The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-09-04
A GLIMPSE At TIE FUTURE.

The Southern Press, lew days since ntimated
that, should the struggle in Cuba go on till the
Captain General in accordance with his instruc-
lions, Gf such instructions there BEL should
emancipate and arm the slaves it would then be
proper for our Government TO interfere and take
possession of the island We are assured that
the Spanish Government has given such instruc.
tons, thereby making provision for very potent
means Of sefdefence.
We recollect when the French power was
menaced in St Domingo, the slaves were liberia
ted and armed, and the measure was found effect
ual the invasion was repealed, and the island Sc
cured to France. In evil hour she sought to
re5stablsh slavery, and 1t this insane policy
which brought upon st. Domingo all her woes.
The blacks, as might have been expected, resist.
ed and the country was desolated withy civil war.
The People of this country sympathzed with
the planters, but the fell spirit of Slavery Pro-
pagandism 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 n similar case remains to be seen.
Slavery at that time existed in the neighbor-
ing colonies Of England, so that, had she not
been employed elsewhere, she would have felt no
disposition to aid the blacks in their struggle In
a similar case now, as her colonies ore free, she
would feel very differently disposed.
! Whenever the Spanish authorities shall find
themselves unable to withstand revolutionary
movements, by ordinary means, the alternative
will then be distinctly presented to them-total
loss Of the colony, or continued possession by
the emancipation Of the slaves. The idea of re-
suhjugation 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 Slavery has
been abolished by the English and French Gov.
ernments, and the conviction that the re-institu.
tlon Of the system, if possible, would involve the
restoration of the revolutionists to power, and
again leopard Spanish rule, would deter them
from any such dangerous experiment. In the
relation of cOloniste the fidelity OF emancpated
slaves could be depended upon, for gratitude and
interest would unite to bind them to the parent
Government.
Let us suppose, then, that the Liberators in
Cuba should succeed in carrying revolution 80
far, that the Government should find itself
obliged to emsncipate the slaves, numbering a
half million. With the free blacks, they would
outnumber the whites some two hundred thou
sand. The war would at once be resolved into a
struggle between Slavery and Freedom. The
Liberators would stand before the world as the
Enslavers. Instead Of fighting for Cuban Liber-
ty, they would be fighting for Cuban Slavery.
| Their success would involve the Redistribution Of
ment, the establishment of Human Liberty
Where then would be found our American sym
pathizers7 Fighting to re6nsave their fellow
men From such contest, all those who hated
Oppression with sincerity, would be obliged to
withdraw. They would rejoice to rescue one
race from Spanish DespOtism, but could never
consent TO replunge another race into the deeper
and darker despotism Of Negro Slavery. Doubt
less, many, with sensibilites blunted to the
wrongs Of this system, might still continue in the
field, but what could they accomplish against
hordes of men, fighting for their personal free
dom, on ground familiar TO them, under veteran
officers, trained in camps, and sustained by the
resources Of an ample treasury
But the GorsyRmaI the SOnLeTH Press says,
should then interfere And liz IL TO be expected
that a Government, representing a Republic,
three-fourths OF whose citizens are hostile 10
Slavery, would undertake, in violation Of it's
fundamental principles, Of the public opinion OF
the world, and Of the faith OF Treaties, to make
war against friendly Power, for thu purpose Of
reestablishing the Slavery 1t had abolished with
In its dominions2
Suppose that IL even had the disposition to
embark In an enterprise so monstrous, motives Of
policy would restrain IT, II never could CON-
mand the full strength OF the country for such an
undertaking. We doubt whether the Union
could stand day, should il deliberately venture
upon it. But should this peril be avoided, is 1t
possible that England, SPANS ally, the poll
cy OF whose Government is decidedly anti-sls-
very, whose people would be inaamed beyond
measure by the attempt to force Slavery into any
part Of the West Indies in which it had been
abolished, and who would foresee that the inter
ference of our Government, IL etfectua for Its
Redistribution, would at the same time involve the
annexation Of the island to this country-is 1t