Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1853-08-27
al tanoato,
RALEIGH. sATURDAY, AUG. ~. 1853.
ENGLAND AND CuRA


We have seen no confirmation as yet of the rumor
referred to week or two since, that Great Britain
had entered into an arrangement with Spain to in
troduce the apprentice system into Cuba and finally
to emancipate the slaves that island. OF course
we cannot say whether the rumor is wel-founded or
Motive only conjecture, and in this are led,
from the past conduct of Great Britain to lean to
the opinion that arrangement of this character
has been at least seriously considered The Charles
ton Mercury submits the following remarks in rela
ton to the subject
"But let us see whether the United States have no
interest in Cuba We have no need to argue that
the abolition of slavery would reduce the coun-
try from of the best to of the poorest COM
munities. The proofs of this so numerous and
so uniform that it neither admits of doubt argu-
ment 1t is of the most settled truths in human
history. With this change, then, the United States
would lose of the most valuable branches of their
foreign trade, and of the productive of
their revenues.
Besides Cuba is our near neighbor, and lies in the
track of large part of our foreign and coasting
trade 1t is directly for interest that it should
be inhabited by civilized people, and ruled by a
responsible Government The inevitable consequence
of emancipation would be its independence of Spain
for would not pay the cost of keeping in subec
ton, and Spain is much too poor to waste money on
bankrupt colony. 1t would become such another
den of savages and brigands as Hayt. Have the
United States interest in this?
Finally it would be precedent of successful in
trigue by European Kingdom to control the inter
nal affairs and revoutionize the government of an
American country-a violation of the Monroe doc
trine thousand times more fragrant and dangerous
than yet attempted.
And now, while all Europe is bristling in armour
the side to abase, ahd the other to sustain
the independence of Turkey it is good time to ex-
anime what is the position of Great Britain towards
Spain. Fairly examined it is shown to be more ar
rogant, more incompatible with the dignity and in
dependence of the latter and vastly more dangerous
to her prosperity and peace than that of Russia to-
wards Turkey. By menace and incessant sollclta-
ton and cajoery, Great Britain has dragged Spain
into such a treaty for the suppression of the slave
trade to give her the presumed right to surround
Cuba with armed ships, and to capture Spanish YES
sells in the very act of entering Spanish ports.
But it does not stop here. Great Britain claims
and exercises the insulting power of examining into
the manner in which Spanish officers administered
Spanish laws in the interior of Spanish colonies, and
in regard to the tenure of property by Spanish sub
jects They responsible to her forsooth, and not
to their own Government, for the proper discharge
of their functions.
Has Russia ever attempted such an invasion of the
sovereign rights and national dignity of Turkey
this? No, nothing approaching to it. either in inso
lence mischief And have the United States moth
ing to do with this violation of the independence of
a country with which intimately connected
by the ties of close neighborhood and of immense
ly valuable commerce? 1t is not only right, but
it is plain duty of scfprotection to interfere There
is principle brought forward to Justify the pres
ent position of England and France towards Russia,
that would not be stronger and palmer justification
of similar intervention by the United States in the
case of Cuba. "
The following extract from President Pierce's In
augural Address, will show the light in which this
interference by Great Britain would be regarded by
his Administration:
"In this connexion, it can hardly be necessary to
rc-affirm principle which should now be regarded
fundamental. The rights, security and repose of
this Confederacy reject the idea of interference or
colonization this side Of the ocean By any foreign
pOaOer beyond present jaeisdictiOn, utterly inad
aaiSsabLe"