Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-06-09

Msesys Government that the Government of the
United States will unite with her Majestys Government
addressing remOnsrance the subject To the
Spanish Government.
February a, 1864.
MADRID DECEMBER 16, 1868.
Nj. LIE MIN'RE: In conformity with the wish expressed
by your Excelency in The conversation which had the
honor Of holding with you the l4th instant upon the
subject of the slave trade in the island OF Cuba proceed
to particularz- in writing those measures % winch al
Iuded as berg the opinion of her MSestys Govern
mrnt calculated to put final stop to that deporaole
traffic the adoption Of which measures am instructed to
press upon her Catholic Majesty's Government.
As had the honor OF stating to your Excelency the
Government If the Queen my MISTRESS have learned with
satisfaction from the official reports OF her Ma
-sys consul at Havana that considerable dminutiOn In
The number Of negroes illegally imported into Cuba within
year ending the 9th of September last has taken place
compared with former years and also that weudged
amaoraton the treatment of those legally held in slave
ny there has been encouraged by the authorities OF her
Catholic Msjety-a her Msjsstys consul re-
marks has happily combined regard for humanity
and sensible increase in the productveDess OF the plan
ations 10 which it has been adopted.
Her Maj sy's Government have pleasure recognising
the good will and activity displayed by the present Captain
General of Cuba well as the measure OF his success IN
checking the slave trade 1t appears however, that such
the temptations to unprncpled individuals to intro
duce slaves Cuba and such the facilities still afforded
to them by the defects of certain parts OF the Spanish laws
regarding the that without some notifications 10
these his well meant Efforts must continue to fall short OF
their intended object
The which her Majesty Government would
call your Excellrncy's attention
lst An enactment declaring slave trade to be piracy
TGs is which has bren adopted by many nations
including those possessing large numbers of slaves Its
has been signal 10 checking th. slave trade IN coun
TIRES where it prevailed II has mainly contributed
Tree Brazil from the stigma attaching to this inhuman
rsc and that without any injury to her producsveness
material prosperity Her Mojesy's Government are
aware nf any sound argument which be alleged
against ihs
ID modification of the 9th and 18th articles of the
Spanish penal code in force in the island of Cuba
According t. the former of these articles the authorities
seize imported negroes when they have been
conveyed 10 property plantation however notorious
toe fact of such violation of the law having been com
mlttd may be.
According to the latter the legal punishment Of slave
traders their accompces only be f ted in virtue
of sentence by the Royal Audsncia Pretorsl Now, II
is wrl known that the icuty OF producing evidence be
fore this court great that proof to convict those &C
cused of uch charges is seldom if ever, obtained, how
moral convinced the ruling authorities may be OF
their guilt II true that the Captain General has power
officers Of who's. delinquency he feels Ger ain
and thst the present Captain General Dulce, his
predecessor Duke de Ia Tore, aud Others have exsr
Ised this power regard to certain Htgran cases but
how much more effective regards public opinion, how
much mere satisfactory to her Catholic Msjestys Govern
p-n would il be that such punishment aud degradation
should rcsut legal conviction, rather than fTom the
exercise Of dscretousl power. .E.
believe that stating that the experience of the Duke
DE- Tore well that Of General Dulce have caused
them to coincide 10 opinion that the adoption OF both
the measur to which have above adyertsd would be ex
and necessary for the final eKtrpaon OF the slave
trade Cuba. am not overslepping the truth IN bringing
however these measures under iour Excelrncys aten
ton feel confident that they will be submitted to the
enlightened examination due 10 the intrinsic merits OF the
great end they meant to forward and also with the
most friendly disposition your E1celencys part to set
at rest forever serious and painful matter OF discussion
between the Governments of Great Britain and Spain
| i avail, &c &c.
J +. CHAMPION.
His Excelency the MARQUIS DE MIRAFLoREs, &c. &c.
Madrid DECEMBER I6 1868.
My LORD: In conformity with the instructions con-
tanned IN your ordsbps despatch Of the 18th pltmo, Old
not fail 10 express 10 the Ma qus de Mrah0res the gran
hcaton 81 her Maestys Government at the dmnlton OF
he slave ate and the ameloraon in the treatment OF
slaves IN Cuba reported by her Msjesys Acting Consul
GeHea in his TO your lOrdsbp OF September ~
said that II was salts actory 10 know that these im-
provements resulted from the determination the present
Captain General; aud the Marquis de Mrahores reply
lug tba Gen Duce by the in which be bad acted
had faithfully carried the wishes OF her Catholic Ma
jesys Government observed that such being the case
could feel doubt that bis Exceency would take into
serious consider ion two measures which appeared TO her
Majesty Government and indeed to all persons acquant
ed with the tu jet, wanting TO enable that officer,
who does not lack the WILL TO put stop at to the
importation Of slaves into Cuba and TO realize a wish
which his Exceency had often concurred with in
expressing, that the ssrioas aud painful question which
wa cont nuay recurr between the two Governments
In regard 10 this matter should be forever act at rest
The two measures alluded to we're, said; Ist An
enactment dec arng the slave trade 10 be piracy 2l be
nodd avon Of penal code In force n Cuba, and parti
culary o. the OH and 18Th articles
With respect to the first If these measures observed
that it's efficacy had been shown in the Of Brazil and
reasonable objection had been alleged against it by
the parish Government
With respect the second the Oh and 18Th articles Of
the acted protection to the slave traders and de
eattd The OF The law aud the vel intended IF
fort Of the 81 anish superior authorities The Ma qus Of
Marres pr med tina, he would AXE these ma tiers into
bis consideration. AID assured that god will his
part would not b. found wanting to do all that posi-
1 bic 10 put eHd ~ the slave trade.
As had referred to particular articles Of the penal code,
be requested me- IT, address him pote, in which they
should be patcuauzet in order that he might be- able at
to drect has attention to the points to which her La
| irsvs g Jgrrnment alluded.
have quently in the note Of which have the
honor to enclose copy pointed out to the Marquis de
Mirshres the effect Of the articles and Is Of the code
Ell are clta stated 10 Mr. Crawfords report No. IL
of September 80 1861 enclosed in your Drdshps Of that
| year. have, &c
J. F. CHAMPION
| The Earl RUSSELL.
Lord Lyons to Mr.. Se,oard.
W