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

lards will be Ignorant of our language bre,
and educated under Spanish despotism, unac
quainted with our institutions men who neve
exercised the right of suffrage, and who hav
no just views of Free Governments do no
think the influence of such men in this Hal
would be worth 500 O00, 900. But the Span
ish poulatiOn of Cuba would not only be brough
into full political association with our people
but they would come into the Union with great
er advantages, influence, and power, over GU,
| 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.
ftuence in the Federal Government which four
OF our Northern men exercise Now, let those
| Representatives who really think their con-
| stituents 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 SiOO,000,0OO to degrade their constit-
uents and pOsterity to the level of those Cuban
slaves Sir, deny the right and the consti-
tutional power of this Government thus to de-
grade and disgrace the freemen of Ohio. VIII
my Democratic colleagues, or my Wing col
leagues, take issue with me on this point VIII
| either OF those parties inscribe Cuban annexa-
| ton upon their banner at the next election z
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 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 tor 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 $4,000 600
and the expense of civil government. including
hight houses, local legislation, pay of members
OF Congress, &c, would not be less than
$4,000 900; while the revenue, under our
laws beng assessed only upon imports, would
not exceed S2,500,000. 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
mlnlons into submission
But standing army of twenty Thousand
men will not be sufficient TO maintain this svs-
tenn OF oppression. That island now imports
some thirty thousand African slaves annually.
ihey are Ignorant and stupid they have no
common language and are incapable of any
concerted movement for freedom. By annex |
ng Cuba to the United States, this foreign
save trade will be cut of, and the supply of
7ictlms Will then be drawn from our slave
radlng States. This sir, is the great object
or winch annexation is sought 1t will en-
lance the price of human chattels in our North
right S 81 pf SlSsfs PGt here gain God has
gree with the act of Congress"
The language of Judge Story and the con-
struction given to it by Chief Justice Taney
shows that the Court decided in the Prgg case
that State laws, with a view either to help or
hinder the rights of the master, were alike un-
constitutonal-and yet this fact is kept back
by the Court in the present case, when it says
that the decision was against State laws which
impede limit, embarrass, delay or
impede the rights of the owner In word, it
states but half the truth-the presentation of
the whole truth would convict it of inconsst- |
ency.
But why protract our comments Let us hear
the conclusion of the whole matter. Any State
legislation which interrupts, impedes, limits,
embarrasses delays, or postpones the rights of
the owner to the immediate possession of the
slave and the immediate command of his ser
vices, is void for Congress has the sole and sx-
elusive power of legislation on the subject of
fugitives from service or labor This is the
first great principle; and the second is like
unto it, viz Any State legislation which helps,
extends, facilitates, or quickens the right of the
owner to the immediate possession of the slave
and the command Of his services, is valid, for
Congress has the sole and exclusive power of
legislation on the subject except where the
States are disposed to use their police power
in aid Of such legislation
How true was the declaration of MIR. Hale
in the Senate of the United States, that the
Supreme Court was one Of the bulwarks of Sla-
very!