denied
Almost every late arrival from Havana, how
ever, has brought US news that a change IN rela-
| ton to The slave population is on foot, OF such
nature, too, as to show that some fundamental and
revolutionary policy is entertained by SPAN, we
have hardly doubt o. the fact, and the latest &C
counts received at New Orleans by the steamer
| Georgia to prove it. The papers of that
city contain letters with specific information
the matter. The Picayune thus aludes TO it
''There hardly any disguise Of the intention
Of the Government to introduce a system for the
Ultimate abolition OF slavery, and that this shall
be effected as speedily possible. We are
moreover, in possession of another fact, not yet
announced in Cuba, published IN this couE-
try, which marks the actual commencement of a
policy Of emancipation. The fact is alluded to
in our correspondents letter something to be
referred to hereafter We have the Information
from another source on which we rely implicitly,
and 1t is, indeed, startling intelligence.
The information is, that the Captain General
is about to issue decree that all slaves hired out
in the island shall be required to pay their mas
ters on y eight dollars per month, and that the
surplus shall go to fund for the liberation of the
slave 1t is to be further decreed that slave
shall be valued in such cases, a! more than five
hundred dollars.
ITO understand all the bearings Of this decree,
+ Io tbot IN 4 MI aclou bov
the right TO hire themselves out, paying to their !
masters price prescribed by law. The price is l 0 .
cents per day on every hundred dollars valuation. I
Thus, a slave worth five hundred dollars could /
hire his own time, paying his owner fifty cents
day, or about Is dollars month. A negro Of
higher qualities, cooper, for example, might be
valued at eight hundred dollars to one thousand
dollars, and pay his owner from twentv.four TO
thirty dollars month.
1.-The operation OF the decree will be TO fix
right dollars per day the maximum which the
master shall receive for the hire Of his slaves,
and to make the surplus earnings ii fund for The
liberation OF the slave al a fixed rate. The mea-
sure has particular reference to en1aacipadOeS
entitled to their liberty under the treaty sripua-
lions with England, to the bozal or native AfrI-
cans brought in violation OF law, but covers the
whole slave population Of the island-for every {
slave can take advantage OF it, and recent events
show that active CmlssnrIes at work among the
slaves prompting and guiding the abolitlonist ;
Measures
What wonder is It that there should be great {
excitement and alarm among the white inhabitants
If the island, and who would be surprised to hear
hat they have resolved to make some desperate
Efforts to stop The flood of disasters with which c
mad philanthropy, working upon temper of fe- a
ocious preparedness, is threatening 10 over It
yhelm lhem?' r