The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-02-10

senslbly felt on the adjacent SHORES Oh tne UNI
ted States.
"The subject of the Panams mission was de
bated at great length in both Houses OF Con
gress and frequent illusions were made by the
speakers to Cuba Let us hearken to the sen
timents expressed by some of our republican
legislators:
|Mr Randolph, of Virginia Cuba possess
% an immcnse negro population. In case those
States Mexico and Columbial should invade
Cuba at all it is unquestonabIe that this inva-
sion will be made with this pripciple-ths ge-
MUS of universal emapcipation-this sweeping
anathema against the white population In
front And then, sir, uhdt is The situation Of
the Southern Safest
" Mr. Johnson, of Louisiana: We know that
Columbia and Mexico have long contemplated
the Independence Of that island Cuba The
final decision is now TO be made, and the COM
bination of forces and plan of attack TO be
formed. What then, ut such II Crisis, becomes
the duty of the Government Send your min
listers instantly to this diplomatic assembly,
where the measure is maturing Advise with
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS., if necessary.
against a step 80 dangerous to us, and perhaps
fatal 10 them
Mr. Berrien, of Georgia: The question to
be determined is this: With due regard to
the safety Of the Southern States can you suffer
these islands Cuba and Porto RicO) to pass
into the hands of BUCCANEERS, drunk with
their newborn liberty? If our interests and
our safety shall require us to say to these new
Republics, Cuba and Porto Rico must remain
as they are, we are free to say it, and, by the
blessing of God and the strength of our arms,
to enforce the declaration and let me say to
gentlemen these high considerations do require
it. The uitdl interests Of the South demand it
"These new Republics were stigmatized by
this honorable gentleman as buccaneers--not
that they were robbers, but because they had
ceased to rob the poor and helpless and the
evidence of their being drunk with liberty was
their practical acknowledgement Of the princ-
pies of human rights, professed in our Declara-
ton of independence
Mr.. Floyd, of Virginia: So far "a can
see, in all its bearings, it THE Panama Con-
gress) looks to the conquest of Cuba and Porto
Rico; OF, at all events, of tearing t.em from
the Crown of Spain The interests, if not safe
ty, of our own country, would rather require us
to interpose to prevent such an event, and
would rather take up arms to prevent than to
accelerate such an occurrence
congressional DeOdteS "a p0t.
"The facts and sentiments we have now ex-
hibited, prove beyond cavil, that this mighty
Republic volunteered to solicit the aid of for
egn monarchs to perpetuate slavery in Cuba,
and was strongly disposed to incur the hazard
and calamitles of war, in the cause, not of lib
erty, but of bondage"
Had the Southern Republics not been pre-
ii tha.,. an a
have made descent upon Cuba, wrested it
from the Spanish Crown, and secured its indie
pendence. Spanish power in this New World
would have been annihilated, Slavery in all
been abolished in Cuba, the Atr-
can slave trade been arrested, annexation of
the island to this country might have been
consummated ere this and all attempts on the
part of European Powers to secure the control
of this key to the Gulf Of Mexico would have
been precluded. To the action of Slavery,
through our Government Cuba now owes its
bondage, and young Amerca" the long post
ponement if not defeat of its favorite scheme
of annexation.
We had hoped to SEQ these facts brought
out by the friends of Freedom in both Houses
of Congress, during the debates on our for
eign relations but, so far, the time has been
chiefly occupied by the friends of Slavery, who,
according to usage, have been striving by
swelling words and meaningless resolves to
show themselves the champions of Progress and
the indicators of their country's rights. We
are tired of this Why should they be permit
ted by false pretences 10 secure reputation to
which they are not entitled! They set them
selves up "a the keepers Of the honor of the
all patriotism, all love of the Union,
all progress, are identified with them; Anti-Sla-
very men are factionists, narrow minded bgots.
dead to the voice Of patriotism, enemies of the
Union, insensibe to the honor of their country !
And the worst Of it is the Anti-Slavery mem
bers of Congress are patient under the imputa-
ton; they suffer themselves to DO placed in n
false position before the Public, Why do they
not strip the lions skin from the ass Why
do they not show that Slavery has no element
of progress or patriotism in it-that it has
never sought territorial acquisitions for national
it has always opposed or been
Indifferent to acquisitions which it supposed
could not DO rendered suhservent to its own
it has alienated our territory on the
North, estranged us from Canada, prejudiced
US in Hayti, paved the way for foreign ascend
ency in that island, perpetuated the political
vassaage and degradation Of Cuba, rs we'll rs
its negro slavery embarrassed the question of
and provoked and emboldened for
eign intrigues against our peace! 1t is the
friends Of Slavery who are the iactionists the
the enemies of their country, the
opponents of progress they, and they alone,
who are responsible for the imbecility and blum
dering which have disgraced our foreign dplo-
macy Let them be exposed to the country:
lot the friends of Freedom relieve themselves
from the false position in which they have been
placed To them belongs the custody of the
Ark of Liberty and Progress the supporters of
Slavery have no more right to touch il, than
the Philistines had to bear the Ark Of the Lord
Never was there iairer opportunity for ex-
posing the baleful workings of Slavery, polti-
cally, than has been presented during the pres
ent session of Congress, in connection with the
debates on our foreign relations; how it has been
improved thus fer, the reader must judge from
the Era, which, in about seven or eight columns
has reported all that has been spoken this win
ter in either House, for tho cause of Freedom
and Progress.
PROGRESS IN NEW GRANADA.
The following are said to be the improve
ments actually adopted by the Government of