Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1851-09-11
A Glimpse at the Future.


90 on till the Captain General, in accord
ance with his instructions, (if such instruc-
tons there be,) should emancpate and
arm the slaves, it would then be proper for
chr Government to interfere and take pos
session of the island. We are assured that
the Spanish Government has given such
instructions, thereby making provision for
very potent means of self-defence.
We recollect when the French power
was menaced in St. Domingo, the slaves
we're liberated and armed, and the measure
was found ehectual the invasion was re-
pelled, and the island secured to France.
In an evil hour she sought to re-establish
slavery, and it was this insane policy which
brought upon St. Domingo all her woes.
The blacks, as might have been expected,
resisted, and the country was desolated with
civil war.
The people of this country sympathi1ed
with the planters, but the fell spirit Of Sla-
very Propagandism did not then prevail;
and besides, had they been so inclined, they
were not strong enough to interfere by
force. What they would now do in SINH
Slavery at that time existed in the neigh
boring colonies of England, so that had she
not been employed elsewhere, she would
have felt no disposition 10 aid the blacks in
their struggle. In similar case now, as
her colonies are free, she would feel very
differently disposed.
Whenever the Spanish authorities shall
| e ~ Ill Al.
tonary movements, by ordinary means, the
alternative will then be distinctly presented
to them-total loss to the colony, or con-
tinued possession by the emancipation of
the slaves The idea of resubjugation of
course could never be entertained. The
fatal blunder of the French in St Domingo,
the influence of England, the condition of
the rest of the West Indies, in which slave
ny has been abolished by the English and
French Governments, and the conviction
that the reconstruction of the system, if pos
sibe, would involve the restoration of the
revolutionists to power, and again leopard
Spanish rule, would deter them from any
such dangerous experiment. In the rela-
ton of colonsts, the fidelity of emancipa-
ted slaves could be depended upon, for
gratitude and interest would unite to bind
them to the parent government.
Let US suppose, then, that the llberators
in Cuba should succeed in carrying revolu-
ton so far, that the Government should
find itself obliged to emancipate the slaves,
numbering half million. With the free
blacks, they would outnumber the whites
: some two hundred thousand. The war
: would at once be resolved into a struggle
i between Slavery and Freedom. The liber-
ators would stand before the world as the
r enslayers. Instead Offghting for Cuban lib
erty, they would be fighting for Cuban sla-
very. Their success would involve the re-
institution of human bondage; the success
OF the Government, the establishment of
human liberty. Where then would be
found our American sampathizers? Fight
ing to re-ensave their fellow men From
such contest, all those who hated oppres-
sion with sincerity. would be obliged to
withdraw. They would rejoice to rescue
one race from Spanish despotism, but could
never consent 10 replunge another race into
: the deeper and darker despotism of Negro
= Slavery. Doubtless, many, with sensbiIities
t blunted to the wrongs of this system, might
e still continue in the field, but what could
e they accomplish against hordes of men,
o fighting for their personal freedom, on
: ground familiar to them, under veteran Off
GERS, trained in camps, and sustained by
!, the resources of an ample treasury?
But the Government, the Southern Press
says, should then interfere. And is it to
a be expected that Government, represent
Y ing Republic, three.fourths of whose citi-
zens are hostile TO slavery, would undertake
: in violation of its fundamental principles, of
the public opinion of the world, and of the
/ faith of treaties, to make war against a.
friendly power, for the purpose of re-estab-
, fishing the slavery it had abolished within
} its domnionsl
Suppose that it even had the disposition
to embark in an enterprise so monstrous,
4 motives of policy would restrain it. 1t new
: er could command the full strength OF the
: country for such an undertaking. We
, doubt whether the Union could stand a day,
5 should it deliberately venture upon it. But
should this peril be avoided, is it possible
: that England, SPANS ally, the policy of
whose government IS decidedly anti-slavery.
S whose people would be infiamed beyond
t measure by the attempt to force slavery into
I any part of the West Indies in which il has
VI been abolished, and who would foresee that
q the interference of our Government, if eff.
t fectual for its Redistribution, would at the
: same time involve the annexation of the
S island to this country-is it possible that
!, England, under such circumstances, could
: avoid being drawn into war with the Uni
ted States2 What spectacle then would
} be presented to the world England, a
: monarchy, resisting by force of arms, the
a attempt of the United States, the Model Re-
: public, 10 re-enact the curse of Slavery-re-
a enact it, too, in country not belonging to
them, owing them no allegiance, but the
: possession and dependency of power, 10
: which 1t was bound in covenant Of peace.
S and which had given it not the sill htest
: provication
American power can defend itself against
world IN arms In any righteous enter.
prise, we believe it unconquerable but in
such an enterprise as that, carried on
against such odds, ignominious defeat would
be the inevitable result. With the loss Of
+ ITS good name and the sympathy of man.
0 Kind, the prestige of success would depart
a and, in the hour of its darkness, fire.
1t side foe might be emboldened to defy lis
d vengeance.
: Considerations af this kind would restrain
: our government from the policy suggested
!, oy the Southern Press. Southern institu.
tons are not to be securel by criminal
sr crusade in behalf of Slavery in others lands
At by punging the Federal Government in
y a serVlle war with the subjects Of foreign
m power Could Cuba be annexed neaceabIy