Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-03-24
THE ALLEGED KIDNAPPING OF
FREEDMEN.


The President sent message TO the SEN
ate recently in answer to a resolution re-
questing him to communicate any informa-
ton in the possession Of the Executive in
relation to the alleged kidnapping of colored
persons in the Southern States, for the pur-
pose of selling them as slaves in Cuba or
elsewhere.
1t appears from the documents transmit
ted, and in a letter written by General Can
by, that three eolored children we're abducted
from New Orleans and carried TO Havana
or some other part Of Cnbh, where it was
supposed they were at the time the depart
ment was informed Of this occurrence.
Secretary Seward instructed Mr.. Savage,
our Consul at Havana, to make inquiries, in
order that if the children could be indenti-
fed, proper measures might be adopted with
a view to their return to New Orleans.
General Candy says the status Of these
children at the time of their abduction was
that of slaves, and their introduction into
Cuba was in violation of the laws of Spain.
A long correspondence follows, including
letter from Minister Tassaro, dated Febru-
airy 4th, 1866, including communication
from the Captain General of Cuba, caused
by the alleged kidnapping and carrying to
that island, of free negroes from the South
ern States, to be held in slavery, about
which he says Senator Sumner busted him
self, in the session of the Senate on the 9th
Of January. The Captain General adds,
that the Senator'S remark in relation to Gu
ba, is not true, and that a case of the kind
cannot be made out against solitary indi-
| vidual.
Mr.. Hall, Consul at Matanzas, in a letter
dated February 18th, 1866, informs the De
partment that after diligent investigation,
and having heard the opinions of.persons
likely to be informed, he has not been able
to learn that there is any truth in the unof-
fetal information as given to the Depart
ment in regard to the kidnapping of negroes
who have left the Southern coast of the
United States, and arrived at that Island in
vessels laden with cotton and other products
as alleged. He says, however, he shall con
tinue his Investigations, and communicate
promptly to the Department whatever hi
NAV learn. He states that in 1864 Mrs
Orleans, bringing with her a colored girl
aged about twelve years, held as slave
When she left the latter place, Mrs. Whit
temore represented that she proposed re-
naming on the island few weeks only,
when she would take her girl North. Sub
sequently the girl was brought to Matanza
and sold A statement was made to the au
thorities. from which it is seen that the CIR
had been declared free, in fact, and by al
right; and placed at the disposition of thu
Consul. The Governor of Matanzas permit
the girl to remain in the care of private
family till an opportunity shall offer for he
return to her native land.
VIM. I. Minor, United States Consul a
Havana, writes to the State Department, tina
upon the receipt of the first dispatch, ht
instituted enquiry, and upto February 18th
1866, he had not been able to find anything
to warrant belief that colored persons have
been brought to Havana from the Southern
coast of the United States in vessels, large
or small, laden with cotton or other pro
ducts, and left on the island. He says h,
has no doubt that refugees from New Or
leans brought there some Of their slave
during the past year. Seven of these have
been reclaimed through the Consulate, fou
of whom have been sent to the UniteC
States and the other three await an oppor
tunity to be sent to New Orleans. The Con
sui believes that such facts as these gave rise
to the charges of kidnapping.of free negroes
in the South to be sold as slaves in the Is
land of Cuba.