The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-08-28


Free cOlored I52,s3s 1926
] slaves ~ ,5o 4, 5attssS
1t was the belief Of intelligent persons, capable
of forming an estimate that in ls4l the officia
statistics moderated the number Of slaves anC
no one can doubt that the statement of SAC is
false one. 1t is impossible, that with the larg
slave importation into Cuba from ls4l to 1916
the slave population should have decreased on
hundred and thirteen thousand. The Govern
ment had been inundated by attempts at servil
instruction, and hence the policy of undertaking
the number of the slaves, so as to conceal from
themselves their real strength.
The slaves and free oolorcd race doubtless out
number the whites at least two hundred thou
sand-so that in the event Of conflict between
the races especially should the servie class be
aided by the authorities, the result could scarce.
| ly be doubtful
The island lies at the mouth Of the Gulf OF
Mexico commanding the entrance on the north
west, between its northernmost point Hicacos
and Cape Sable in East Florida, the width being
little over one hundred miles, and also the
southwestern entrance 81 miles broad, between
its Cape, st. Antonio, and Cape Catsche, the
extreme point of Yucatan. The entire trade be-
tween our Atlantic and Pacific empires, and be-
tween the Mississippi valley and the Eastern
States, 80 far as it is carried by sea- would be
at the absolute mercy of any powerful maritime
nation possessing the island
With an area of IS 900 square miles, or nearly
35OO0,O0O acres, large portion Of which is not
yet brought under cultivation, Cuba abounds in
the richest tropical productions; and even now,
under a system of taxation which EFFORTS yearly
from her population some twenty -four millions of
dollars, exports to the amount OF about forty mil
lions
From the time when our Government obtained
| possession Of Louisiana and Florida, the condi-
ton and relations of the island have been watched
| by it with extreme solicitude. Sympathizing to
a certain extent with the movements of the Pa
triots in South America, it yet promptly nterfered
to arrest their project for invading and revolu-
tionizing Cuba not that it had any special OBJ
lection to its independence, could it have been
achieved without domestic violence and main
tanned without disturbance from abroad but it
feared slave insurrection, which would have
resulted either in the establishment of black
republic, dangerous TO the safety of Slavery in
the South, or in the Intervention of England or
France, and the establishment of a maritime
power in the island, dangerous to the commerce
and welfare of the Union ct large. Since then
it has been generally understood that the Federal
mil b,t al 81
tinue an appendage to the Spanish Crown, from
which no danger could be apprehended, would
never consent that it should pass under the con-
troll of any other foreign Power. Southern states
men went further than this They desired its
annexation to the Union and had public sent-
ment been fully prepared for it, strenuous efforts,
ere this, would have been made by the Govern.
ment to secure the consent of Spain, by purchase.
The movement Of Mr.. Yulee in the Senate, re-
ferred to in another column, shows the policy of
the Slave Power in relation to the measure.
Meantime the people of Cuba have become
revolutionary The example Of the Colonies of
Spain on the Continent our own exhibition of
republican energies, and, still later, the convul-
sions of Europe produced by the prevalence Of
democratic ideas, have naturally awakened ideas
of selfgOvernment among the Cubans. They
see themselves excluded from all share in their
cwn Government their interests uncsred for,
their rights trampled upon, their resources
drained to support mercenary soldiery in the
work Of ensaving them, and the reeult Is deep
and almost universal disaifection. One might
suppose that all they had to do was TO wiH to he
free But they are generally uneducated, with.
out union, or the means Of union, and without an
ample supply of arms for the Government has
put down all freedom of the press forbidden
popular assemblages, and deprived them, so far as
il could, Of the means of asserting their liberty
Besides, the dread Of a servile instruction held
them ia check In the commissions of civil war
deadly enemy might spring upon them at their
very hearthstones,
But leading revolutionists have been busy In
efforts to inspire their countrymen with courage
They have directed their attention to the People
OF the United States, as standing ready to coun
tenance and aid them in the attempt to achieve
their independence They have pointed them to
the STERN Of revolution which swept over Europe
two years since, carrying away the monarchy In
France, and with it Slavery in the French de.
Tendencies. Another revolution may leave Spain
republican, and the accession of Democracy there
may involve the downfall Of Slavery in Cuba
There is no safety now, they say, for Slavery
except in the American Union. Once admitted
to its fellowship, and the institution in Cuba
might defy the world, exempt from foreign inter-
ference, safe against domestic violence. This
train of argument is strongly insisted on In a
pamphlet in favor Of Cuban Revolution and An
nexatiOn, now lying upon our table
Unable to print their papers at home, the lead
erS have resorted to this country, and In our
principal cities sstablshed centres Of operations,
whence they have issued publications, and car
ried on active correspondence, not only with Gu
ban patriots, but with their friends among US. In
this way the late attempts at revelation In Cuba
OF which we have heard SO much, have been
stimulated and sustained.