Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1860-04-21
SLAVERY IN CUBA.

tbs difficult to come to a satisfactory conclus-
ion as to the number of slaves in Cuba The CEN
sus of 1857 puts it at 375 900; but neither this
census nor that of 1853 is to be relied upon on
this point. 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 desrous to put the number OF
the lowest, has stated it to me at not less than
100000. Many set it at 100000. am inclined
to think that 6U0,C09 is the nearest to the truth
The census mdbss the free blacks, in 1857,
l25,OO0. 1t lie thought to be 2OO, 900 by the best
authorities. The only point in which the census
seems to agree with public opinion i, in the pro-
portion. Both make the proportion of blacks to
be about one free black to three slaves; and
makes the whites not quite equal to the entire
number of blacks, free aud slave together As to
the Coolies, it is impossible to do more than con-
lecture. In 1853 they noticed in the census;
and in 1857 hardly noticed. The number mported
may, to some extent, be obtained from the records
and files of the Aduana, but not so as to be relied
upon. heard the number estimated at 200 90 by
intelligent and well-informed Cubans. Others put
it as low as 600OO. Certain it is that Coolies
are to bo met with everywhere, in town and coun.
try,
To ascertain the condition Of slaves in Cuba, two
things are to be considered; First the laws; and
secondly, the execution Of the laws, The written
laws there is no difficulty in ascertaining. AS to
their execution, there is room for opinion.
AT this point one general remark should be
made, which deem to be of considerable i'm por.
tance. The laws relating to slavery do not eman-
ate from the slavehold;ng mind; nor are they in.
terproted or executed by the slaveholding class
The slave benefits by the division Of power and
property between the two rival and even hostile
races Of whites, tho Creoles and the Spaniards-
Spain is not sayeholding, at home; and so long as
the laws are made in Spain, and the civil Offices
are held by Spanards only, the slave has at least
the advantage of a conflict Of interests and prin.
ciples between the two classes that are concerned
in his bondage.
The fact that one negro in every four is free,
indicates that the laws favor emancipation. They
do both favor emancipation and favor the free
blacks after emancipation. The stranger visiting
Havana will see regiment of one thousand free
black volunteers paradng with the troops of the
line and the white volunteers, and keeping guard
in the Obra Pia. When it is remembered that
volunteers is esteemed an honor and privilege,
and is not allowed to the whites of Creole birth.
except few who are favored by the government,
the Significance Of this fact may be Appreciated
The Cuban Shareholders are more impatient under
this favoripg of the free blacks than under almost
any other act Of the government They see in it
an attempt, on tho part of the authorities, to Sc.
cure the sympathy and cooperation of the free
blacks in case Of a revolutionary movement to
set race against race, and to make the free blacks
familiar with military duty, while the whites are
growing up in ignorance of it. In point Of civil
privileges, the free blacks ara the equals of the
whites. In courts of law, as witne esses or parties,
no difference is known, and they have the same
rights as to the holding of lands and other proY-
erty. AS to their social position, have not the
means of speaking. should think it quito as
good as it is in England, if not better.
So far as to the position of the blacks, wher
free The laws also directly favor emancipation.
Every slave has a right to 20 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 nomnates
one and the magistrate the other two. The slave
is not obliged to pay the entire valuation at once
but pay it in instaments of not less than fifty dol
lars each These payments are not MADE as mere
advances of money, the security of the masters
receipt, but are part purchases Each payment
makes the slave an owner of such a portion of
himself, pro pa,te indiVisa, or as the Common
Law would say, in tenancy-in-common 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 share, he be-
comes Untitled to corresponding share of his
time and labor; but from the best information |
can get, think this is mistake. The payment
affects the proprietary title, but not the usufruct
Until all is paid the masters dominion over the
the slave is not reduced as respects either disci-
pline or labor, or right of transfer; but if the
slave is sold, or goes by operation of law to heirs
or legatees or creditors they take only the interest
no. paid for, subject to the right of future pay
ment under the valuation.
There is another provision, which, at first sight,
may not appear very important, but which is,
am inclined to think, the best practical protection
the slave has against the ill-treatment by his mas
ter that is, the right to compulsory salo A
slave may, on the same process Of valuation, com
pei his master to transfer him to any person who
will pay the money For this purpose he need es-
tablish no cause of complaint. tbs enough il he
desires to be transferred, and some one is willing
to buy him. This operates as check u pom
the master, and as on inducement to him to re-
move special causes of dissatisfaction and it en-
ables the better class of Shareholders in neigh
bOrhood, if cases Of ilusage known, to relieve
The slave without contention or pecuniary loss.
In making the valuation, whether for emanci
patton or compulsory transfer, the slave is to be
estimated at his value a co mmon laborer, ac-
,Ording to his strength, age and health If The
Knows art or trade, however much that may
may add to his value only one hundred dollars
can be added to the estimate for his trade art.
Thus the skill, industry and character Of the slave
10 not furnish an obstacle to his emancipation or
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