ST. CROIX,
Christiansted 21st Sept. 1848.
In furnishing our Subscribers with the following copy of one of the address of thanks forwarded the Count de Reus by the Inhabitants of the Island, for his late opportune aid, we are enabled to subjoin His Excellency's reply, which we doubt not will prove highly gratifying to the public:
We the Inhabitants of Saint Croix beg Your Excellency to be pleased to accept this feeble testimony of our heartfelt gratitude for the Protection you have so nobly and generously afforded us, under our late disastrous and fearful circumstances.
A short recapitulation of recent events here, combined with a description of our situation at the moment when the powerful hand of Spain, was stretched forth to ward of the horror of a successful Negroe Insurrection will better convey to Your Excellency - than ant expression we can use - an idea of the very great obligation we are under to the noble and chivalrous nation you represent, and especially to Your Excellency for the generous use, as regard us, you have made of a part of the force at your disposal. When a spirit of anarchy and revolution was spreading all over Europe, and had even extended to the Westindia Island --, Your Excellenly with a prophetic view, of what might soon occur on our Island, and a liberality Unparalelled in any Government but your own, sent, unsolicited by us, to offer your powerful aid to shield us from the impending storm; Your Excellency promised us your protection, and nobly has the pledge been redeemed. An Armament embarked with a promptitude; an equipment and an efficiency, which showed at once the sincerity of Your Excellency's offer, and the military talents for which Your Excellency is so justly renowned, proved at the same time that the proffers of the Count, de Reus are not an unmeaning courtesy. It would be useless to enter into details which are already known to Your Exellency; suffice it to say that the opportune succor from Porto Rico found the Island in the greatest disorder, defended only by a small military force, and a militia nearly exhausted by fatigue. The country was in possesion of the Negroes, and the Towns were in such a state of alarm, that the ships in the harbours and the buildings on the Quay were thronged with the females, children and invalids who sought these as their only refuge from murder and other dangers not to be described. In the midst of this scene of misery and dismay, while every comfort of life was resigned for the precarious safety afforded by the crowded shipping, where even the suffering attendant on such a situation was aumented a thousand fold by mutual distress, the vessel bearing the protecting Spanish force appeared in the Ofling. As if by magic the apprehensions of the unfortunate sufferers were allayed; the vessels were seen discharging their occupants to return to their domestic comforts - all fears vanishing at the approach of our gallant protectors. When we add that we consider our present security of life and property as mainly dependant on the protection afforded us by Your Excellency, we pray you not, only to accept our sincerest thanks, but to believe that our prayers will ever be for the Glory and Prosperity of Spain, and that God may protect, our noble friend and defender the count de Reus.
(Translation)
To the Inhabitants of the Island of St. Croix.
The receipt of the Communications which you have had the kindness to address to me in acknowledginent for my having sent Spanish troops to the relict of your Island in a moment when its existence was endangered, has caused me the greatest satisfaction, in as much as it assures me of the gratifying remembrance I leave among you - a reward, which doubtless far exceeds the value of the service, which I had the good fortune to render you, as in so doing I only fulfilled the duty of a good neighbour and acted in conformity with Castillian loyalty, always faithful where it has promised its friendship.
This day I embark for Europe, though not without making the mostd forvent wishes for the welfare of these Colonies, assuring you, that whenever Fortune may lead me, I shall at all times prove myself the sincere friend of the Danish people and shall always be happy to serve one and all of the Inhabitants of St. Croix so highly appreciated by me.
St. Thomas 14th September 1848.
Count de Reus.
(St. Croix Avis 21. september 1848)
Spanien havde koloniseret De Store Antiller, Hispaniola (i dag Haiti og Dominikanske Republik), Cuba, Jamaica og Puerto Rico. Landet var blandt de sidste til at ophæve slavegørelsen. På Puerto Rico skete det i 1873
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