The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-09-13

when the public attention h earnestly directed
towards the lsIard Of Cuba, when the pubic In
terest 10 30 deeply excited by the eventfui strug-
gle going on there, and the public indignauon 30
and strongly aroused by the unteeling
conduct Of the government and mop OF Hasanas
it may be useful to direct The serious attention,
Of the South, to the probable conse-
quences of the unlawful enterprise they nave
encouraged. | have selected your paper Tor this
purpose, not only from It's extensive c'rcuia'ion'
but because it appears to that you entertain
sound views on tho subject of Southern rights,
aud express u proper interest in their presefva-
ton.
| visited Havana towards the close Of the year
1922, and found the respectable Creoles of the
Island, earnest 10 their v isles to be annexed TO
the United States, in order to be released from
the misrule Of their Spanish governors, and from
the insoience of the assassins, robbers, and pi-
rates. who walked the streets with impunity,
tolerated, il not protected, by the corrupt au-
thorities Of the city.
/ thought at that time that the govern
ment Of the United States would be authorised
to seize upon the island and root out these ban
dtti, who were preying upon the commerce, and
committing daily murders upon the high seas.
/ thought we should be justified in pursuing
these enemies Of the human race to their Turk
ing place, and occupying the island that gave
them aid and comfort urged the government
to pursue that course, publicly and from my
seat in Congress This measure was rendered
unnecessary by the appointment of Gen Tncon
to the commard of the island. lncorruptible
himself, he compelled his subordinates to ad-
minister the laws faithfully, while BY his daunt-
less courage, unceasng vigilance and active en-
ergy, the most daring were either punished or
reduced to submission the orderly citzens pro-
tected in their persons and property, and piracy
entirely suppressed.
Some Of the Creoles still continued to desire
and Intrigue to reyolotioDize the island and
wrest it from Spain; and for solpe time there
existed committee of Cubans in the capital OF
Mexico, and another in Columbia. Whether
instigated by the representations OF this COM
uittee, on from his own views Of the subject,
Bolivar proposed to the government OF Mexico
to make combined movement upon the island,
and treaty was actually made between the two
republics to this effect, the number of ships and
men agreed upon. and the commanders desig-
mated. One of the articles Of this treaty pro-
yided. that in the event Of failure, they should,
before abandoning the island. arm the slaves,
aud encourage them to revolt thus plotting
and agreeing in cold blood to convert Cuba into
another San Domingo rather than leave it in
the hands Of the Spaniards.
The Mexican government went so far as to
obtain the sanction OF Congress to embark the
troops of the republic, and transport them be-
vond the frontiers; but from some cause or
other, this expedition, which in all probability
would have terminated disastrously, was dropped
1t ia this fearful &C ntingency which desire to
bring 70 the view of my countrymen of the
South. If we are :" believe the patriot letter.
writer's from that island, the free blacks and mu-
Iattoes are enlisted and armed in their cause !.
and if fugtives from the plantations come in,
what guarantee have we that they will not be
enrolled and armed against the Spanish forces
If this struggle does not terminate in the
Of the whites, it will engender state
of disorder most destructive to the good gov
eminent Of the blacks. A guerilla warfare in
the mountains, where the fugitive slaves will
find refuge, and be encouraged to destroy the
property of their former masters, is the least of
the evils to be apprehended. A revolution, to
be successful, must be brought about by the
people themselves, seeking at all hazards to
shake off an oppressive and int0lerable burthen;
not by expeditions of armed foreigners. whether
by love Of liberty, or instigated by
the hope of immediate plumber, or remoter re-
wards. The leaders of these misguided men
snow that they will have to subsist them upon
he country they seek to liberate. In order TO
serve the people, they must prey upon them for
period longer or shorter, according to their
means; and it generally happens that such oner-
,us assistance renders revolution odious, and
certainly retards its progress, if, indeed, it does
not prevent its success.
The slave States have deep interest in what
= going on in Cuba. The citizens Of those
States ought to discourage all movements from
Without calculated to stir up nsurrection among
he slaves there The termination of these I'M
awful expeditions may be to add another to the
stands of the black Archipelago on our mari
time frontier.
The citizens of the non-slaveholdng States
ave an interest in the progress of these revolu-
ionary movements, affecting as they must the |
egIimate commerce of the country; and that |
our readers may know the extent of that com |
nerce. which would be annihiIated by such ca |
astrophe as apprehend, sutjoin an anthem
ic account of the condition Of that trade as II |
xisted in lS4S.
Is there not another danger to be appre-
ended May not Spain, in the extremity of
er fear of losing this valuable possession, the
ource of so much patronage and power, call
pom the civilized world to protect it from IN
awful invasion; and may not the powers of
he civilized world extend their protection TO
spain, and, if we cannot repress these lawless
nterprizes, do it for US; and seek their reward
y carrying out their antislavery schemes, IN
er the pretex of suppressing the slave trade
AT the period of the last revolution in Eu-
ope, when the people Of that continent were
very where rising in arms to assert their rights
nd s~eking to give evidence Of their devotion
D liberty by emancipating the blacks in their
Istant colonies, the Creoes of Cuba were scri
uslY alarmed lest the Spanish people should
9 infected with similar wishes, and seek to ex.
ibit liberal views at their expense, by liberatinp
ne slaves in the Spanish islands That the
'reoles of Cuba desire to share in the govern
rent, there can be no doubt; but that they are
. oppressed as to welcome invaders from our
hores to set them free, is not true. The wealthy
nd intelligent inhabitants Of the island depre-
ate all such attempts on the part of our citi-
ems. They are too enlightened not TO be aware
( the fearful consequences of such an interfer.
nee.
| would be glad to see Cuba annexed to the
United States, either by revolution effected by
er own citizens, or by purchase or | would be
qually well satisfied to see its independence
conrad and ryroroptoo1 h. bo ,x~oot .x,c~,t;....