Southern shield., 1850-06-29
The United States and Spain.


 Notwithstanding the contrary reports of the various letter-writers and newsmongers about this city, which we see published in the Eastern papers within the last day or two, we learn, with much qualification, that there is nothing in the aspect of affairs between this Government and that of Spain to warrant the apprehension of a rupture between them at this time. The Cuba ex- petition has been god-send to these letter. writers, in the dearth of other and more interesting information, and they have made the most of it. Vague rumors are often seized upon by these gentlemen, in the streets and hotels in this city, and he is generally considered but sorry correspon- dent who cannot occasionally communicate something more novel and exciting than his contemporaries. A story will start from Wllard's Hotel, at one end of the avenue, and, before it arrives at the National, it will beat the 'three black crows"
 The Government has no knowledge of any torture or death inflicted upon the Contoy prisoners, as reported in letters thus dispatched from this city, and we trust that in few days the communications with Cuba will put an end to the rumors. But what next? Why, in less than week after the present alarming apprehensions have been quieted, something else will be seized upon for letter-writing capital, and to satis- fy the demand for fresh excitement. But, to address ourselves more directly to the alarming statements transmitted from this city in Washington correspondence during the last week, we feel authorized to say, that, from the just and amicable tenn per of the Spanish Minister near this Gov ernment, and the prudent advice which it may be presumed that he has given to the younger and probably more impuIsive Governor-General of Cuba-as we'll as from the unequivocal language addressed to him by our Secretary of State, through our Consul, Gen. Campbell-there is no reason to anticipate any harm to the men who en- parked from the island of Contoy, and were captured by the Spanish cruisers and car ried into Havana. These men (though the | Creole marauderS were recruited in part from among them) committed no act of hostility against Cuba, nor is there any sufficient proof that they designed any, but the contrary; and therefore, though they had sailed from foreign port, and not from the United States, when they were cap- ] tnred, yet, being known to be in part at least American citizens, it is the duty of our Government to extend its protection to them, and avert or punish any harm to life or limb.
 The Spaniards of Cuba have, it is true, reason to feel deeply aggrieved. A lawIess banditti has landed on their peaceful shores in the dead of night, burnt their houses, murdered their people, and escaped by hasty flight to the United States; and, had they captured and executed every one of the invaders, no one could have justly con- plained. But, in their indignation against these violators of law and humanity, the | Cubans must take care not to confound the innocent with the guilty, and bring down on their own heads the penalty of offended justice.-National EnteAgencer.
 l CONDITION OF THE BLACKS IN CANADA A correspondent of the Newark Daily Ad- vertiser, moderate and highly respectable anti-slavery paper, writing from Detroit, Michigan, under date of May 26th, says:
 "The debates on the slavery question be. ing dull, took drive over into Canada, to see what really is the condition of the slaves delivered there by the "under ground railway We found a new purchase, where houses for the occupancy of some 30 families are preparing. There is colony of 1000 in and about Maiden, Is miles down the river, and large one in the nte- rior. There are so few facilities for obtain | ing a livelihood, that their condition is often worse than that of our own free blacks, and but for the contributions of the friends of this enterprise, would be worse. It is said that many would be glad to return to their masters"
 This is written by an abolitiopist, who is likely to give as favorable an account as il possible of these stolen fruits of his rascal