The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-06-09
SLAVERY IN CUBA.

Richard II. Dana, Esq., of Massachusetts,
who has been spending some time in Cuba, has
Just issued volume containing his obserya-
tons in that island. From it we extract the
following interesting statement in regard to
Slavery. He makes no allusion to the fact that
constant diminution of the slave population
is going on, and has been, from the earliest
times, in spite of the comparatively mild lqrs
which the Spanish Government has imposed
upon the island. Millions of slaves have been
imported into Cuba from Africa, and yet after
near three hundred years during which Sla.
very has existed, the highest estimates of the
number now living is not above 100000. This
fact must cause every humane mind TO look
upon Cuba with horror, and to regard all en-.
gagged in the nefarious system of Slavery as no
better than pirates and murderers. 1t is no al
deviation of the case to say, by way of explain
ing the diminution of population, that three
fourths or more of the slaves imported have been
males for this, of ITSELF is one of the most cruel
and detestable features of the system. Mr. Dana
says:
1t is difficult to come to satisfactory con.
clusion as to the number of slaves in Cuba.
The census of 1857 puts it at $4,000; but
neither this census nor that of 1853 is to be
relied upon, on this poin'. The Cubans are
taxed for their slaves, and the Government
find it difficult, as | have said, to get correct
returns. No person of intelligence in Cuba,
however DESTROYS to put the number at the
lowest, has stated it to me at less than SOC, 000
Many set it at 100000. | am inclined to think
that 100000 is the nearest to the truth.
"The census makes the free blacks, in 1857,
l25,00O. 1t is thought to be 100000 by the
best authorities The whites are about 700, 900.
The only point in which the census seems to
agree with public opinion is in the proportion.
Both make the proportion of blacks to be about
one free black to three slaves and make the
whites not quite equal to the entire number of
Blacks free and slave together. As to the
Coolies, it is impossible to do more than con-
lecture. In 1858 they were not noticed in the
census; and in 1877 hardly roticed. The
nHmbqr imported may, to some extent be OBJ
tanned from the records and files of the Aduana,
but not so as to be relied upon. heard the
number estimated at 200 600 by intelligent and
well-irJormed Cubans. Others put it as low a
| $4,000. Certain it is that Coolies are TO le
met with everywhere, in town and country
| "To ascertain the condition of savcs in
| Cuba, two things are to be considered First,
the laws and, secondly, the exception of the
laws. The written laws there is ne great diff
fculty in ascertaning. AS to thiir execution,
there is room for opinion.
| ''Atthis point one general rerlrk should be
| made, which deem q, he % cisiderabe inn
emanfte from the slavehodiuo iniod nor are
they Interpreted or executed by the Slayehold
ing class. The slave benefits by thediyision
of poser and property between the two rival
and even hostile races of white, the CI>oles
and the Spaniards. Spain is not slavehol6pg.
at home and so long as the laws are made u
| Spain, and the civil offices are held by Span
iards only, the slave has at least the advantage
OF n conflict OF interests and principles between
| the ttsO classes that are concerned in his
| bondase.
Tie fact that one negro in every four is
free, iniicates that the laws favor emancipation
They 70 both favor emancipation, and favor the
free bESks after emancipation. The stranger
visiting Havana will see "a regiment of one
| thousa:7d free black volunteers parading with
the troops OF the line and the white volunteers
and Keeping guard in the Obra PA. Whom it
| is remembered that the bearing arms and per
forming military duty as volunteers is esteemed
| an hoif1r and privilege, and is not allowed to
| the wh1es of Creole birth, except to few who
| are favored by the Government, the significance
Of this fact may be appreciated. The Cuban
| shareholders are more impatient under this
favoring of the free blacks than under almost
| any other act of the Government. They see
IN 1t an attempt, on the part of the authorities,
| to secure the sympathy and cooperation of the
free blacks in case of a revolutionary move
ment--tO set race against race, and to make
the free blacks familiar with military duty,
while the whites are growing Gp IA ignorance
Of it. In point ofciYi privileges, the free blacks
sre the equals of the whites. In courts of law,
as witnesses or parties, no difference is known /;
and they have the same rights as 10 the hold
ing of lands and other property, AS to their
social position, have not the means of speak
ing. should think it quite as good as it is in
New England, if not better.
$50 far as to the position of the blacks,
when free. The laws also directly favor eman-
cipation. Every slave has right to 90 to a
magistrate and have himself valued, and on
paying the valuation to receive his free papers.
The valuation is made by three assessors of
whom the master dominates one and the mag
istrate the other two. The slave Is not obliged
to pay the entire valuation at once, but may
pay it in instruments Of not less than fifty dollars
each. These payments are not made as mere
advances OF money, on the security Of the
masters receipt, but are part purchases. Each
payment makes the slave an owner of such
portion of himself, pro farte indicisd, or, as the
Common Law would say, in tenancy.n. com.
mon with his master. If the valuation be one
thousand dollars, and he pays one hundred
dollars, he Is owned one-tenth by himself and
nine-tenths by his master 1t has been said, in
nearly all the American books on Cuba, that
on paying a share he becomes ep.itied to
corresponding share of his time and labor but,
from the best information | can get, | think
this ia q mistake. The payment affects the
proprietary title, but not the usufruct. Until
all is paid, the masters dominion over the slave
is not reduced, az respects either discipline or
labor, or right of transfer; but if the slave is
sold, or goes by operation of law to heirs or
Iegatees or creditors, they take only the in
terest not paid for, subject to the right of future
payment under the valuation.
"There IL another provision, which, at first
sight May not appear very important, bat which
is. am inclined to think, the best practical
protection the slave has against the il-treat-
ment by his master that is, the right 10 CON-
pulsory sale. A slave may, ON the same pro-
cess of valuation. compel his master to transfer
him to any person who will pay the money.
For this purpose, he need establish no cause of
complaiHt. 1t is enough, if he desires to be
transferred, and acme one is willing to buy him.
This operates as a check upon the master, and
an inducement to him to remove special causes
of dissatisfaction and it enables the better
class of Shareholders in neghborhood, if cases
of illusage are known, to relieve the slave with
out contention or pecuniary loss. .---
an making the valuation, whether for o
cipation or compulsory transfer. The slar
be estimated at his valuo a. comrr
according to his strength, age, ar
be knows an art or trade, howe'