Aug 09, 2007, 08:39 PM
The Abraham Lincoln Papers at the Library of Congress
Lorenzo Allo to Abraham Lincoln, Friday, December 30, 1864 (Slavery in Cuba)
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Abraham Lincoln Papers at the Library of Congress. Transcribed and Annotated by the Lincoln Studies Center, Knox College. Galesburg, Illinois.
Lorenzo Allo to Abraham Lincoln, Friday, December 30, 1864 (Slavery in Cuba)
From Lorenzo Allo to Abraham Lincoln [With Endorsement by Lincoln]1, December 30, 1864
Habana Dicemb 30/64.
In regard to what has been said in Washington concerning servitude in this Island, I am perfectly well acquainted with what has passed here and can give you a full and thruthfull account touching that subject.
In consequence of the new aspect that the emancipation question is taking in the U. S, the cuban slaveholders fearing what may happen; perhaps an order from Madrid, that would harm their interests, brought on by some popular movement in Spain where many alarming symptoms have been felt. Or else some suggestions from nations that have allready mad this sacrifice producing sudden changes that would bring ruin to the country.
To avoid a disturbance of this kind they thought that the Spanish government ought to anticipate it, by giving a decree that would stop the exigency of democratic parties, and of those that are continually working for the abolition of slavery.
The most advance planters, and slave owners of this island wrote to their friends in Madrid. Cuban residents of that city Messrs A. Aranzo, B. O'Gaban, J. L. Alfonso and others to meat and determine to make themselves heard by the government on that subject, which they did, but they thought that their address would not have all its necessary value as if the proposition did not come directly from the slaveholders of Cuba and for this reason they agree that an address should be sent from this Iland to her Majesty offering the most convenient means of abolition; and it would be sustained by their influence.
Orders were received from the Minister of Foreign affairs to General Dulce, so that he might allow a meeting of cubans, with the object of treating and descussing such an important question-- The cubans appointed for this purpose where Mess Aldama, Alfonso, Hernandez, Carillo, Poey, O'Farril, Cardenas, and others, who met with the consent of the superior authorities. The question was discussed and the majority decided that a gradual emancipation would be asked, and it would begin by giving freedom to all the newly burn, and this children would remain under the guardianship of their mother's owner, till they vere 21. year of age
The petition being made it was to be signed by more than sixty planters the richest on the island and all slaveholders. During this event much was spoken about it in Habana, and gave occasion to alarm, an other class of slaveholders such as Messrs. Zulueta, Sama, Baró, Durañena, Calvo, Plá, Hañez and other spaniards slave traders owners of valuable sugar states and who owe their fortune to the slave trade. These persons where so much alarmed that they pressented themselves to Genl Dulce, and made him know the danger of such a measure, and published articles against the emancipation idea in the Journals Tiempo and Diario de le marina. And so much did they say on this subject that they alarmed our superior authorities, who called the most prominent pearsons of the emancipation petition, and exacted their silense on this question. Thus everything has ended for the present.
Notwisthstanding all this, what has been done prooves clearly that those planters who have slaves by inheritance from their forefathers, and who have are obliged to keep them in their plantations because there are no other laborers to take their places; desire the abolition of slavery. And that only the slavetraders and those that by such means have become owners of valuable plantations with numerous slaves are the ones that desire the present state of things -- they are not natives of the country and care but little for its future happiness.
There is not doubt that in Cuba there are a great many persons in favor of abolition of slavery and it is prooved every day by slave owners giving freedom to their slaves.
Much is said about a festival which will take place on Kings day (6 Januy net) given by the Fesser famely and on which occasion freedom will be given to 25 slaves that they inherited from their father--
There is not an illustrated cuban but that speaks in favor of the abolition of slavery.
Our government and spaniard residents on the contrary being a drawback for the idea.
It is true that Mr Francisco Diago has established free labor on his plantation distributing his lands planted with sugar cane, to whites, free [Airakis?] and negro settlers who cultivate the lands and bring the cane to the mill at $4 the cart load. He has kept his slaves to labor in the sugar house and to attend to some of this lands that he has not yet given out to settlers. I have been told that he is well satisfied with the results, and that he is quite confident in his new plan, sure that whatever change can tacke place he will not be in the least affected by it
[ Endorsed on Envelope by Lincoln:]
Don Lorenzo Allo.
[Note 1 Stirred by the American example, Spanish liberals and Cuban nationalists devised a scheme of gradual emancipation that eventually led to the end of slavery in Cuba in 1886.]
Lorenzo Allo to Abraham Lincoln, Friday, December 30, 1864 (Slavery in Cuba)
________________________________________
________________________________________
Abraham Lincoln Papers at the Library of Congress. Transcribed and Annotated by the Lincoln Studies Center, Knox College. Galesburg, Illinois.
Lorenzo Allo to Abraham Lincoln, Friday, December 30, 1864 (Slavery in Cuba)
From Lorenzo Allo to Abraham Lincoln [With Endorsement by Lincoln]1, December 30, 1864
Habana Dicemb 30/64.
In regard to what has been said in Washington concerning servitude in this Island, I am perfectly well acquainted with what has passed here and can give you a full and thruthfull account touching that subject.
In consequence of the new aspect that the emancipation question is taking in the U. S, the cuban slaveholders fearing what may happen; perhaps an order from Madrid, that would harm their interests, brought on by some popular movement in Spain where many alarming symptoms have been felt. Or else some suggestions from nations that have allready mad this sacrifice producing sudden changes that would bring ruin to the country.
To avoid a disturbance of this kind they thought that the Spanish government ought to anticipate it, by giving a decree that would stop the exigency of democratic parties, and of those that are continually working for the abolition of slavery.
The most advance planters, and slave owners of this island wrote to their friends in Madrid. Cuban residents of that city Messrs A. Aranzo, B. O'Gaban, J. L. Alfonso and others to meat and determine to make themselves heard by the government on that subject, which they did, but they thought that their address would not have all its necessary value as if the proposition did not come directly from the slaveholders of Cuba and for this reason they agree that an address should be sent from this Iland to her Majesty offering the most convenient means of abolition; and it would be sustained by their influence.
Orders were received from the Minister of Foreign affairs to General Dulce, so that he might allow a meeting of cubans, with the object of treating and descussing such an important question-- The cubans appointed for this purpose where Mess Aldama, Alfonso, Hernandez, Carillo, Poey, O'Farril, Cardenas, and others, who met with the consent of the superior authorities. The question was discussed and the majority decided that a gradual emancipation would be asked, and it would begin by giving freedom to all the newly burn, and this children would remain under the guardianship of their mother's owner, till they vere 21. year of age
The petition being made it was to be signed by more than sixty planters the richest on the island and all slaveholders. During this event much was spoken about it in Habana, and gave occasion to alarm, an other class of slaveholders such as Messrs. Zulueta, Sama, Baró, Durañena, Calvo, Plá, Hañez and other spaniards slave traders owners of valuable sugar states and who owe their fortune to the slave trade. These persons where so much alarmed that they pressented themselves to Genl Dulce, and made him know the danger of such a measure, and published articles against the emancipation idea in the Journals Tiempo and Diario de le marina. And so much did they say on this subject that they alarmed our superior authorities, who called the most prominent pearsons of the emancipation petition, and exacted their silense on this question. Thus everything has ended for the present.
Notwisthstanding all this, what has been done prooves clearly that those planters who have slaves by inheritance from their forefathers, and who have are obliged to keep them in their plantations because there are no other laborers to take their places; desire the abolition of slavery. And that only the slavetraders and those that by such means have become owners of valuable plantations with numerous slaves are the ones that desire the present state of things -- they are not natives of the country and care but little for its future happiness.
There is not doubt that in Cuba there are a great many persons in favor of abolition of slavery and it is prooved every day by slave owners giving freedom to their slaves.
Much is said about a festival which will take place on Kings day (6 Januy net) given by the Fesser famely and on which occasion freedom will be given to 25 slaves that they inherited from their father--
There is not an illustrated cuban but that speaks in favor of the abolition of slavery.
Our government and spaniard residents on the contrary being a drawback for the idea.
It is true that Mr Francisco Diago has established free labor on his plantation distributing his lands planted with sugar cane, to whites, free [Airakis?] and negro settlers who cultivate the lands and bring the cane to the mill at $4 the cart load. He has kept his slaves to labor in the sugar house and to attend to some of this lands that he has not yet given out to settlers. I have been told that he is well satisfied with the results, and that he is quite confident in his new plan, sure that whatever change can tacke place he will not be in the least affected by it
[ Endorsed on Envelope by Lincoln:]
Don Lorenzo Allo.
[Note 1 Stirred by the American example, Spanish liberals and Cuban nationalists devised a scheme of gradual emancipation that eventually led to the end of slavery in Cuba in 1886.]