Segundo Ruiz Belvis - Abolitionist

Abolitionist

In 1859, Ruiz Belvis returned to Puerto Rico and befriended Ramón Emeterio Betances, joining "The Secret Abolitionist Society" founded by Betances. The society baptized and emancipated thousands of black slave children. The event, which was known as "aguas de libertad" (waters of liberty), was carried out at the Cathedral of Mayagüez. Later, he moved to the city of Mayagüez where he established his law practice. Ruiz Belvis was named Justice of the Peace by the city's citizens. He was later appointed to the Mayagüez city council as a representative. His responsibilities included watching over the well being of the slaves in his district and the management of public funds. Ruiz Belvis became involved in politics and took up the cause of abolitionism in the island.

Ruiz Belvis returned to Madrid in 1865, as a representative for the abolitionist cause in front of the Cortes Generales. Even though his ideas were viewed as dangerous by the Spanish rulers, it was nonetheless the beginning of a movement which would eventually lead to the liberation of the slaves in the remaining Spanish Colonies in Latin America.In 1866, he inherited the family hacienda "Josefa" after his father's death and the first thing he did was to free his slaves.