The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-02-17

| Have We not, In the views prooohi WIZ
key to the doubts and perplexities which evl-
IDENTIFY beset the conservative and far-seeing
statesmen of the South Ga revolving the
whole subject do they not begin to see that
Slavery, after all, may lose great deal more
than it can gain by the annexation OF Cnoa
We say the conservative men CT the south
but these, We presume, hardly constitute the ma
jority. And, in the view we have taken DO we
not see why it is that Anti-Slayery men feel
less alarm concerning the consequences oil an
nexation, the more it is discussed
Thus far. we have considered the question "i
annexation by purchase. The same remarks
would apply to peaceful annexation, however
effected, whether by voluntary transfer on the
part of the Creoles after the establishment oil
their independence, or by the Spanish Govern
ment in some contingency where that act
might be dictated by selfinterest.
The only question, therefore, which is yet to
be considered, is the annexation OF Cuba by
force. Nobody in this country proposes to
wrest Cuba FRI Spain, violently, without rea-
son or pretext Still, forcibe seizure is in the
contemplation of some, who contend that 1t
may be justified in any one of three cases
Should Spain commit outrages upon our clti-
zens, and refuse prompt and sufficient redress
or, should an attempt be made to transfer the
island to any other Power OF, should the Gre
oles revolt, and while carrying on the struggle
4 ~ A = =,
try. 1t is held that in any one Of these cases,
justfying cause, or at least deceit pretext,
would be found for taking possession of the
island
Without stopping TO inquire whether such
interposition would be right or wrong but as
suming that it would be attempted, let US con-
slider the probable results.
The might that slumbers in the muscles of
half million of labcring men, semi-bar barous,
halfsubdued, longing still for the wild freedom
they enjoyed in their African home, is ele-
ment not to be overlooked in such convulsOn
as would attend q violent attempt to wrest the
island from its present connection Spain
has no paternal regard for Cuba 1t cares
nothing for the interests of its people, any fur
Their than it can make them subscrvient to its
special benefit. This is sufficiently proved by
the encouragement it gives to the slave trade
and the extortion and oppression to which it
subjects the colonists In the event of a rising
of the Creoles or q descent upon the island,
should it be convinced of its inability to retain
its supremacy, it would certainly give freedom
and arms to the slaves, unless anticipated in the
movement by the Creolcs 1t is out of the ques-
ton to dream that such an Element should re-
main inactive amidst the commissions attending
civil war or invasion. By one side or the other
would its power be invoked but once enamel
pated, with arms in their hands, taught to
know and use their strength, the freedmen
could never be reduced again to bondage. ST.
Domingo reads us a lesson on this point not
to be forgotten.
Now, the supposition is that this country
would be the chief actor in the drama either
"a the ally of the revolted Creoles, or the aven-
ger of its own wrongs, or the protector of its
own rights, as against European aggression.
But what would DO its position, with half a
million of slaves in Cuba, emancipated, and en-
listed, either under the Creole banner, as its
allies, or under the flag OF Spain, US its foes
Could it draw back without disgrace Could
it go on without DISASTER What could it
make out of such a contest Who can foresee
the tremendous consequences that might follow
from the reaction upon certain domestic in
stitutions!n
Turn the subject ~ you will, it is difficult to
see how Slavery is to gain anything substantial
from the agitation Of the question of Cuban
annexation or from the contamination of the
measure on the contrary, it is difficult to see
how it could go through the struggle and
changes attending such measure without in.
calculable loss.
So it seems to us, but not, as we believe, to a
majority Of Shareholders. The most sagacious
shrink, appalled,, at the contemplation of the
subject but there are more who, intent upon
private interest, greedy of power, daring and
self.oonfdent, are not to be inundated by any
cold calculation of consequences.