PKELIMINAEY ESSAY. 



71 



denying the existence of any treaty with a foreign 

 nation, "the basis of which is the emancipation of 

 the slaves," and styling the rumors then agitating 

 the public mind, u a chattering and shameful war of 

 letters and lies." The same public address con- 

 tained the remarkable announcement, that while the 

 government would fulfill its duty, "the inhabitants 

 of Cuba have another duty, not less sacred, to attend 

 to — complying with the laws; it is time for it to 

 make the life of the Creole negro more sweet than 

 that of the white, who, under another name, labors 



to exhaustion in Europe." 

 » 



This proclamation and decree only tended to 

 increase and confirm the public alarm, and it was 

 further augmented by a knowledge of the succeed- 

 ing measures of the government. On the 22nd of 

 May, General Pezuela directed the Bishop of 

 Havana to suspend the law of the Church interdict- 

 ing the marriage of whites with blacks, which was 

 accordingly done by a circular to the officiating 

 priests, dated 29th of that month. 1 At the same 

 time a militia of free blacks and mulattoes was 

 directed to be organized 2 throughout the island, 

 which was put upon an equal footing, with regard to 

 privilege, with the regular army. 



1 Secretaria del Obispado de la Habana, Circular No. 50. 

 a Ordenariza, 24th May, 1854. 



