Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1854-04-12
Slavery I'm CuSa.


Slavery In Cuba.
correspondent Of the New York Times writing
from Havana gives ali interesting and detailed dcscrip
ton Of the condition of tho slaves in Cuba which so
nearly corresponds in many respects, with the con-
ditonof the negro population in the Southern States
that we transfer portion oihis article to urcoumns.
1t will be observed at the writer to Cuba with
his head full Of absurd notions and ridiculous stories
about the horrors Of slaverysuch industrious
y and systematically propagated for the sake of aga
ton and effect merely by the Abolitionists and de-
signing men Of the North-and such rs are eagerly
laid hold Of and made the foundation for startling
mances like that Of the notorious Mrs. Stowe. But
like all intelligent and liberal men who exlmne the
practical working OF the institution Of slavery for
themselves, he was unable-and manifests no little
surprise thereat-to find any evidence whatever of
the monstrous crueltes of which he had read and
heard SO much Instead Of the slaves being treated
with cruel fortunes unnecessary rigor as he had
always been led to believe, he found them in con.
tented and prosperous condition comfortably clad
abundanty fed, to all appearances exceedingly hap.
py and not even worked hard as n free maid" in
the houses Of the middle classes in England. Such
being the actual and unexpected result Of his obser
vatons he does not hesitate to it as his conyc-
ton that no greater injury could be inflicted upon the
slaves OF Cuba than to them free without restraint
at the present time and in their present condition.
He states, Also that his experience in other West In
da Islands has convinced him that TO set the negro
free, without education and previous training, is not
only to do him moral wrong and temporal injury.
but is also the certain method to spread blight and
desolaton where before all was thriving Industry,
prosperity, and happiness.
If Northern men would give up their vicious senti-
mentallsm, quit their idle romancing, abandon the
despicable game ofagtaon and extend their obscrya-
tons to the practical operations and effects of domes
tic slavery it exists in the Southern States of the
Union, they would have no less cause of surprise and
gratulation-thcy would probably be most astonshed
at their own stupid ignorance concerning a matte
about which they in the habit of pratnp with
such untiring voubility. They would find that the
horrible and hear-rendering "crueltes," with touch
ing descriptions of which their ears have been so fire.
quently RECALLED, have foundation in fact-that
they exist entirely in the corrupt and over-heaed i'm
aginations OF their narrators who arc usually death
bent on agitation in FORM either as a means OF
procuring notorety making money. Southern
slaves they would discover to be contented and han
Ply, enjoying all the necessaries and comforts of life
and, sometimes, its luxuries. And all these too in
an infinitely higher degree than can be said of
the great mass of the free laborng population in Eu
rope, or even in the Northern states themselves
And their conclusions, after due observation AMONGST
Us, would necessarily be that the freedom they cove
ior southern slaves, instead Of being the blessing
they ignoranty conjecture, would be the saddcst and
heaviest curse that could possibly bcfal them.
The following is the extract from the Times cor
respondent to which we have alluded:
u came to the Island fully impressed with belief dc.
all that had and read upon the subject Of Cuban
slavery was the most cruel Of all the
were treated with less regard their welfare than
the dogs in the kennel of an English iox.bunter came
mere win all my impressions nctured with the notions
that commgpg for series Of years persons of Ami
Slavery opinions would be apt to cngender I'm, cam.
determinedto judge mpartay and decide alone upon
such evidence as my senses should afford me-
~ found the domestic slaves in this CITY resn,ctav
cad fed in most instances aounoanty from the tables O,
their masters bearing evidence good treatment in the
agpy GoGnenances; the females not worked bard as
Tree English 'maid" is in the house OF the mtdle
as'es as they are termed, in England AS to the male.
found them as well clothed well fed md with oa
labor 10 perform any men servants in The void I
iound their children pctted playing with the children of
their masters, as happy and joyous and NAV add
saucy set OF youngsters have seen in ay mart Of
.ne word; Inc thought then occurred to me- Can this
be the Cuban Slavery OF whose "errors" had heard
so muchS Where the whips v here the mannccs
where the cruetes practiced which had read of and
neatd described IN such glowing language? They exist
not IN hs city the only thing in the shape of cruelty
could find and sought after it in the Havana WAS Inc
working the conycts, Of all coors in the stres,s TN
nedvlly chained IN many instances, to permit them
10 labor with that free requisite TO the perCormanc.
OF their work effectively but then remembered II was
their crimes that had brought these unfortunate.
es their cruel punishment 1t then occurred To me st
possibly ma some oil the evils aud cruees which had
expected TO find connected with Slavery by going into
the country aud visiting sugar eState.
u accordingly made the requisite arraurement, md
visited various sugar estates near Matanzls was
time on all OF them when from the necessity of manu-
featuring the cane juice into sugar fast M IL COMES from
the MILL and other peculiaries connected with smear
hufacure with which am not conversant IL was reoui
ste the labor, in the boiling house least should be IN
cessant night aud day, without intermiss on Rn, tho
aborers as well those engaged in the 9th
or aoors OF the estates, were divided Into gangs" or
spells, (ike the watches" board chip which t.liey
cd each other at stated intervals They bnppv
anu contented There was none of that slavish fear er
hloeu mat had expected TO witness the presence of
tber master neither did perceive any OF that hurry or
hustle when any of the was directed 10 perorm
among free laborers.
u saw their regular allowances OF food served M, IN
thick soup composed Of jetkod beef plantsins
spinach, ana other vegetables; aud although this com
pound might not have been agreeable my vtated pa
late, yet these slaves appeared to relish Il amazingly
That they bad enough of IT, aud 1t apreed with
hcn, inc Heekness OF their skins and their GENERAL an
Pearsnce bore sufficient evidence visited their buts
ana ound 10 them many Of the necessaries of comfort IN
Tue negro lie, and an abundance Of those awdry nerie
70 which they partial found attached m ,,, -,
the nuts sly containing fine thriving "gruntet:n and
thefo we're also an abundance Of fowls besides which
saw very macy patches Of tobacco, the property of The
inqnrng, What time have these poor slaves II, cnv,
tobacco, or to attend to their pig aud pouryfr will
ispy 70 inc question Out OF crop time" say for at
middle OF the day the slaves perform no Labor for tb.i,
maseFs beside which, at the busiest season of the
Few minutes before aud many after the hours of labor
slowed f''''' W "e "o-
have seen the children Of the slaves have watched
the young barbirans all at play" aud b,opie erre,
groups defy the world to produce" '''
non-trous Proposition.
We notice in the Kanlwha RepuJttan nm ar,icI,