The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-05-17
OUR CARACAS CORRESPONDENCE.


CARACAS April Is, 1854
Liberation of the Slares-Ceremones 7aereupo- of
Congress Passing the Bl-Mirture Of Color and Races
IN Ve',ezuetd-ETea Of the Emancipation Lap upon the
Sldres-Indmnity 10 the Sldreholders-Saldry Tar-Ad
Prohibiting Claims BY Foreigners for Losses Caused
Political among Foreign
Residents Religious Ceremonies Gunpopder Turned
into Nec and advantageous Account-Decline Of {o-
perry in South Amerea-Preralenee Of the SMALLPOX, dc.
j take leave to inform you that the liberation of the
slaves passed of we'll the PRONUNCIATION of the act Of
emancipation by the Governor of Caracas excited much
attention, not however, much from the philanthropy
of the measure from the civic and military procession
in which President Monagas and his Cabinet Ministers
joined. Lthographic cuts stuck up representing
the Congress and group of negroes male and female in
great exuation with one in the foreground in chains
President Monaga stands between the Congress and the
negroes In hand he holds scroll which is writ
ten Liberty, and the other pair Of iron letters
broken asunder The friends Of Monagas pretend that he
has mmoralzed himself by this act and they style him
the second Lberator. But the fact really is that the
introduction Of the did originate with Mona
gas. 1t political movement BY certain members Of
Congress- with the object OF ngraating themselves with
the President, to make the Monaga popular, and hop
ing thereby TO meet their reward. And it has leaked
out that certain leading member received four
The measure introduced and urged through
Congress with the greatest precpitancy, for not
q single member had time to consult his consttu-
ents beyond the province of Caracas but harm
by the emancipation Of the slaves in Venezuela for
than one twentieth part Of the population
white; they mixed population
From lily white TO coal black rose.
They crossed principally by Indian and negro blood
inteImixed with that Of the European Spanard, and
these crossings have been often for three centuries
that it is impossible to tell which species preiomnates
The negro slave will therefore be received into the
masses without any difficulty.
On the Sunday after the PRONUNCIATION of the emlnc
ration act the servants who had been slaves paid no
attention to the pretended boom and not inclined
leave their good and comfortable homes to seek
recaIous living in the streets forsake those fam
lies in which they were born and brought up. They
usual behind their mistresses carrying the
oJtptcos hearth rugs such nsed in the United
States their TO sit knee upon in church,
for the churches in Venezuela have neither pews nor
seats and the ladiesGod bless themhaye their carpets
spread The brick pavement, which they squat ike
Indians or sit cross eggedU beg the ladies' pardon
footed like tailor his board and in this stua
ton they hear mass Anumber OF Monagstes assembled
at the church DOORS crying down with the dfombrds
and abusing the ladies with indecent language and tried
to the desis from their mental employ
in carrying the carpets church. usual for their
misresses and the following Sunday thoce had to be
stationed at the church doors to keep order.
IL will be recoeced that by decree of the 21st July
1921 all children born Of slave mothers from that date
were free but compelled as mdnuueos to serve until
they i years old consequently there slaves
the day Of final emancipation under 80 years Of age
and the TO be indemnied, according to the
tariff established, valuation by law, by which slaves
could purchase their freedom, which is follows
From Is 10 so of $780, IS years SeGo so years
$780, SIS years. $685. GO years $50 GO years s5 beyond
that value. II is not known how many slaves existed
on the day of the manumisson.
tax has been laid on all the salaries, pensions,
missions, &c. OF persons in public employ. Thus the
members Of Congress- receiving $500 for the session.
taxed three per cent the amount they may be
titled TO receive; and the President, receiving $4,000
per annum, Is taxed ten per cent the amount,
81 zoo per year, towards indemniying tho OF
slaves all salaries SO 900 year taxed ten
per cent, under the manumisson act OF the cath Of
March. 1854.
Another most extraordinary act OF the Congress re-
ccivcd the Presidents signature the 9th OF March
II prohibits all claims by foreigners for indemnity Tor
losses occasoned by revolutions, political CONNEXIONS,
from other cause, unless such damages shall be
caused by the legitimate authorities saving the right OF
The injured party to his damages from those who
eau sed them This act says nothing about citizens OF
Venezuela who may meet with similar losses, but ex
pr,ssy applies to foreigners, SO thata revolutionary