tllPEKDIJfa CiTASTKOPflE. 
1.33 
dlOB, Santo Espiritu, and S. Julian de los G nines. The ter- 
ritorial division most in favour ainoii," tlie inhahitants of 
the Havannah, is that of viielta de arriha and de nhaxo, east 
Hod west of the meridian of tlie Havannah. The first go- 
vernor of the island who took tlie title of Captain-general 
(1001), was Don Pedro Valdes. Hefore him tliere were 
sixteen other governors, of wlioin the series begins with the 
lainous PobJador and Conquistador, Diego Velasquez, native 
ot Cuellar, who was appointed by Columbus in 1511. 
In the island of Cuba free men compose '04 of the whole 
population ; and in the English islands, scarcely ‘19. In 
toe whole archipelago of the West Indies, the copper- 
eoloiu-ed men (blacks and mulattps, free and slaves) form a 
iHass of 2,300,000, or '83 of the total population. If the 
legislation of the West Indies and the state of the men of 
colour do not shortly undergo a salutary change ; if the 
legislation continue to employ itsell in discussion instead 
el action, the political pre])onderance will pass into the 
Hands of those who have strength to labour, will to be 
Iree, and courage to endure long privations. 'This catas- 
li'ophe will ensue as a necessary consequence of circuni- 
stances, without the intervention of the free blacks of 
Ilayti, and without their abandoning the system of insu- 
lation which they have hitherto followed. Who can ven- 
ture to predict the influence which may be exercised on the 
politics of the New AVorld by an African Confederation of 
l-he free states of the West Indies, situated between Colum- 
bia, North America, and Guatiniala? 'The fear of this event 
may more powerfully on the minds of many, than the 
Ibapciples of humanity and justice; but in evei’y island the 
"mites believe that their power is not to be shaken. All 
H inidtaneous action on the part of the blacks appears to 
J lem impossible ; and ever}' change, every concession granted 
0 the slave population, is regarded as a sign of weakness, 
he h.orrible catastrophe of San Domingo is declared to have 
boen only the efiect of the incapacity of its government, 
^'mh are the illusions which prevail amidst the great mass 
the planters of the West Indies, and which are alike 
Opposed to an amelioration of the condition of the blacks in 
lleorgia and in the Carolinas. The island of Cuba, more 
Ilian any other of the West India Islands, might escape the 
