, 1859-08-18
't:*~x ! Slavery In C4ba.

Harsh treatment unreasonable c1actlons OF
labor, iuhuman separation Of families, and many
other cruclties Of a kindred character, arc inse-
parable conditions Of slavery. Yet III ail these
respects there arc degrees Of craty-degrees |
eycn in the same Statc, us well ns in the different
countries in which the institution is maintained.
There are masters who seek to apply to some
cx,cut the principles Of Christianity in the treat
ment of their slaves, while there arc others in
whom. the demon Of cruelty, violence and lust is
restrained by no other power than the demon Of
gain. To some extent the action Of the master
is supposed to be under the control Of law, but
the instances are Of rara occurrcncc-cspeclally
in this couutry-in which such laws arc eniorc'
ed. The disability uf slaves TO testify in courts
ofjustce, gives to mastcrs about us much in'-
punity in the practice ofevery enor'nlty nEalnst
their slaves, as the most dcpravcd and heartless
ottheir number could desire.
In looking over Richard Henry Dnna's book,
entitled IA Trip to Cuba and Back" our inter-
est wus not little excited and, to some extent,
gratifcd also, By his statements us to the conl~
ton Of Slavery on that Island. We had been led
to suppose that the institution existed there in
its most revolving forms, compared with which
Slavery in the United Stales Was mild and hu-
mane. Our surprise was therefore quite as
great Us that Of majority Of our readers doubt
less will be, on learning that in many respects
Slavery in Cuba is under the ac:ivc control Of
laws which mitigate, in argrce, its many hor-
rors, and which are in striking contrast with
the laws pertaining to slaves in the Am.
crican Stare Statcs. The fact, in tile
estimation of Mr.. Dana, is to he accounted for
Oh the ground that the laws on the subject in
Cuba do not cmauatc from the slavehotding
,uiud; and the efficiency with which they arc
enforced is the result Of their not being exc
cuted by the slayellolding class. The slave is
thus benefited by tue division Of power and
property between the two rival races Of whites
the Crcolcs and the Spapiards. Spain is
not slavcholding ut home; but the laws by
which Cuba is governed are made in Spain,
aud the civil Offices Of the Island are filled by
Spaniards; and this gircs the slave the nd
vantage Of tho conflict Of interests and rrin-
ciplcs between the two classes concerned in
his bondage.
Que evidence Of this fact is, that Of tue en-
tire negro population, one in every four is
free. another evidence Of it is seen iu the
fact Of the maintenance OF a regiment Of one
Thousand free black volunteers, who are pluccd
on an equality of footing with the white rvsi-
ments drawn from Spain. The bearing Of
ur1ns and performing Of military duty as vol
'untecrs, is esteemed III honor and privilege.
aud is not allowed to whites Of Creole birtf
except to few who are specially favored by
the government; md, according to Mr.. Dana.
the Cuban Shareholders :4re more impatient
under this Evoring Of the free blacks, than
under Utmost any other act Of the government.
| They sec in it Ill attempt to secure the syul-
| puthy Of the free blacks, in case Of a rcvolu-
tionary novcmcnt-to set race against race,
and to make the free blacks familiar with mill
:ary duty, while the whites are growing up in
| ignorance Of it. Another evidence is to be
| found in the civil status OF the free blacks.
In this respect they arc tho equals Of the
whites. III courts Of law, as witnesses or par
lies, no difference is known: aud they have
| the same rights as TO the hoIlin. Of property.
Emancipation being rendered thus desirable
BY the act Of government, laws hare also been
cuacted and are enforced, by which the ranks
| Of the free blacks may be constantly recruited.
Every slave in cuba l;s right to 70 before a
magistrate and have himself valued, and on pny-
nS the valuation to receive lis free papers, The
valuation is to be male by three asscsso rs, or
whom the master selects one and the magistrate
tue other two. The slave is not to pay tic ell
tire valuation ut once but Elay pay it in INSTALL
nents Of not less than fifty dollars, and take his
own timc for it. Each payment makes the slave
the owner Of such a portion Of himself. II tho
valuation be Que thousand dollars, and lie pays
one hundred, lie Is owned onc-tentll by himself
and nine tentls by his master. II til. slave is
sold, or goes by operation Of Law to heirs, Legal
ties creditors, they take ouly tile interest not
paid for, subject to tic right Of future payment
under tho valuation.
Another provision of tue law, practically per-
i!ars of no less importance, affords the slave
protection against i'll trcatment of his muster,
aud would render Lcgree next to impossible
in Cuba. 1t is this: 4 slave may, OIL tie
same process Of valuation, compel lis
Muster to transfer him to aur person
who will pay the money. For this purpose he
need establish no cause Of complaint. 1t Is
only necessary fhat lie desire il, anu can find
purchaser The master il compelled 10 give
him ur II is easy to see what must be the prac
teal effect Of such i Law. Tie master finds il
Ills interest to keep down dissatisfaction anon.
Ills slarcs; and the better class Of Shareholders
are enabled hy it to Interfere, if cases Of i'll
usage Should occur in their ncigilborl,ot,l, Il
put stop to it without contention or pccuniar,
;oss. III making tic valuation. wl,e.scr for sell
purchase or transtcr the slave il to br estimate.
1t lis value as common laborcr. If llc have
trade or art, however ,l: may add to Ills yalur
mix uuc hundred dollars cau be added to til,
estimate Oh account Of it, Thus The skill. in
dustry and character Of tic slave, Instead .
/ brip. au oi,stuclc to his emancipation or trans
fer, arc in reality 80 much i'll favor Of it.
Iu additiou to the foregoing. VIC are assure,
| by Mr.. Daua. tl,ut on COMPLAINT aud ur,s,f q
cruel treatment. the law will dissolve III. rtl:
tiou between master and sluye. M slaye r.,
bc logged with more tlau twcnt v-6y
:ashes by the masters nutl,or;tv.
his offence is tl,onel,t tlcscryinr If .,ratr
punishment. tbe nublc authorit;cs n,ns
:,c called in. 4 slaye ,notIcr mar bur thu. 5rct
dom Of her iufaut fur ,weuty.t;e dollars.
| >,,rrs l,.vr hen ,uarrie,, lv tho chnrc1, ,h.
tanrOt lpr Srrarutru against 11,r;r will and II,