The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-10-23
The Annexation Of Canada and Cuba-The
SlayerY Que stlOn In the United States.


The Annexation of Canada and Cuba-The
Slavery Question In the United States.
We are very much afraid that the great and lead
ing question of annexation, which has recently
been mooted in various ways, and embracing
Canada and Cuba in its programme, is not IN fair
way of receiving an early or peaceable solution,
in the internal councils of this republic. The
question has been started in the Canadas, and a
large and influential party in those colonies seem
10 be bent urging a course pointing to their final
separation from the government of Great Britain
The Cuban question, likewise, has been noticed
and discussed in various ways, in the journals of
this continent, as well in those of the old. But
if Cuba, with the consent of the Spanish govern
ment, and Canada, with that of the British, were
b, III knocking at our doors for admission into the
American Union at the present moment, we very
much fear that the condition of the country and
the state of parties such TO protract for
long time the settlement of that important matter,
in favor Of either project
Let us be practically und erstood IN our views.
We don't deny that annexation TO this country
seems TO be the natural destiny of both Canada
and Cuba; but before it can be accomplished, OBJ:
stacles must be encountered, of various kinds, and
we much fear those obstacles have been in
creasng, and will increase, IN the public councils
OF this republic. The position which has been as
sumed by both of the great parties the ''orhern
States, in reference TO slavery, and the and
hostile position which the South has been forced
10 take, will no doubt create obstacles and diff
culiies TO the admission OF any new territory, from
any quarter, into this republic. We are not GER
tain, even, but that the admission Of California,
New Mexico and Minnesota, with other States that
may be carved out Of our Western territory, may
increase those difficulties 10 such extent as 10
present msurmountable obstacles to any enlarge
ment of our limits during the present generation,
Judging from the sentiments and purpose now
avowed by both of the great national parties
We DO not attach this importance to the mere
anti-slaveIy sentiment, as religious feeling, as il
has existed among a certain faction In the North,
exclusively called abollticnlsts. The aboliuonists
strictly so called, in the Northern States, have
been actuaod purely 10y notions of policy,
and ianatlcal feelings springing from religious pre-
JUDGES; but when those sentiments mlngle with
the old cankerwom which troubled the original
convention which formed the constitufon--the
balance of power question between the North and
the South-then it becomes a very important and
dangerous topic Of discussion in our internal policy
ard relations. ca late years, many of our public
men 1nd politicians, disappointed and reckless,
have contributed to give energy and efficiency %
the anti-slaveIy sentiment. and TO add to It that
terrible difficulty, controversy about the balance
Of power between the free and the slave States,
which has been the foundation of all our weak.
ness az n nation, from the moment that the De.
clarstion Of Independence was issued to the world
TO the present time.
The journals OF the old convention which formed
the present constitution, do rot. we believe, folly
disclose the difficulties encountered by that body
during its sessions, growing out Of this sub
Jeci Of anii-slavery. aggravated by the balance-o.
power principle between different sections Of the
Union. We are informed, however, that the con-
yenlion. al one time was on the eve OF breaking
up in confusion, and but for the advice Of Frank
lin, who was no regionist himself recommending
the convention to resort 10 prayer to Heaven, in
order to get cool and acquire a certain degree of
camness-bu for the advice Of Franklin, the con-
venuon would have terminated It's session without
any constitution, and we might have been. to this
day, only aggregation of little isolated
States, warning with each other, and exhi-
biting such a spectacle az the old States Of
Greece did in past times The slavery onestion
the great difficulty in the formation ofihe con.
sttution, and the compromises embraced in the
present constitution were not agreed upon until
after long, earnest and furious debates in private
The same csnkerwom which troubled that con.
ventio1, has frequently appeared as fatal disease
m Congress. and IN various parts OF the country.
since The Missouri question shook the conicde-
Tacy from centre to circumference. The accession
OF territory BROUGHT 20 this country by the bril-
liant war wih Mexico, has increased those dif-
hcuities eXaspcrated the old sores. and will. at
some future day. present very great obstacles IN
The way OF Incorporating or annexiHg either ana
ola or Cuba.
Look al the present position Of parties in he Nor
them States-the two national parties. VIII, - and
democrats-proclaiming themselves anti.sl,vey
Ia sentiment-both assuming the same ,,ro, md
Of future aouon-both presenting similar program
mes TO the people, whose votes they respectively
are seeking The Southern States will assume a
hostile position in order to defend their local nst.
iutions, their power and their ascendancy, as It
has heretofore been welded in Congress and in
The country. The slavery agitation, therefore, will
hereafter become a question Of balance of power
between the North and the South-the same ques-
ton which agtated the convention which formed
The constitution, and almost destroyed its efficacy
the same question which troubled the country on