“In writing this, one chief object is to arouse the attention of our own fellow-subjects, in this colony, to the situation—­the dangerous situation—­in which they stand, and to implore them to lend all their energies to avert the ruin that is likely to visit them, should America get the domination of Cuba.

    The negroes of this and of all the British W.I. colonies have been
    ‘emancipated.’  Cuba on the other hand is still a slave country. 
    (Let not our readers imagine for one moment that we advocate the
    continuance of slavery,”) &c.
]

When public men have endeavored to be faithful and upright, they have uniformly been abused, and even persecuted, by the planters.  The following facts will show that the latter have not scrupled to resort to the most dishonest and unmanly intrigues to effect the removal or to circumvent the influence of such men.  Neglect, ridicule, vulgar abuse, slander, threats, intimidation, misrepresentation, and legal prosecutions, have been the mildest weapons employed against those who in the discharge of their sworn duties dared to befriend the oppressed.

The shameful treatment of the late governor, Lord Sligo, illustrates this.  His Lordship was appointed to the government about the period of abolition.  Being himself a proprietor of estates in the island, and formerly chairman of the West India Body, he was received at first with the greatest cordiality; but it was soon perceived that he was disposed to secure justice to the apprentices.  From the accounts we received, we have been led to entertain an exalted opinion of his integrity and friendship for the poor.  It was his custom (unprecedented in the West Indies,) to give a patient hearing to the poorest negro who might carry his grievances to the government-house.  After hearing the complaint, he would despatch an order to the special magistrate of the district in which the complainant lived, directing him to inquire into the case.  By this means he kept the magistrates employed, and secured redress to the apprentices to many cases where they would otherwise have bean neglected.

The governor soon rendered himself exceedingly obnoxious to the planters, and they began to manoeuvre for his removal, which, in a short time, was effected by a most flagitious procedure.  The home government, disposed to humor their unruly colony, sent them a governor in whom they are not likely to find any fault.  The present governor, Sir Lionel Smith, is the antipode of his predecessor in every worthy respect.  When the apprentices come to him with their complaints, he sends them back unheard, with curses on their heads.  A distinguished gentleman in the colony remarked of him that he was a heartless military chieftain, who ruled without regard to mercy.  Of course the planters are full of his praise.  His late tour of the island was a triumphal procession, amid the sycophantic greetings of oppressors.