New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-05-06
REGISTRATION OF SLAVES IN CUBA
80 the Correspondence OF The London Times.
MAnEIn. SA,nrdnX. Anrl -. u

REGISTRATION OF SLAVES IN CUBA.
49, the coTe,.oads.ec q The London IipS, ,s,,
find be- the opinion Of persons long resident IN tho
Havana and couy,rsani with lis affairs, tina, the DEGREES
published IN Tuesday Gg-ee arehkely 10 DE hSy o'ne
fetal 10 the colony, and gave great satisfaction 10 we IN
haban,s. l, is usual m Spain to see measures MAJ
might be ad ambiguous in their results utterly frustrated
by the negg enCo corruption oil hoSe charSo W car
ryip, hem out nai is apt io receive adj such with
IRENE msrust and 70 reserve approval until II Is seen how
they work.
jn OF these those who desire 70 behold the slave
trade comp ecly aboiShods that which cno'ns astrct
REGISTRATION of slaves n certain and easy means OF pro-
venting the Introduction oi African negoes. II Is inds
pensabo saws NJ Sar,orus IN his preliminary summary
exposition Of the measures lad before the Yuecn for
signature 10 terminate 10y oticacous means the eternal
question of the slave trade The Government; u resolved
- enlorce the observation at the solemn treaties made
with England.
Ii is necessary to put an end to the complaints aud remon
srunces Of ;ho tOvomlnou: 81 GrCa; Britain which, IN
virtue of the ri- given 10 i. by treaties closely watches
the obs ryunco oi these and that end will no; he oh
tair,d without radically cNtinsuisling the slave trade
The minister then proceeds ia explain ia" means by which
ho proposes obtain this most desirable result Regis
ers ac to be opened IN the ch"i owns o me Nar"u. pro-
vincCs Governments ot the Island of Cuba. Aior n
certain period amply sufficient tn permit slaycowners To
have their Slaves inscribed the registers VII be closed,
and ti,ncotorwari all blacks who are not sc' down in
them viii be- considered a. fee men, to whom none can lay
claim.
This arrangement will limit slavery To those slaves
tuay the colony and 20 their descendants. II IL hardly
necessary o explain the Ia which the law viii work.
If NEGROES are landed from Africa they viii be- unsuitable,
except at very low prices because their purchasers will be
exposed 70 oso them the srst time they met without
copy their OF registration sort OF passport giving
ull Scrpti"n at the b,atof hs appearance, personal
marks and all other matter concerning him. duly r'sef by
the authorities and which every slave VIII be bound to
carry with him.
Al present newly imported slaves when distributed
in the plantation worn as much as those born on tho
island because the Spanish law does not permit search Tor
the purpose of Distinguishing them the effect o regisra-
ton vii be greatly lessen their value, II not 10 render
Them nnselnhlc and thus To- remove the bait which
and infamous traffic in human flesh aud blood.
That portion of the laws just promulgated OF when
have giN outline cannot fail to attract considerable
ateiion ia England a straightforward blow aimed at
the remnant of the degrading trade which Great britain
has made such immense sacrifices Ia abolish lhc crchit
Of the scheme is due to the late President OF the Council
General eIsuudi and in small degree Ia the incessant
oxoous and representations OF our embassy mere u-
dersond that General iesund some short time before he
resigned power showed his sketch of the DEGREES to Mr..
Otway then Charge dAnircs in Lord iowden absence,
and asked his opinion rs to its beng satisfactory and ei'
caciois manner.
The Generals scheme was complete and compre-
hensiyo than the present one and Mr. Otway be,
liee did not hesitne to express ms opinion that would
be n very great step, II not final one toward the desired
object aud urged the immediate publication Of the DEGREES.
There were still. however, some forInatns 10 be gone
through the Coso de ultrannr was to be consuitod aud
before all could be arranged General Lersundi suddenly
relqa.hed office The project has since reposed IN tho
emerged somewhat cualcd OF is fair proportions, but
still very valuable, it, rs before observed it De properly
enforced and cauiodout.
The substance Of these DEGREES which are of very great
length and divided into chapters each consisting of numer
articles may be summed up under four heads Their
objects
l. BY rearrangemon, of the poltax upon slaves, ~
discourage their domestic ants and 50 to leave
hands for labor in the fields. From habit or ostenta
ton has become common in Havana Ia an immense
number OF negroes dlmg about houses where there Ia little
nothing for them do, while fertile tracts of land arc
left waste for Of hands told of instances where
If slaves kept for purposes Of nero show or
luxury although the agriculture Of the colony has the ut
need of their services. by taxing these household
rcancfs ascending ratio according 10 their numbers,
expected that their owners will be induced to send
them TO tho plantations, and supply their places by .hts
servants.
Connected with this system of taxation of pre-
mum end exemptions, intended 20 encourage marriages
of ase IN order that by increased propagation the
sntion Of imports from Africa may be, in measure,
compensated This will DO les in accordance with views
nnd wishes 0 the rigid opponents Of err than the other
psrt, Of The DEGREES but must be borne in mind how
great gam Il is do away with the horrors oi the voyage
rom Africa, and elso that negro born and brought up
Ne sill ho far less sensitive to bis position than one torn
from freedom and his native country. Moreover, with ths
part Of the enactment connected regulations tending TO
encourage humanity TO the slaves and 70 render their good
treatment profitable 10 their One Of the premiums
(which paid by the potax is 10 be allotted 10 that
proprietor e slaves who possessing me largest number
bhs bad PROFESSIONALLY the e"est deaths among them IN
the cOurse 81 the year.
g. yery long decree contains regulations for the
yeyancc aymont, good treatment and security IN all re-
peci- ~ abcrers and seryans whose introduction into
be colony from the mother country China and fucatan,
he Government desires 70 encourage have not space
ana the various chapters Of this decree; but APP
pees To- offer good guarantees for the liberty free agency
and protection If lie persons who ha be induced To eni-
crate 20 Cuba with view to SEEK employment.
Under this head the regulations, conpri-ed IN
ffyx articles, for tho registration OF the slaves Oi
thee have already explained the object. Some OF the
articles worth citing. BY article I, the slayeOwner
who a register larger number Of slaves than he actual
~ pos-e.,e- l. iableto fire Of from 500 800 for every
negro he thus falsely declares Any slave who is found
without he schedule or certificate 10 be arrested
ruLaway and h.s owner informed Of his apprehension. II
within hiry days the dOcnen: in question Is no, form
coming. he rnSe il AZ liberty end receives levs vi
freedom from the authorize. ILL
The registers 10 be kept by persons app1in"r, -
royal order upon the recommendation Of the captain. 81,
erai 81 Cuba. Upon appointment they 20 mss 49,, .,
Faithfully 20 fulfill the duties Of their office, an
give security for their doing in money o: "
They subject to heavy fines ior any fa"is " 4
ties they may commit slave VINO ~ III - mus
left gsered obtains his freedom, ost llo nj II =,
poy bis value to his owner H. short the reg
ire 10 he REGISTRAR are abundantly rigorous ana stringent
aid appear to preclude the possibility o eo'S'N ~ "'
r practices. .s., ., ,ho.o .oo,s;n,
Nevertheless il will AZ once be eviden 20 NOSE ee41ah.
al v;, ,I Al corrup,iOn ii Spanish officials that
ba 49, A. NOT ,raduea the effect aimed as, the htc
will h. 6ound here The registrars should be scrupuousl
chosen or nrohity should be made matter oi rd nyei
,a and heir remuneration should be sufficiently ~
a erI 20 Iace them above ordinary temptations. oiherwls
the drres will have been gfen IN vain and the siaV
j., trade In Cuba may still be Tar from its abolition.
. Tic closing articles Of the decree order the Captain
Cereral OF Cuba to put them into immediate execution
a professionally appointing regstrs and fixing the ano
e Of security they give AMI reporting progress TO u
home Government.
ps ITALY.