The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-06-28


ON THE 22D OF MARCH, 1854, 4
RESPECTING
SLAVERY IN THE ISLAND OF CUBA,
MINIsTER AT MADRID, TRANsMIrTrsa COPIES or
THE DECRE8S SIGNED BY THE QUEEN OF SPAIN
ON THB I'D MARCH, 1854, PROVIDING FOR THE
RssrsIoTroN OF SLAVE LABOR TO AGRICULTURAL
PURPOSES, THE PROTECTION OF PREE LAB0RERs,
AND THE RnGIsTRArI0N or SLAVES, In THE
ISLAND or CUBA.
Lord Ho,cden to the Earl of Clarendon.
(Extract) MADRID, April Is, 1854.
have The honor to transmit to your lordship by
this messenger copy and translation of . most i'm
portant document relating to slavery in the Island
OF Cuba which was published in the Gasste Of this
The chief points are the following:-
determination, publicly expressed, to put down
the aave trade, and to keep faith with Great
Britain
An eDdeavor to force the whole slave population
of the island into works of agriculture establishing
high taxes on those retained for household pur-
poses.
The organization of system of coloniza alton for
9paniards. Yucatenese, and Chinese, defining their
obligations and rights
And finally, the compulsory registering Of all the
slaves in the island at this moment, 80 that any
hereafter unregistered, and who does not carry on
him copy OF the register, will be considered as
unduly introduced, and declared ipso facto free.
Your lordship VIII see at once two things-the
T.ed out and the great difficulty to which It will
give rise at the moment Of registering with regard
to negroes who will be claimed as legal property,
and who yet have been fraudulently introduced
since the conclusion of treaties with Spain.
(TRANsLATIoN.)
Exposition to Her Majesty.
SENoRA-One of the most urgent necessities which
al present presses upon the Island of Cuba is the
~ lohn 1furo Ia
by it; its effects begin to be noticed in commercial
transactions and, fit be not OPPORTUNITY remedied
the rich treasures which that fertile island contains
will soon be diminished, If not exhausted. The
government have carefully studied the causes Of the
evil, and. in order to remove them, they offer to
your Majesty system Of measures which they con-
slider eficacious, If, as is to be expected there be-
on the part of the local authorities zeal and per-
severance in carrying them into execution.
It is not hidden from the high penetration of your
Majesty. that the origin of the scarcity which is de-
plored lies partly in the existence aud necessity Of
slavery. and partly in the treaties in force for the
suppression Of the slave trade. The Antilles seem
condemned by Providence not to give proofs of their
fertility unless with the aid Of that institution and
results hence for the Island Of Cuba social and
economical situation, which, although exceptional
and anomalous 1t is necessary to maintain, with all
its inconvenience because there would arise rom
nations greater detriments for the State, and even
for the very race disinhented of civil liberty.
From the necessity of maintaining slavery in
those regions was naturally inferred the advantage
OF permitting in certain cases. the introduction Of
new slaves; but as the international treaties and
the Spanish laws prohibit and punish it with rigor
this efficient means Of preservation has been want
ing TO slavery, while the Development and encour
agement of agriculture have rendered it every day
more necessary. Whatever may be, nevertheless,
the qualification which these treaties merit, the
government ought to fulfil them as the honor and
dignity of the nation require, considering that
though they be in part the OF the injury which
is amented at this moment, it is not in the power
of the government to remove it, nor would it be
morally possible to abolish slavery.
Leaving out of view, therefore, as irremedable,
these two primary and fundamental causes of the
actual scarcity, the government have maturely ex-
anined the immediate causes, and believe they have
l. In the practice Of dedicating to domestic ser.
vice and other occupations, in which the labor of
whites and free men might be employed the slaves
ments in which he Labor Of natives and Europeans
cannot compete with that of the Africans.
2. In the proprieton not having taken care, 80
much as they ought to have done, of the reproduc-
ton of the slave race, with the hope that the clan
destine production Of Bozal negroes would supply
their neglect
8. In the scarcity of white laborers and artizans
capable of defeating themselves to q multitude of
mechanical offices, for which the negroes are unne
cessary.
(. In the right Of property over the legitimate
slaves not possessing the indispensable guarantees
l
the understanding and application Of the treaties in
force for the suppression Of the slave trade daily
hsiSing with powerful nation.
Nh. slaves who now exist in the Island Of Cuba
,vcrla ms-e for all the wants Of agriculture, not.
ithstandine tn. losses which they have experienced
nv recent diseases, L considerable number Of them
had not been destined In to,-~ns to services which
free laborers could perform as well OF 0esser Inis
circumstance makes evident the advantage or TO.
moving the slave population from the cities and
towns and defeating 1t in the country to the occu-
pstons Of agriculture. In order to eject this your
Majesty decIeed in 1874, the imposition OF capita
ton tax upon the slaves destined for domestic
service; but this measure has not produced the
desired effect, first, because all the slaves who
dedicate themselves TO occupations IN which Tree
men might be employed, being excluded from the
tax, its Influence is limited to very reduced num-
Der of PERSONS and precisely to those who, from the
nature of their occupations, it must be most dimcult
to attract towards agriculture; and, secondly be-
cause the cspitation not exceeding dollar, OF 2
little more for each person, it has not been sum-
cient stimulus for the Cubans to abandon the In
veterate custom of having themselves served by
slaves. ;.
In order to attain the desired end, therefore, it
will be necessary to extend the tax to all the slaves
who are not habitually employed in agriculture;
that is to those who have not their permanent resi-
dence in the estates or rural establishments and to
increase the said tax gradually In proportion 70 the
wealth of each proprietor adopting, as the measure
thereof, the number Of slaves whom he has In his
service and fixing, nevertheless, prudent limit to
the proportional increase, In order not 10 conound
the caprices Of luxury with the true wants OF in
dustry.
Your Majesty may still offer another more efica-
eious stimulant TO the propnetos of slaves. There
is now paid the sale Of them duty of alcabala,
which consists Of six per cent Of the stipulated
prioe. Exempt from this duty the slaves who are
Eod or transferred for service in the agricultural
Estates or establishments, and exact double from
those who having their residences in the said estab
3shments may be transferred for service in the
towns and no industry will obtain with more abund-
ance and advantage than agriculture the labor
necessary for its preservation and encouragement.
If these measures shall not suffice to attract the
slave population towards the fields, 1t would be
difficult to adopt other indirect means which
should promise better results. But even
though agriculture and industry should
80 on increasing and developing them
elves in the Island Of Cuba in the same proportion
fbo holi nauarfhnlaaa