Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1856-01-10


year since, will be pleased to see them continued
On account of the critical state of affairs IN the
Island during our stay-the extreme danger
with which free discussion was fraught-and
the lack of reliable postal arrangements-our
letters were irregular in their arrival, and could
not contain that amount of information that
they would have done had we no fear OF spies
and the GGrrote. Therefore, it was deemed best
to delay their publication until more safe op-
portunity could be had to revise them.
Cuba Correspondence of the Freeman.
Queen of the Antilles.
INHEIGSIo DE AGUIcA, 1855.
Before US lies the Diaro HQbdnero, containing
the confession of Pinto, who is accused OF con-
spring to murder Concha, the Governor-Gen-
eral, and to free the Island from Spain. This
man, Creole by birth, is nearly seventy years
old, and has been personal friend Of the Gov
ernor General, as was the unfortunate Lopez,
for many years, and the night previous to his
arrest accompanied the Governor-General and
his family TO the theatre. An American gentle
man, resident of the Island, has just informed
me that the confession is false-being man
ufactured by the officials to quell the excitement
and prevent attempts to rescue the unfortunate
man nor do the people believe that he has
made any confession whatever, or that he is
guilty of the crime; but that the real cause of
the execution is to prevent difficulty to the Gov
ernor- General, whose correspondence while in
Spain, after he was recalled, and before being
re-appointed to the Governorship of the Island,
was such as to render his standing critical if
made public. This correspondence was secret
with Pinto. Every means has been resorted to
by Concha to extort it from him, without sue
cesss-and the only cxpedicnt is to execute him
to prevent his testimony. The letters written to
Pinto, who was a resident of the Island, while
Concha was in Spain, in relation to the expected
revolutio of September, 1854, contain some
important information, and these have been So
erected with Pintos friends, and are the ones
Concha is so much interested in obtaining.
Concha was member of the Revolutionary
party, and wrote to Pinto as follows: {" If we
are successful, all will be well :" that is, that
he should be re-appOinted Governor if not,
| will join you in the Island, there proclaim the
Constitution of 1887, and fight for it," But
the result is known. While Pinto was making
preparation for liberating the Island, the reyo-
luton was successful and Concha was returned
to the Island without, however, satisfying the
ambition of Pinto, who is no doubt guilty of
plotting for the overthrow of the Spanish rule,
and the establishment of his country's indepen.
dence. While the friends of Liberty arc using
their utmost efforts to get his release, the Island
is so full Of soldiers and the harbors of men-of
war, that there will be little beside strong ex-
elements
But the end is not yet. While the Creoes
have no sympathy with Fillibusters, they are
gradually ripcning to successful effort to estab-
fish an Independent Government, with republ
can institutions that will shame that of the
States; for, although the Administration may
entertain different views, it is true that blood
will flow as freely to prevent an annexation to
the States as to rend the yoke of Spain. While
we have deep interest for the welfare Of our
native land, her progress and enterprise, we hail
with joy the prospect of a republican govern
ment on her border, which, from its birth, will
date the era of a government further south
where free labor shall take the place of Slavery.
Such must be the result of the independence of
Cuba
While slaves are worth from ten to twenty
hundred dollars in the States, they are here
worth but five hundred for females and six hun
dred for males. While in the States they are
bound for life, hundred are purchasing their
freedom yearly in Cuba No slave in the Island
is without the means of purchasing his freedom
How is it with the free, republican institutions
Of the United States! Slaves hore can keep two
pigs, which cost but one dollar-uno pesos-in
the spring, and sell for seventeen or twenty in
the fall-the money required to purchase them
can be earned by laboring holidays, or their ad
mnistrator will lend it to them and sufficient
time Is allowed each slave to cultivate piece Of
ground, and to gather the food for his pigs,
which grows in any abundance in the Island
After they get their freedom, they can labor on
the same plantation, as thousands are now do
ing, for eight dollars month. and be boarded
and clothed, or go to other places as they please
and can then purchase their wives, children
or assist their friends Not unfreqeuntly they
succeed to an ovcrseer's place, over part of the
laborers, or purchase a piece of land and live at
their pleasure. 1t is ascertained that one-hal
the colored population are free negroes, living
in manner most agreeable to themselves.
Slave labor is not the only labor employed on
the Estates, but free blacks and coolies, who
each receive eight dollars per month, and fur
nished. They do more work, are more faithful,
and never feel the whip. Slaves, free blacks and
coolies ore employed in the cane fields, on the
coffee estates, or about the sugar-house, side by
side, and no effort whatever is made to prevent
their gaining their freedom, but on the contrary
every means is taken to nstill into their minds q
love Of liberty and industrious habits. Could
free labor be obtained sufficient to carry ON the
Estates, not slave would be found upon the
Island. 70 such preponderence has free labor
arrived that Government employ agents and YES
rels in great numbers to make arrangements will
and bring coolies from India.
Tobacco, the vegetables and fruits arc princ
pally the produce OF the coolies, free blacks ant
creoles who reside in the billy portion of thu
Island, or near the Cities and furnish the mar
kets with daily supplies.