Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1836-06-17

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with the Duke d'Angouleme OF their head
the Seventh was restored to q
1~espotic throne; Cuba had followed the
of the Cortes when they were
crowned with victory, and when the coun.
ter revolution came, the inhabitants Of the
island, uncertain what was to be their des.
t~lnatlon, were for some time in great per
what to do for themselves. Two
considerable parties arose in the island, one
OF which was for placing it under the pro-
OF Great Britain, aud another was
for annexing it to the confederation of these
United States. By one OF these parties |
have reason to believe that overtures were
made to the Government Of Great Britain.
By the other 1 kno,o that overtures were
made TO The Government Of the United
States. And further know that secret.
though irresponsible assurances were COM
municated to the then President of the U.
States, as coming from the French Gov
ernment. that they were secretly informed
that the British Government had detcrm,n-
ed to take possession OF Cuba. Whether
similar overtures were made TO France
herself. ! do not undertake to say but tina,
Mr.. George Canning. then the British
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, was
under no inconsiderable alarm. lest under
the pupilage of the Duke d'AngouIeme,
Ferdinand the Seventh might commit to
the commander Of French nava! squadron
the custudy of the Moro Castle, is circum.
stance also well known to me.
It happened that just about that time a
French squadron OF considerable force was
fitted out and received sailing orders for
the West Indies, without formal comnuni.
cation ofihe fact to the British Government;
and that as soon as it was made known to
him, he gave orders TO The British Ambas.
sador at Paris to demand, in the mos: De.
remptory tone, what was the destination OF
that squadron, and a special and positive
disclaimer that it was intended even to
visit the Havana I; and this was made the
occasion of mutual explanations, by which
Great Britain, France, and the United
States, not by the formal solemni,y of a
treaty. out by the implied engagement OF
mutual assurances of intention, gave pledges
Of honor to each other, that neither Of them
should in The then condition OF the island
take il. OF the Moro Castle, as its citadel
from the possession Of Spain. TINS en-
gagement was on all sides faithfully per
formed but, without II. who doubts that
from that day to this either Of the three
Powers might have taken The island and held
it in undIsputed possessI"n.
At this time circumstances have changed
popular revolutions both 10 France and
Great Britain have perhaps curbed the
spirit Of conquest IN Great Britain, ant
France may have enough to do to govern
her Kingdom of Algiers. But Spain is gan
convul.ed with a civil war for the success
Isinn tn hog Pntyn chm hos ,rrt ta hi,
lost all her colonies OH both continents o
America. II is impossible that she SHOULD
hold much longer a shadow Of dominic,
over the islands Of Cuba aud Porto Rico
nor can those islands, in their present con
dltion, form independent nations. capable o
protecting themselves. They must fu
ages remain at the mercy of Great Britain
or OF lhese United States, or of both Grea
Britain is even now about to interfere il
this war for the Spanish succession. If BY
the utter lmbeciliy Of the Mexican cnnfed
eracy this revolt Of Texas should lead i'm
medlately to its separation from that Re
public, and its annexation 10 the Unite,
States, | believe 1t impossible that Grea
Britain should look on while this operation
ls performing with Indifference. She Wi
see that It must shake her own Who'll,
colonial power on this continent, in the Gnl
oc Mexico. and in the Carlblan Seas, Tx,
an earthquake; she will see, too, that
endangers her own abolition of slavery i
her W colonies. A war for the restoratiu
Of slavery where it has been abolished,
successful IN Texas. must extend over a
Mexico; and the example will threaten he
with imminent danger Of war of coloIs /
her own islands. She will take possession
of Cuba and of Porto Rico, by cesslon fror
Spain or by batteries from her woode
walls; and if you ask her by what uulhorlt
she has done it, she will ask you, in return
by what authority YOU have extended you
sea coast from the Sabine to the Rio Brav'
She will ask you a question more perpleA
ing, namely by what authority you, wit
freedom, independence, and democracy upo
your lips, are wagIng u war OF externina
ton to forge new manacles and fetter,
instead Of those which are talling from tn
hands and feet Of man. She will carr
emancipation and sbolitlon with her i
, every fold of her flag while your stars, a
they increase in numbers, will be overcas
with the murky vapors of oppression, an
the only portion of your banners visible I
the eye will be the blood-stained stripes c
the task master.
Mr. Chairman, are you ready for all ihes
wars : a war with Great Britain, If no
with France a general Indian war?
s~ervils war ? and as an inevitable conse
qucnce ofthem all, a civil war; for it mus
ultimately terminate in a war of colors a
we'll as OF races. And do you imagine lha
while with your eyes open you are wllfull.
kindling, and then closing your eyes ant
bIindly rushing into them; do you imagln'
that while in the very nature Of things, you
own southern and southwestern states mus
be the Flanders of these complicated wars
the battlefield upon which the last grea
conflict must be- fought between SLAYER.
and emancipation do you imagine, tina
your Congress will have no constitutions
authority to interfere with the institution
of slavery in any uay in the states OF TIN