Rensselaer Union, Volume 2, Number 3, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 October 1869 — Abolition of Slavery in Cuba. [ARTICLE]

Abolition of Slavery in Cuba.

The recent assertion o’ Jenator Sumner that the Cuban insura nts were not distinctly and unequivocal iy committed to maintain the freedom of the colored people of the Island, in case their cause should be victorious, has called forth considerable inquiry as to the lkcts in the case. The friends of tht Cuban cause insist that the learned Senator has done the revolutionists great Justice. .It is claimed that when C*r!oi JJanuel tie Cespedes pronounced

against Spanish authority, one-half of the mile army of five hundred men, which gathered around him, weft his own slaves, whom he l«d freed on the 9th day <>f October, 1868, At the eiine time declaring all slaves on the island flee. He had been the slaves’ representative in the courts of the Eastern Department a number ol years and was looked nj>on by them as their champion. Tbe first act of the war was the proclamation of freedom, the purpose being to make aoMicra of slaves, as well as to abolish slavery. The first legislative body that met passed the following decree, which In substance is couched in the twenty-fourth article of the Cuban Constitution, passed on the 19th of April: The Institution of slavery, which waa brotighUo (heir I*lukl by Spanish dominion, should be-abol-ished with them Tbe Assembly of fie present*! I res of the Centre, In consideration of the eternal principles of Justice and la the name of the liberty of the people which they represent, decree, I. Slavery Is forever abolished. 11. At the earliest opportunity the owners of all who are slave* to-aav will be properly (damnified. 111. All who by thle decree we made free should contribute with *ll ihelr strength to tbe sucres* of Independence. • IV. All liberated slave* capacitated to become soldiers can loin the ranks of the liberating army ttpou the same footing with those new In the army, and will have the lame respect aa any soldier* of tbe llhcmilng arms. V. Those who prefer so remain on plantations and assM In cultivating the *oit. and thus relieve those who Can and desire to go to the field and sustain the cause with the sacrifice of their Mood, shall forever aflet wards be exempt from military eert ice. the seme a* all other citizens. VI. A special regulation will he made to arrange the details of this decree.