The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-12-09
From The Oharieston IS. 81 Mercury. Dec: s.
Cmbn aud the GOuth. t't

from Ms Cn0Tfest0n -. . mercury. Lee D.
Cuba and the South.
To us by far the most interesting aspect of the
Cuba question is the special relation which that
colony bears to the Southern States slave holding
communities. IL ia admitted that we have deep
interest in the preservation of its institutions, and
the confederation of this has probably more than
any other reason induced many southern men to
sympathize with the late attempts at revolution,
and to rejoice In the prospect OF bringing Cuba
into the Union. II would, they urge, secure the
Shareholders Of Cuba from European emancipa-
ton, and would add new slave State to balance
California.
In regard to the first of these considera ions.
whatever might have been true some years ago, it
is not now true that any European nation seeks to
deprive Spain ofths colony. England and France
would at this moment gladly unite with our Gov
eminent in a treaty assuring to Spain ito undis-
turbed possession. II is equaly certain that Spain
will maintain slavery in the island 80 long as it ia
for her interest to do it. The whole value of the
colony depends on slave labor. Without that, all
Of its cultivated fields would be abandoned; il
would no longer afford the revenue to maintain
an army for its protection; it would send no trib.
ute to the royal exchequer, and its large and val
There is no fear that Spain will sacrifice 80 much
for the sake of aping the ort.sighted and now
grievousy punished experiments in philanthropy,
that have destroyed the wealth and industry OF so
large q part of the Wcst Indies.
AS to the second consideration, that The acquisi-
ton Of Cuba would restore the equilibrium OF The
free and slave States, it can hardly be properly
answered without going over the whole queston
Will it be slave State when acquired? We have
seen that it cannot be obtained by purchase-that
it's acquisition would be at the cost of war. This
struggle then, would be between the United States
the majority of whom anti slavery, and Spain,
whose only motive for defending slavery is found
in the pcaceabe enjoyment OF its benefits in Cuba,
aided, or at least encouraged and advised, by Eng
land and France, who would throw their weight
on the side Of emancipation. If we could not be
tad frOUD In Of fha iata md ita
possession could easily be made valueless, and
even pest to US, by the abolition Of slavery. la
estimating the possibility Of efiectng this, We must
RENE Inber that one third of the black and coored
population OF the island ia already free, and that
the greater part Of the slaves not natives, but
imported from Africa within the last twenty five
years. ~. s.. ......g. .....U
Moreover, the fact of such a great part of the
slave population being but half reclaimed ges,
with no strong local attachments, and no love for
their masters, has given riae to system Of severity
in their management, which puts the whole OF
them in very different position towards the
VIII tee from that which they hold among 1t is
clear that it would cost great effort the part
of the Spanish authorities to throw the slave popu
lation of Cuba into state OF complete insubordna-
ton. Would they do il? Perhaps not; but there
is probability enough of it to make it very inter-
esting point in discussing the duty and policy OF
the Southern States in regard to the acquisition of
Cuba by force. SOFA VS. s. a-...- Fas.s.. ...s
1t does not follow, therefore, that in conquering
Cuba we should gain slave country. 1t is quite
uncertain, if we did, that it would be admitted
as State. IF the South is interested in restoring
ing her superiority. Before. they had an equality
in the Senate, and they succeeded in deprving
Californin~of all government whatever. until it
came before them for admission as State with an
anti-slavery constitution. Now, they cannot only
check the South-they can vote US down in both
Houses; and are they likely to surrender superb
ority which they have violated every principle of
good faith. and endangered the Union, to obtain
De-. nnk he. ka 40
justify her admiss ion into the Union? There is a
white population, native to the island, or perma.
nently settled, amounting to near 600 900, double
that Of the white population Of South Carolina in a
territory little larger than State,) not one of
whom ever exercised political franchise, or ever
took share in public affairs, other than to submit
to the power, and shout around the chariot wheels,
of established authority. We propose to drive out
all those who have held rule; and of those who
have heretofore only had experience of unquestion-
ing submission, we propose to make a Democratic
Republic, and this in the face of 200 900 free
and 100000 slaves freshly imported from Africa.
Among all the recent abortive attempts at free
government in Europe, was there single one
commenced under such desperate auspices as this!
Is it not absolutely certain that, to preserve order
in such community, army would be neces.
sary? And where there was an army for the pur-
pose of domestic peace and civil rule, could there
be State? Would admit into the Union @
State which had no power Of self government, but
was in the hands of the United States army and
navys Ill. 49,.
| But, suppose all these difficulties conquered
| what has the South gained by restoring the ba.
| lance of sections? We surrendered every thing
| when allowed the North to appropriate the
| whole of the Western Territories. There will b.
| new States formed. whose admission we canno,
oppose any hitherto recognised principles; and
| what have we to balance tbem? Can we keep Min
| nesota, or Oregon, or Nebraska, or New Mexico
| out Of the Union for any length OF time; and
when one of them is admitted, what becomes Of the
sectional equilibrium? II is too late to seek shelter
under that, nd the sooner we make up cur mindi
that our only safety is in sternly and unitedly
, standing by what we have, the moro will be ou
prudence and the surcr our defence.
We have thus in the bricfest space answered the
two argumen ts used by Southern men for the &C
| QUESTION of Cuba. There still remains some
siderations, not unmportant to our readers, L
which shall ca II their attention in another ar
| ticle. '.