Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-10-29
GREAT BRITAIN, FRANCE, AND CUBA.


Mcssrs. EDIroRs The Washington Union kas
recently given currency TO reports relative to the in
tcntions of the two above European nations as re-
CARDS the Island of Cuba, in connection with the
newal Of tae slaye-trade, not only with their
sent, but under their protection, the apprentice
| system IL the information thus communicated to
the world with such air of authority and certain
y as to the facts has been done by the Union upon its
authority is to be regretted that the Adminstra
ton has such indscreet organ and it, the contra
ry it is published at the instance of and from nforma
ton obtained by the Administration, ii is matter Of still
greater regret that they themselves ndiscreet
France has special and particular pledges before the
world as to the ve-rade and it is therefore barely
possible that she might be willing to enter into such
arrangement though ii is very hard what adequate
motive inlucement she could have for so doing; but
in the position which Great Britain has maintained be-
fore the world for many years regards the trade
slider the very idea that she could directly tacty
sanction such arrangement ridiculous absurdty
which would indicate something approaching insanity
on the part of her Government.
Whatever may be the present philanthropy of the Brit
sh Government and her politicians generally regards
the negro race and whatever efforts she has made and is
making for the extinction of the slave trade and the abo
ton of slavery the of emancipation in their colo
MES originally forced upon them the fanacsm that
/
time reluctantly entered into the pan and sin
cercy regret it, and convinced that they together
w majority of the British people, are fully convinced
that it was resulting in good hut ON the
contrary, in great evil the negroes themselves
leading to most disastrous results regards the colonies
and being Of great injury to the mother country
The facts, however, are, that she has paid twenty
million pounds sterling to the owners in order to emanc
pate their slaves she has given other nations
of tn he trad
she has maintained squadrons at expense sup
press it and she has, well the United States de-
cared it by statute to be piracy Is not then absur
dy to suppose that she is coming forward the add
yocate and protector Of its revival most extensive
SCALE and with all its former horrors and suiferngs?
1t is said, however, that it is be conducted the
apprentice SYSTEM and the victims not be slaves
for fe but to be free after years service in Cuba
So far from this being any amelioration in the traffic it
only adds to the atrocty Of it, for takes away
the greatest inducements for the kind and good treatment
of the slave Under such system the great object of the
Cuban master would be extor the expense of the
health and constitution and of the life Of the ap-
prentice the greatest possible amount of labor during his
ten years of bondage. large portion of them would
doubedy perish under such system before the expira
ton of the time and the remainder would only survive
to drag feeble and miserable existence to say no
thing Of system of false certificates of death and inter-
terment in order to continue them slaves for life.
But in addition to this woad not all the old systems of
procuring slaves in Africa be necessarily renewed AL
the wars saughters massacres forcibe abduction and
Kidnapping negroes would of course be renewed in
der furnish the slave Of Africa with the required
number of Victims together with all the horrors of the
middle passage" Is it possible for any to believe
that with all her antecedents and present practice the
subject Great Britain possibly stand forth in the
face of the world the originator abetor and protec
tor of the horrible traffic in this and aggravated
form? 1t IS absolute impossbiity that she think
of thus exposing herself the contempt and excavation
Of the civilized world, do how any can
give credence TO such report any thing short Of
tual and notorious practical facts in support of it.
The connexon Of the Union with the Administration
unfortunately gives weight these in its
lumns and is wei calculated to disturb the pubic mind
and have unavorabe influence the general bust
of the country The general tendency of the articles
in the Union regards foreign nations is to create
friendly and hostile feelings, by seizng upon and mag
nifyng every vague report actual occurrence ndi
eating jealousy actual hostile views against the United
States until might be supposed from its remarks that
almost every nation in the world not only ready and
willing, but actually adopting for our in
jury destruction, notwithstanding the uniform friend
ly feeling manifested towards from all the Govern
mcnts of Europe.
That Great Britain and France feel Jealousy to-
wards the subject of Cuba have but little doubt,
and that both determined that shall possess it,
and that they will prevent it at any risk cost have
little For this in great measure, fno altogether
indebted to the fbustering movements in the United
States in connexion with the island and sorry
add the tact appreciation which such movements have
received from the party il not from the Administration,
in power. Under this feeling the part of those two
Powers may readily be believed that both of Them par
making exertons introduce the apprentice system into
Cuba which they will urge upon SPAIN and probably offer
large inducements to her to adopt but nothing short
of a public official declaration from Great Britain, follow
ed by action her part induce belief that she
will TO the revival of the African slave trade
with that island and thus publicly her entry upon
career which she has herself declared in the solemn
manner be Under the circumstances Of the
case it is not only improbable but impossible.
If Spain thinks proper to adopt the apprentice SYSTEM
or even emancipae her slaves in Cuba how far might
ba interfere under the OF the
case would be question of grave import Massachu-
setts New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and other
States this Union have abolished slavery which former
y existed within their limits the footing il
now exists in South Carolina and Louisiana and had
Great Britain France Spain who then possessed slave
colonies vicinity, interfered to prevent it dan
gerous example for their slaves it is to be presumed
should have told them to mind their business, and
we would manage our own it best suited us And now,
if Maryland Virginia, Georgia Texas thought il
proper advisable to pass laws for the gradual i'm