The New York herald., 1876-02-21
SLAVERY IN CUBA.

BY The arrival here Of well known resident OF
havana on the steamship Crescent City from that city
the following interesting Information respecting slavery
in Cuba has been received The persons interested in
the scandal are excaptan General vamaseda his pr-
vate secretary Don Feodorco Feyo; the Governor or
Gulnes' Don Pedro dill Pastors y Forsak; the Captain
Of the district OF San Nicolas Don Macaro Julves and
Don Duilermo Murdoc. French gentleman proprietor
of the coffee estate FL Recurso situated at san Nicolas
near Guines Before proceeding further IL is necessary
to state that according TO the decreto or circular OF
More in 1871 IL was stated that from that date
all slaves found in Cuba without their certia-
cate Of ownership should be granted their libertv
and provided with papers testifying the same This
ordinance, <xe hundreds Of Others prepared by the
Spanish authorities, not worth the paper it was
written on as far any practical results went A
yearly tax 1t may also be remembered, has been i'm
posed on each slave for the purpose OF obtaining
money to carry on the war. Mr.. Murdoc, the slave
holder above mentioned recently failed to pay his
yearly on his seventy-two slaves but whether this
caused by dislike TO Spanish rule or careessness
not known. The fact Of this non-payment was
brought the knowledge Of the Lieutenant Governor
OF Gunes and the Captain commanding the district OF
San Nicolas both rapacious men, who saw that big
haul OF money could be obtained from the derelct
Frenchman. The Governor OF Guines, TO show his
zeal in the matter, communicated the facts
OF the case TO Captain General Valmaseda ana sug-
gested that good doubloons could be extorted
from Mr.. Murdoc Valmaseda, however referred the
matter TO Madrid and requested that Mr.. MurdOc'S
slaves be allowed to be redocumented royal order
subsequently received from Madrid ordering that
the slaves Of Mr. Murdoc be granted their liberty and
not redocumented. Mr. Murdoc determined not to
let his blacks out OF his keeping and made up his
mind to hold to them TO the last Accordingly,
when any OF the Spanish officials to him TO talk
about their liberation, doubloons stnted number
were forthcoming TO stop their zeal in the matter OF
manumisson OF the seve2ty-two legally emancpated
slaves The official sons Of Spain took the hush money
and molesed Murdoc as little possible doubtless
the principle Of "make money honestly If you can but
make IT anyhow" Murdoc had distributed
50, 900 in gold and in addition to this had donated
to Governor Pastors of Gunes, his splendid white
riding horse, imported from the United States
OF $500 Meanwhile Governor Vamaseda's secretary,
Don Feodorco Feyo, delayed the enforcement of the
order for the release of the slaves thrashed
overworked and underfed usual while the Spanish
officials continued blackmailing Murdoc How much
money went TO the Governor and vamaseda's secre-
tary is not known. The Governors rapacty, however
in the matter OF stealing taxes knew bounds he
pockeng t Is alleged, large proportion of the
collected giving small portion TO the collectors
His malfcasance in Office became notorious that
Count Romero OF Guines had quarrel with him con-
cerning his itching palm for gold and general dsrepu-
table conduct and the Count threatened to have him
removed from Office This has now been done and the
inhabitants of Gunes delighted to be rid of the fell
low With reference to the slaves of Murdoc, they
slaves STILL in spite Of the roval order from Madrid
cording them their liberty.