New-York tribune., 1876-02-05
AMERICAN SLAVEHOLDING IN CUBA.
NATURAIIzED cUBASs CLAIMING AMERICAN PRO-
lection AND WORKING sUGAR-PLANTATIOSs
WITH sLAvEs-GOv. swANN's COMMITTEE LOOK
TIM

NATrRALIzED CUBASs CLAIMING AMERICAN PRO-
TECTIoN AND WORKING sUGAR-PLANTATIoNs
WITH sLAvEs-GOv. swANN's COMMITTEE LOOK
ING INTO THIS sUBJFCT.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO TRIBUsE.l
WAsHrNGToN, Feb. At has repeatedly been
asserted that great number of American citizens at
present own slaves in Cuba resolution was re-
Gently introduced in the House directing the Foreign
Affairs Committee to look into this matter and also
to ascertain the facts in regard to the complaints
and claims against Spain which have been filed in the
Department of State by American citizens in Cuba,
account of wrongs suffered or losses sustained in
their business On the 3lst of January the Chair
man of the Committee, Gov. Swami, addressed let
ter of inquiry this subject to Secretary Fish who
has sent TO him long reply. He says that the
claims that have been filed are of two classes. The
first class comprises those of citizens Of the United
States for losses suffered account of wrongs or in
jurcs to their persons property committed by the
authorities of Spain in Cuba since Oct. 1868. The
claims of this class Secretary Fish says in pnr-
snancc of an agreement entered into between this
Government and tho Government of Spain on the
10Th of February. 1871, submitted to the
&ixed Commission created by that agreement
and which is now holding its sessions
in Washington. OF this class Of claims he finds
from Il report made by the Advocate Of the United
states TO the State Department that there have been
presented TO the Commission since its organization
! ID cases. OF these 81 have been disposed of, a.
follows: Dismissed for want of jurisdiction under
the rules 80 judgments in favor of Spain, 2; with
drawn, - decided IN favor of the claimants o. CIV
ing an aggregate amount of SS7s,05O. and leaving
pending and undecided Nov. II, 1873, % cases.
The causes of complaint are classified follows:
First Illegal seizure and consequent damage to bust
ness; second. damage to property by military
officers and troops in the Spanish service third, lile-
cal arrests and imprisonments; fourth, violence
done TO the person by officers and troops. under
color of military authority. The claimants in these
cases are i'll most instances naturalized citizens OF
the United States, who were originally citizens OF
Spain and natives of Cuba. Mr. Fish continues:
The property. the injuries TO which the complaints
are prcdcacl. consists largely OF sugar pldutatiUs
and while the Department u not IN poSs' -'loh I Spci
ard information on the subject u may be safely
9 id that the working these plantations Is caiflru
on by save lhor that biny lho no'hn stItS VI pa,
taron nor on the .ldnt In some few ca7r- calmhuS
native OF The United states. importing mcf
cuant vino have advanced money 10 sugar painters anu
ta"en oitgaScs on phhta'l"n- vi e'h So w sucn
trc parties claimant may be said 10 he. however unwi
lnciy indirectly connected with the continuance Of
slave labor in the Island of Cuba Tue second class of
claims consists oi cases in winch executive em0argoe7
e.tatos American citizens These cases have been
made subject Il direct diplomatic Intervention, but. III
regard the relations OF the claimants with slaves anu
slave labor the remark. wnicn have made IN recrenc.
to the iirst class equally applicable Ia these
Gov. Swann's last inquiry was as to what COM
plcations may arise account Of American citizens
owning slaves in foreign countries. Mr. Fish rays 1t
il difficult to answer in such "A way TO iWpart any
information to the Committee OF which Congress Is
not already POSSESSED The Secretary then quotes at
lonzth from the Presidents last annual message.
those paragraphs which treat tLese subjects, and
closes his letter follows:
Similar sentiments have been expressed by the Pre-
dent IN his lass message To oong"-s pr'enOei, 80
and IA pur-uaucc Of these dressed convictions Of the
T. .-ient ~ conformity u l. hrlirytd they with
the incuts of tbr people of the Iaitei states. and
with which my osn convictions accord In m. fullest
measure no opportunity has been omitted hy Tie De
partment lot n known 10 all who directly or ~
directly interested In tbe question that n was believed by
this Government that the existence ~ slavery In cuba
tended In gTrHt measure tO Teiad the restoration Oi
peace that island.