Washington sentinel., 1853-10-23
From the Union OF Thursday.
The Cuban Question.

From the Union OF Thursday.
The Cuban Question.
"The rumors which have prevailed for some
time as to the interference of Great Britain in the
slavery question in Cuba are revived, with cir
cumsances of coroboration so strong that there is
but little room left for doubt as to their truth Il
has been about twelve years, if our memory is not
at fault, since Sir Robert Peel justified the propo
sition TO indemnify the owners of slaves in Ja-
| maica for their emancipation, upon the ground
| that the measure of aboishing slavery in that
| island would exert an influence upon this CONT
nent, and that twenty millions of pounds sterling
would be well spent for such an object. That
| policy, as we believe has been steadily pursued
| by the British government, and is now actually
consummated, or is about being consummated in
the scheme of introducing apprentices from Africa
| into Cuba, with the consent of Spain and under
the protection of British shps-ofwar to be worked
for ten years slaves; with the further agree
ment that slavery shall cease to exist in the island
at the end of fifty years. We have reason to be-
| lieve from our private advices from Havana that
wealthy Spanards in Cuba now negotiating for
the sale of African apprentices at fixed prices, in
| anticipation OF importatons, for which arrange
ments have been made with the government of
| Madrid and sanctioned and guaranteed by the
British government. In that spirit of open-spoken
freedom which ought TO be the ruling characteris-
| tic OF an American press, we deem it our duty TO
| call the attention of the American people TO the
information derived from these signifc ant facts
| 1t becomes us to survey them with caImness and
determination. We would not indulge in pas
| sionate denunciation, but we would speak as we
| would have our government TO act with prompt
| ness, trmness, and energy.
"As question OF humanity, the practical exc
cution of the scheme Of Africanizing Cuba is re-
voting to human nature. II has but to be looked
at in this point of view TO in it revival in its
| most hdeous form, of the slave trade. Let il be
! remembered that the condition of the apprentice
for the ten years of his servitude is to be stripped
n in ha of fba TTnifa aJ
States which make humanity of treatment an OBJ
jcct of interest as well of duty to the owner
The apprentice is to be sold into bondage for ten
years, and during that period is to be subjected TO
| such system of labor and treatment as will prove
most profitable to the exactions of unfeeling ava
rice. Ten years Of such bondage will be infinitely
worse than lifetime of three-score years and
ten Of the slavery which exists in our southern
States. Ten years will become the limit Of physi-
cal capabity in th6apprentice; and if he survives
this limit with life, il will only be his lot take
his freedom with no capacity to enjoy it. On the
4 mere question of humanity, the sentiments of the
4 civilized world ought TO rise up and denouhce it
i as too shockingy barbarous to be tolerated.
| :" But it is our duty to look at the movement in
its intended and its probable bearing upon our ma
tional interests, and in this point of view il pre-
| sents question of momentous magnitude Form
ing our opinion upon wel-authenticated historical
facts we are justified in attributing 10 Great Bri-
tain now the same motive which Sir Robert Peel
avowed in regard TO the abolition Of slavery in
| Jamaica-the motive of exerting an influence on
the institutions Of the United States. If that mo.
| tive was sufficiently strong in regard to Jamaica
| TO induce so distinguished British statesman 10
| advocate an expenditure of twenty millions of
4 pounds how much more potent may we not sup
i pose the inducement to be TO the Africani-
zation of Cuba, But the question is not con-
fined in its range to the probable influence which
a nation of free negroes may exert upon the
institutions of the southern States, and conse-
quently upon the integrity Of our federal Union.
| Viewed in this light, the efficient action Of our
government is invoked by the most obvious prin-
4 ciples of self-preservation.
| Bearing i'll mind that this movement originates
with, or at least owes all Of its hopes Of success
| to- the counsels and interference of Great Britain
we cannot avoid the conclusion that il is to be ex-
cuted under the guarantees Of the British navy so
| it must be made cfectual by continued British
protectorate over the Island OF Cuba. The effect
is the transfer of Cuba from Spain to Great Britain
making it substantially British instead of Span
ish province or colony. In this aspect ofthc case
| the decided action of our government is demand
ed by that universally y-approved American sent-
ment which is prepared to resist, at all hazards,
| any attempt of any European power to interfere
| with the affairs of this continent. Upon all these
| grounds the intelligence from Cuba indicates the
approach Of crisis which must settle the destiny
/ of the island. We have every assurance in the
past course of the President and his cabinet that
they will discharge their duty with frmpess and
4 COuIdrc Wniist wv hhNc cqudi tudt lneT
action will be the result of the most deliberate and
patriotic convictions. In view Of a crisis so mo-
| mentous the heart of the patriot President must
swell with emotions of national pride to know that
| with the exception of a few contemplate fanatics
he will be backed and sustained 10 the last extre
nifty in his determination to follow the dictates of
humanity, TO guard the constitutional rights of all
the States TO preserve the integrity of the federal
| Union, and TO resist the aggressions of British
| monarchy by the united voice and energies Of a
| people who are jealous of their honor, who are
| informed of their rights and who are ready to
stake life, liberty, and property on the preserva-
ton of both. BY all the considerations Of interest
OF honor, ofblood we have appealed TO Great Bri-
nestle concerns but our appeal has been in vain,
and we shall be compelled to throw ourselves back
upon our rights, and our government guided by
| helmsman who knows neither fear nor dishonor
must stand by these rights, and leave the conse-
quences to an overruling Providence"
THE EMPEROR OF RUSSIA AND HIS TRooPs--
A gentleman Of New York, who was recently
present in st. Petersburgh at review of l60,-
900 Russian troops by the emperor, the Mirror
says, describes him as perfect specimen Of
the physical man in height six feet three, and
admirably proportioned, with snow white hair
and ruddy countenance. He was plainly dressed
in dark green frock, with black chapeau
without feathers; and, mounted on coal black
charger Of immense size, the Gar looked
- n