The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1853-11-01
Cuba, The Cmitesl States and EIg-



The Washington Union, like other equally un-
Informed commentators on the diplomatic affairs
Of this country, in an article a day or two ago,
! foreshadowcd successful movement of Lord
| 1Iowdcn in consammatny an arrangement with
the Spanish government, providing for the grad
ual abolition of slavery III the Island of Cuba,
and introducing into that Island 4 system of
African apprenticeship.
If the Union had been tnlerably well inform
el-if that paper had not been intolerably ig-
norant of the negotiations in Madrid, having so
important bearing upon the Urited States
it might have told us that in truth no such trca-
| ty has been negotiated by Lord lIowdcn. The
system of apprenticeship, it is believed, would re-
ceive an unqualified condemnation, as being
neither more nor less than legaiizel revival of
the slave trade.
The proposition to gradually abolish slavery
in the Island is all that has engaged the atten-
tion of the British negotiator, and that is in no
state of forwardness.
The truth Of the case is probably here. Lord
Howden has, for the last year, been engaged in
extricating the emancipados of Cuba-negrocs
liberated under the mixed commission sitting in
Havana-about eight thousand in number The
arrangements made in Madrid for the discharge
of these men from scrvitude were arrested by the
Captain General at Havana, because of some
supposed disturbance which theirlibcration might
create in the Island
That Lord 1uwden may have in view plan
for the gradual abolition Of Slavery in Cuba we
think quite possible The question is one of
vast consequence to the United States; but ad.
ditional Importance attaches to it from the pecu-
liar relations known to subsiSt between the cabi
nets of London and Paris on all questions affcc-
ting the material interests of the American peo.
pie. The Tripartite Treaty SO recently proposed
by those cabinets, and rejected BY Mr. Flllmorc's
government, WIS part of the original pro-
gramme of.operations having in view the defeat
of any design Oh the part of the United States
for the acquisition of Cuba We might 90 far
ther back and refer to the Quintuple Treaty, pro-
posed by the great Powers, and intended by the
Cabinet Of London to combine all the strong
governments of Europe against this republic, to
humble and cripple its maritime energies, and to
array against lis force sufficient to overawe and
parylze our people. 1t is well understood that
MIR. Calhoun's celebrated letter to Mr.. King,
then American Minister in Paris, was written
with direct view of throwing before the French
people the political and economical bearings of
the institution Of slavery upon the labor of the
world, and to open their eyes to the designs of
Great Britain in her persistent efforts to abolish
slavery in the United States and in the West In
dies. MIR. Calhoun saw in these designs only
purpose to affect injuriously the material in
terests OF this continent a purpose SO steadily
pursued by the British government, and every
day rendered more and more apparent. The re-
suit Of the Mexican war, whicIrenablcd us to en-
tend our possessions to the Pacific, and to hold
absolute commercial dominion on that ocean :;
the vast increase of our power and its positive
influence upon European diplomacy-tlc rcicc-
ton of the Trpartitc Treaty and the probable
absorption of Cuba at an early day; the weak
ness and almost certain decline of Mexico. and
the consequent extension of our territory in that
dlrectlon the close intimacy Of the cabinets Of
London and Paris, render it extremely probable
that there is in contemplation treaty between
England and Spain, by which the latter power
power proposes to abolish slavery in the Island
of Cuba.
We leave out Of view all discussion of the cf-
feet upon the human family of the proposed
abolition Of slavery in Cuba. Whether its bur-
thsRs arc to be removed or not by it--whether
Cuba itself is to be thus benefited in its general
lndustry-whether the people of that island are
or are not in favor Of Such plan of gradual
emancipation, to be worked out under The exist
ing Spanish rule-all these things have little
bearing upon the question, so far as it is viewed
by the American people. 1t is with us poIiti-
cal and not an economical problem. 1t is a cri,
SIS in our foreign relations, in which is presented
a proposition having the concurrence, in our
judgment, of all the great Powers to interfere
directly with the institution of slavery in the
United States. 1t is in vain that Eng land tells
us that such treaty has no reference to the
question OF sovreignty in Cuba, that it has no
bearing upon the institutions of the L. States
they might as we'll block up the Gulf Of Mexico,
and inform us that we can find an easy outlet
northward for our produce, 10y Railroads and
canals, through tile plains and the lakes. They
might as well demand the possession of our forts
on the seaboarI, or attempt to convince us of
the utter folly OF maintaining our navy, on the
plea that neither the one nor the other will ever
be necessary III defence oraggrcssion The grad.
ual emancipation of Cuban slaves, under the
protection Of England, is substantially the con-
quest Of that island by her. BY it Spain sur
renders her sovereignty as sure y as if she had
ceded the territory itself. The practical effect
of such step, if recognised and permitted by
the American people, is not only to place the is
land in the hands of a hostile power, but actual
Iy to build up upon our Southern borders n gov
ernment whose very office it will be to assiil the
institutions Of the United States.
Nc~ York HcruM.
Az OLD GRuDGE.-A writer in the Charles.
ton Evening News, speaking ofthe reports con.
cernng Britain interference in Cuban matters