The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1880-10-01

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Spanish penal code. Indeed, it was not then
denied by the Spanish government their laws
were insufficient to suppress the hldeous trai-
fic, and slave traders and their sbettors made
immense fortunes in the business Their
ships were built TO hide away in the creeks and
, under the headlands OF the African and Cuban
coasts, and could swiftly elude pursuit by pass
ing over or among reefs, which the larger
draught.vessels of the English and American
squadrons, kept at sea to enforce the treaties
against slave trade, could not thread. Fhe
coast OF the district of Colon was a favorte
reeort OF these smugglers Of human flesh, and
tbat afforded some employment to Its other
wise idle officials.
In 1868 Domingo Dulce was Captain general
OF Cuba, and he, being large-hearted and
faithful officer, Get absTt the effective enforce
ment OF the laws against the slave trade In
truth, so vigorously did he administer the laws
in that relation, that not a slave expedition
landed its cargo on the coast during his term
which he did not capture in whole or In part.
But 1t was owing to bis individual efforts mainly
this was done, in which respect he was an ex-
may he have been pleased when one November
morning in that year q despatch. from his lieu
tenant, Don Jose Arguelles, announced he bad
captured large cargo OF negroes, which had
been successfully landed and conveyed to
plantation within the district OF Colon, although
the vessel from which they landed escaped
without her name and register beng discover
ed, and that leleven hundred of these negroes
were on their way to Havana, where IN fact
they arrived in duo time.
The generous minded Dulce not only received
the unhappy negroes and cared for them, bat.
greatly pleased with the zeal OF his active as
sistant, he paid HIM fifteen thousand dollars as
governmental reward for making tho capture;
and salso as the fortunate Arguelles desired
brief respite after this extraordinary effort at
duty, during which he could carry into effect
purpose OF his to purchase the La CroRicd, a
Spanish journal published IN New York, the
confding Dulce gave him in addition to his ro-
ward a leave OF absence Of twenty days in which
to journey to the Continent and make his con-
templated investment The Don went to New
York with Senorita on his arm, and securing
fashionable lodgings gave himself up 20 the
delights Of foreigner at large, and to spend
ing his money agreeably to his taste.
But the capture OF the eleven hundred me-
groes started 4 tripsrtite correspondence be-
tween the diplomatic agents OF the United
States, England and SPAN; and we will leave
the festive Don on Broadway for awhile and
look into this diplomacy,
Mr.. Savage, the American viceConsul at
Havana, wrote to mr. Seward directly on the
event, that eleven hundred negroes from Africa
we're brought to that city, captured from slav-
ers in the district OF Colon. Mr.. Seward imme-
diately notified Lord Lyons OF the fact. who
was then the British Minister at Washington.
This brought ups proposition OF joint and
concurrent appeal by England and America,
which had been suggested by Earl Russell in
October before, to be addressed to the Govern
ment OF Spain for an amendment OF her laws
which tolerated the bondage OF imported Al
rcans landed in Cuba after they had bee ome
in form the property OF an owner OF an estate
in that island; and Mr.. Seward now informed
Lord Lyons that he had taken the instruc-
tions OF the President upon the suggestion;
and il Earl Russell, with his large experience
of this evil snd OF the difficulty OF obtaining
correction OF it, will prepare the draft OF such
a communication as he shall think may prop
erly be addressed to the Spanish Cabinet, the
President will with great pleasure authorize me
to communicate with the Spanish Government
in the same sense and spirit with those which
shall be adopted by her Britannia Majesty"
In pursuance with this understanding, Lord
Lyons submitted draft Of such communi-
cation. In it he pointed out that Africans
we're constantly imported into Cuba; aud while
General Dulce had acted in good faith IN carry
ing out the treaty obligations OF Spain, and
there had been considerable falling off in the
numbers Of importations, yet il must be borne
in mind that be was liable to be removed at
any moment, when in ali probability the traffic
would again resume it's wonted vigor. Besides
General Dulce complains bitterly Of the want
OF sufficient power conferred upon him, and OF
the inadequscy Of the provisions Of the Spanish
penal code for suppreesing the Cuban slave
trade; and in order to put an end to it, the
Spanish Government should take steps to
amend the laws prohibiting the introduction OF
slaves into the island. The existing laws are
admitted by the Spanish authorities to be in
sufficient for the purposes for which they were
framed. They prohibit the seizure by the au-
thorities of any newly-mported negroes, no
matter how notorious may have been the vlo-
lation OF the Spanish laws IN introducing them,
il once they have been conveyed to planta
ton lin the island; and because nearly the
whole OF the population of Cuba, as well as the
subordinate author ties, are more or less mixed
up and interested in the slave trade, it is i'm
possible to procure evidence to convict the par
ties engaged in the traffic; and the punishment
provided by the code OF slave dealers and their
sccomplices remains entirely imperative. He
closes the communication with these words,
honorable alike to himself and the government
he represented:
ELEVEN hundred slaves, as well known to
the Government OF the United States, have
been recently seized by the Captain general Of