The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-01-06


and educated under Spanish despotism, unac-
exercised the right of suffrage, and who have
no Just views of Free Governments do not
think the influence of such men in this Hall
would be worth 500, 100000 But the Span
ish poulation of Cuba would not only be brought
into full political association with our people
but they would come into the Union with great
er advantages, influence, and power, over our
rights and interests, than we ourselves possess.
Their influence under our Constitution will be
proportioned to the number of their slaves
counting five of those newly-imported Cuban
negroes fresh from the African coast, equal in
moral and political influence TO three of our
free citizens Of the North; 80 that the holder
of five of those slaves will WELD the same in
fuence in the Federal Government which four
of our Northern men exercise. Now, let those
Representatives who really think their con-
stltuents to be worthy of only one-fourth part
of the moral and political influence to which
those Cuban Shareholders are entitled vote to
give the Sl00,O0OO0O to degrade their constit-
uents and posterity to the level of those Cuban
slaves. Sir, deny the wight and the consti-
tutional power of this Government thus to de-
grade and disgrace the freemen of Ohio. Will
my Democratic colleagues or my Wing col
leagues, take issue with me on this point Will
either of those parties inscribe Cuban annexa-
ton upon their banner at the next election?
Yet sir until the people consent thus to dis
grace themselves and their children in coming
time, this insult to our dignity cannot be con-
summated. Win not such a proposition stir
up agitation! But sir, we have merely COM
menced upon the difficulties which surround
and embarrass the purchase of Cuba The
eight hundred thousand slaves of Cuba were
mostly born in Africa, and imported to that
island They are desperate, and have little
regard for human life. For many years past
the military force required to hold them in sub
lection has been estimated at twenty thousand
men, or twice the military force now main
tanned by this Government The annual cost
OF maintaining such an army in that island
would not probably fall short of $4,000, 900 !;
and the expense of civil government, including
lighthouses, local legislation, pay of members
of Congress, &c, would not be less than
100000; while the revenue under our
laws being assessed only upon imports, would
not exceed S2,50O,OOO. Thus there would be
a net annual expenditure of more than twenty
millions of dollars over the revenues of the
island to hold their slaves in subsection. That
amount would be drawn mostly from our labor
ing men of the free States And now ask, in
all kindness, how long do you believe the labor
ing people of Ohio would consent to paw troops
at that rate to stand sentinel over the slave
drivers of Cuba, while they lash these degraded
minions into submission?
But q standing army of twenty thousand
men will not be sufficient TO maintain this sys-
tenn of oppression That island now imports
some thirty thousand African slaves annually.
They are ignorant and stupid they have no
common language and are incapable of any
concerted movement for freedom By annex
ing Cuba to the United States, this foreign
slave trade will be cut of, and the supply of
victims will then be drawn from our slave
trading States This, sir, is the great object
for which annexation is sought. IL will en-
nance the price of human chattels in our North
ofa sl:"c States But .hsre. egsin. God has
thrown around this gigantic crime, dangers
which cannot be avoided. These slaves will
be more enlightened; they will speak the Eng
lish language, which is spoken in all the Brit
ish Islands. They will have some knowledge
of their rights, and of the means of obtaining
them. Nor will they want for leaders to guide
them in the work of achieving their liberty
The whole eight hundred thousand free color
ed people in the neighboring islands will SYM
pathize with them. Some Douglass, some Re-
mond, some Ward, or other hero, will be found
to plan and conduct instructions, some Touis-
SAINT to lead them in battle Your troops will
find active employment Fire and sword will
be called into service; devastation, rapine, an
slaughter, will be carried by the infatuated
slaves over the plantations and villages Two
hundred thousand colored men, rendered des-
perate by barbarous oppression, will constitute
no mean force, when fighting for life and lib
erty In that struggle, MIR jefferson has as
sured us the Almighty possesses no attribute
which will permit him to take sides with the
oppressors. No, sir, our conscences and our
sympathies must be with the oppressed. Our
prayers will be that justice shall take place
and if the opprcssors be laid low in death. we
shall view it with Christian submission. Then.
sir, this Government will possess the constitu
tional power to conclude a peace by the total
abolition of this accursed system of oppression.
And do you think that Congress will long con.
tinue such a war? Will they shoot down those
who thus strike for liberty? Or will they not
rather consent to return to them their God
given rights?
And, Sir, would say to our Southern friends
that when this spirit of liberty shall once be
aroused among the blacks of Cuba, they will
be very likely to bring the war into Florida,
Alabama, and other Southern States. Mr..
Chairman, annex Cuba now, with it's present
slave population, and you and may live to see
our slave States devastated by servile war.
Indeed, am surprised that the colored popu-
lation there have remained supinely inactive
80 long These States are at this time sup
pressed volcanoes, ready to burst forth when
ever the elements shall become agitated. The
annexation of Cuba will rock this Union to its
centre, and the hidden flames will find vent,
and the fire will extend until slavery be con-
sumed. When that day of retributive Justice
shall overtake our Southern friends, we, sir,
will interpose, not by shooting down the VIC
tins of oppression, by numbering those who
have been oppressed wronged, and outraged,
but by making peace with them upon terms of
Justice and admitting them to the enjoyment
of their liberty
But Mr.. Chairman, | have spoken only of
the peaceful purchase of Cuba, and its conse-
quences. II is the only mode in which We can
obtain it. We can get it in no other mode
Slavery sits like an incubus upon our nation,
paralyzing all our energies, and rendering q
war with any powerful nation impoltic and
dangerous. We cannot go to war for the con-
quest of Cuba. And, sir, from what we learn
by the correspondence before us, rs well as
from other sources, Spain will not be likely to
sell it to us. She has taken her position on this
point and has long maintained it. She will
continue to maintain it. The old Castilan de.
termination of purpose will guide her councils
in future. am, therefore, very clearly of opin-
ion that We shall not have Cuba, so long as the
friends of liberty continue to call public atten-
ton to the wrongs and crimes of slavery
The policy of the Spanish Government to set
the slaves of Cuba free, in case of formidable
INVASION forbids all hope of obtaining it by con-
quest. IL is now well known that, prior TO the
Lopez expedition, the Governor General had
express orders if he found it necessary to de-
| fend the island 10 abolish slaverv and mt