, 1870-07-29
CUBA,

The Abolition Of slavery In the Spnn.
tsh Colonies - Diplomatic Core.
spondtnce.
Hasat"gto" tJuly 80 ne.pasch to he .Sar Yoss
TFttuHe-
On the day Of the adjournment Of Congress.
the President sent to the Senate measago,
with accompanying Documents, in regard to
Cuban aNaus, but more especially relating TO
the negotiations between the State Department
and the Spanish Regency in regard to the
emancipation Of the slaves in that island. The
correspondence and documents show some Gu
rio1s facts in Illustration OF Spanish double
dealing on the alavery queatiop, and are en-
lvened with some sharp dispatches sent by
Secretary Fish. There arc three OF these, and
twelve papers or extracts thesefsom Of Gem
e1a1 slckles' writing. Desidea these theye are
seven papers from Consu1s Hall. plams, and
Biddle, covering variouH datss from November
Is, 1868. to May Il, 1870. and severalIy ad-
drceaed to Mcas1s. Seward, Washbusne, aud
Fish.
Under date Of June %, 1869, 1Ir, Fish dirocts
General sickles to inform the Madrid Cabinet
OF the prof1ered mediation Of the United
States, which WAS upon the condition Of Spain
acknowledging Cuban Independence, Cuba to
pay Spain an indemnity to be hereafter agreed
upon, slavery to lie abolished, and IN armistice
proclaimed, While negotiations were pending.
These terms, IS wo already know, were re-
jectcd. Nj. Sickles' despatch states tbst
General prim expressed himself DESTROYS Of .
peaceful result, but declined to consiler any
proposition while the Cubans were in arms,
As to emancipation, the question could not be
separated from that Of Insurgency.
Under date OF August ii, 1859. Minister
sick1es thinks the diainclination Of thcSpauish
Cabinet to enter into engagements il due in
part to embarrassneutH from Porto Rico,
where the shareholders are the goyernmcnt's q
chief fficuds, September 16, he declares that
Spain is ready at once to give Cub. ample re-
f.,x1 Al nk
amnesty and gradual emancipst.cn." Accord
ing 10 Mr.. Sic5les, ali ia fair: sailing, Nine
days later be states that Gcnerai prim neclarcs
it necessary to proceed gradually and SURELY.
but that the Spanish government would not
wait for the wars termi,ac!on to initiate grad
ua4 emancipation and either refo1ms. Nosem-
Der >, he G'vee an acccunt OF The disagreement
Of the Commission to prepare decree Of ad-
minist1atiye feforrI for Porto Rico on ques-
tions Of slavery, ta1At1on and tariff, on the
11th, he 1egalet, the Department with fur
ther reports Ut good intentions to the
colon,es expressed ty Minister Decera. On
the 18th, he announces that the Porto Rico
reforms Will include local eelr-goyarntneu,,
Tres press, irse schools, and suffrage, civil and
political rights without regard to color, and
that these reforms will be extended to Cuba
Alter hos' 'ilities haze ceased. Under date Of
necemcEE %, Mr: sicktee announces thst the
British. Minister, Mr. Laye1d, Informs him OF
instructions from Lord Clarendon to second
the American suggestions TO the Spanish Gov
eminent in relation to the abolition of slavery
IN Cuba and Porto Rico. Our Minister in
formed Mr.. Layard that al his actiona 90 far
had been unofficial, aud we're 10 ,1nderstood
By the Spanish Cabinet th4t he Was discour-
aged BY nocrattination in the CoEtes, aud the
Colonial Secretary Nbo seemed, sitter all, uu-
willing to yield to the representations Of the
Reactlonlsts. He states that M1. I.ayar1. had
communicated with the Cabinet, and thought
that change Of administration would fail to
facilitate emancipation in Porto Rico,
To this despatch 31r. Fish replies. January
&c, 1870, expressing himself rather sharply il,
surprise that Gel e1al Sickles should cons der
Luis suggestions on emancipation Is unofficial
declaring that I'll Instructions have been gi~en
in the most positive manner, and directs him
to inform the Madrid Cabinet th.t this Eov-
eminent regards Spain as committed to the
abolition Of slavatJ, and that It expects steps
will be taken for the emancipation Of the
slaves in the Spanish colonies, a. we'll A. fottbe
eaIly initiation OF tho pttrnised reforms
The remainder Of Genora1 Bickies' dispatches
relate to the conduct Of the debate over tho
pretended decree OF emancipation, which NJ.
clses very sharply, declaring the plan falls far
short Of What this government had re4sona-
Bile right 10 expect. After analsziug the de-
cree he shoNa that the total emancipation con-
te1np1ated is postponed until the middle OF the
next century. l1e deeires our Munster to
etatc that the President feels it to be tho duty
Of this government to Impress upon The Span
ish Cabinet the policy a. well NJ tie propriuty
Of making at once provisions for an earlier
and more thorough emancipation OF slaves.
lie declares that the proposed decree will bo
looked urou with classification by the civil
lied world, As well rs disappointment bs this
country.