Democratic Sentinel, Volume 2, Number 4, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 March 1878 — IMPORTANT INVESTIGATIONS. [ARTICLE]

IMPORTANT INVESTIGATIONS.

Selling Citizens of Florida Into SlaveryAre the Cuban Patriots Pacified? Several weeks ago, says a Washington telegram, the President received a letter from a reliable source stating that the writer was in possession of facts capable of direct proof to the effect that colored men, citizens of Florida, had been kidnapped and transported across the Gulf of Mexico to Cuba, and there sold into slavery. The writer says members of the families of some of the enslaved citizenshad received intelligence from Cuba, from, their relatives, stating that they were held in bondage there, and the matter was communicated to the Chief Executive of the United States for such action in the premises as might be deemed best calculated to vindicate American dignity in view of a procedure so grossly in violation of the civilization of the times. The contents of the letter occasioned much surprise to the President. With a view of ascertaining the truth of the statement, he concluded to dispatch a confidential agent to Cuba for that purpose. Such agent was found in Judge Leonard, Republican member from Louisiana in the House of Representatives. a gentleman discreet and courteous, and familiar with the Spanish language. It was thought advisable to pursue this d’screet course instead of making the subject the basis of diplomatic correspondence. Judge Leonard, a few days ago, obtained indefinite leave of absence from the House, and left New York for Havana on the steamship Columbus on Wednesday last, carrying with him a letter from President Hayes to the Captain General, and also one from Senor Mantilla, Spanish Minister, addressed to the same officer, to whom Judge Leonard will make known the object of his mission. It is not doubted that the Captain General will afford him every facility for the accomplishment ot his mission, besides extending his own investigations in the same direction. Another object of the mission is to ascertain the true condition of the insurgents, official accounts and those from insurrectionary sources being contradictory. While one side represents a decline of the insurrection, the other asserts to the contrary, and ageqts have been here in behalf of the insurgent Cubans, with a view to the recognition of their independence by the United States. The Captain General will doubtless extend to Judge Leonard the necessary facilities for visiting the insurrectionary district, as Spain uniformly shows a disposition to preserve and strengthen friendly relations between Spain and the United States, which have never been more amicable than they are now. Should it be found true that negroes are kidnapped in Florida, or any other Southern State, and conveyed to Cuba and sold into slavery, immediate means will be adopted to prevent all such future outrages on persons and violations of international law. The objects of the mission are not publicly known, care having been taken to conceal them, but the above statement is confirmed in quarters which leave no room for doubt.