The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-02-01
For lhs Union.
The Immediate question.

The Immediate question.
Cuba trembes the crisis oil hsr destiny. few
oobs may decide whether sbe is 10 be bond OF free
whether The most precious OF American islands, the
Heaven. planted sentinel OF southern sea, shall be-
long 10 the blacks whites. This is The immediate
question and il the Union does not make haste guard
/ against an adverse solution by declaring peremponly
and with authority that in no case will il permit the
negroes OF Cuba to be armed and licensed for the
subiugston OF the whi,esuness this position clearly
and decidedly taken by Congress, and taken al once
have good reason 10 fear that England is prepared 10
occupy with energy The field leave open to her use,
II is not a light TO any OF our observant statesmen
that is the aim and policy Of England TO secure the
negro preponderance the West Ines for as the nursing
mother and ever-ygilan guardian OF the coored
our border however she may deal with them elsewhere,
che makes secret OF her determination TO maintain in
every social aud official grade the dominating advantage
which the blacks derive from their numbers Thus in all
the British islands muatoes and negroes sprinkle through
every gathengfrom the colonial legislature to the gov
ernors dinner table there is found the same impressive
mosaic OF all shades and varieties Of color from the pure
and FURNISHED jet OF Africa to the spoess white OF north
em Europe. II is the pride and boast of England that
she taxed her tong industry at home to compensate in
mart The ruined planters of her West India islands for the
forced and abrupt emancipation OF their slaves and the
consequent stagnation OF their resources From that
peod Jamaica and the other British colonies have been
s,udously moulded into negro provinces by liberal and
systematic fos,eage OF the African population which, in
truth has succeeded well that may hope some day
to see the same generosity OF equality applied also to
India and Ireland and the object of this peculiar favo
ism IS conessedy with view TO possess the south
ern border OF the Union force capable of disturbing
at any emergency the social equilibrium of the entire
South Neither has the British government hesitated TO
dwell in open Parliament upon the value Of Cuba as
means OF cutiing in twain the trade between the Allan
u IT, "a h, "a 49,
luey necessary TO possess positive and recognised
colony. While owned by her ,imd and inert debtor,
SPAIN she can dictate her wishes and rely passive ODE
dience. If there is danger that Cuba may break her
chains she has but to say TO Spain, farm anu set the
negroes of the island in war OF races, and the unamed
whites will be extermiDated or subdued Cuba will
be converted to second San Domingo and become ut
tery worthless the Union This is, indeed the argu-
ment officially used by the British minister to the Court
of Spa0 when in September. and again in October he
urgently advises Spain 10 berae the blacks as the best
means preventing the annexation of the island OF Cuba
TO the United States. Whes the Spanish minister re-
plies that this procedure would be contrary the advice
which England has heretofore given to conclale the in
habtan Of Cuba the representative Of England prompt
" answers. "Not at all it is the coored population in
which England feels strong interest," and it must natu-
rally identity itself with the power that comedies 10 it
such valuable privileges" In bref. Lord Pameston and
Lord Howden do not pretend to veil their object in the
slightest They state TO Span and they 10 be
published in the leading London papers, that England
warmly desires the blacks OF Cuba lbera,ed or.
in other WORDS put in the ascendency in order make
the island worthless TO civilization and the United States
and "ihus prevent annexation" This casting act would
put the entire West Indies under black dominion for the
British and French islands little removed from Hayti
in the social pedominance OF the coored race and Eng
land would then reign The dictator of them all, and
such hold the key OF Gulf seaboad and The gates of
the Pacific transit.
For twenty years we have looked on yet saw not tina,
she was building up, shaping out. and consolidating
negro empire on threshold She bsasled of the power
TO cut into the communication between the manufacturing
North and the agricultural South but heard il not
She connived at the introduction of hundred thou
sand negroes from Africa increase the colored force
in which she has this deep and dsnerested interest," and
needed not, and even now when she declares Off
ciay and without reserve, that Cuba must be given to
the negroes 10 1t from annexation remain as if
il concerned us not
There twenty thousand Spanish soldiers in Cuba
and there fifty thousand negroes capable of bearing
arms Spanish fortresses level their ffowning artillery
on every populous city, ready 10 pour forth has,om
OF desolaion al the first uprising for liberty and be.
tween these forts and this legion of imported batbaans
is an oppressed and disseminated, but unarmed people
sghing for liberty, yet deadng 10 TO the desruc-
ton OF their helpless families The ierocous tiger that
Spain holds in leash England says "unchain this tiger
al once and ores,a annexation !" but Spain hesilaes
and is rather inclined not to light the destroying fire until
Cuba strikes Tor liberty. Ye, we all know that ngand
has the power 10 convert this advice into command al
any moment il essential 10 her plans 10 decide the
fate OF Cuba s%N6tf.
With this peril pressing upon the white race and upon
the dearest interests the Union what done 10 avert the
blow' Some statesmen persist in saying we can and will
purchase the island although Spain has proved to them
she will not sell il to us-ihat her vengeul spirit
would rather gre it to the Africans than sell j, this re-
public Others say that such a step would Justify and
cause war. But will war restore to civilization the
slaughtered life and ruined fields OF Cubai We cannot
the committed evil, but can take hint from
Exands policy Of prevention. and tina, Cuba is moi
delivered over TO the blacks Congress can declare in
awiul action OF selidefence, that neither Spain MOI
England shall be permitted TO carry out their plan OF
Aircanizng the island and tina, the amipg or banding
the bAcks a9ainst the whites with This in,en, would dis
charge people from the obligation of neutrality and
leave them free to 70 10 the OF outraged sste
people 500 ~ CORA MONTGOMERY
For tho Union.
Hon. Charles E. Stuart, OF Michigan
If Mr. Stno I'M NJ ~ TT,o -