The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1853-03-03

blacks, and the remainder slaves. most OF them
of recent importation If the island of Cuba
were turned over TO us tomorrow without cost.
| with this Heterogeneous population. how is 1t to
be governed? Not one of them has ever exer-
! cised the right of suffrage. Not one of them
| ever for a moment felt the iron hand of military
| despotism relaxed. They could not be trusted
to govern themselves. The habits and the pre-
| judices of centuries are not to be shaken OH IN
an hour They would stin cherish a deep seat
| ed attachment for the splendor of royalty. ana
as deep n contempt for the plain republican gov
ernment which would supplant ii. To such
people constitution and State government after
! American models would be curse, leading IN
evitably 10 anarchy, constant disturbances, ana
! daily scenes of violence and bloodshed.
Another imposing difficulty is to be found IN
/ their established religion With US that could
not continue The magnificent ceremonies
which they have been accustomed to see, sur
| rounded and protected by the full strength of
the law, would at once lose that protection and
the cowled priest, whose tithes are now pald 10
him as legal right, would find himself depen-
dent upon the charity of his flock. This blow AT
religion which has been transmitted TO them
from century to century would dlssipate the last
hope of n cordial union between the races, anu
render it nearly certain that in order 10 govern
Cuba peaceably must first make 1t IA solitude,
and then people it with emigrants from the
States.
But, sir, if every other objection to the an
I
still exist an most insuperable difficulty IN the
number of tree blacks who swarm about the is
land. Ignorant and vicious, they would be
found ready instruments in any work OF ms
chief Mngling freely WITH the slaves. they
would he constantly exciting the latter to lnsur-
rection and revolt, and thus render the lives OF
. the planters every moment insecure. IL may
be asked why these evils are not felt? In
degree they are; but they are felt less SEN
sibly, because these, over the rest OF her
subjects, Spain maintains sleepiess military
rule. They can turn IN no direction without
meeting company of infantry or troop OF
horse and the certainty with which a heavy
punishment follows suspicion, even operates as
an efrectual check upon their vicious propensi-
ties. With it would be wholly ditterent.-
There -wonld be nc soldiers TO overawe them. no
military executions to keep alive their terrors,
no police exercising them n constant vigil
lance and che cking every plot in its first incep-
ton. In the South We e-understand the dlihcnI-
ties and the dangers which arise from this class
OF population, and most of the southern States
have passed laws to exclude them from their lin
its !; but they are already located IN Cuba, ana
the difficulty is to get rid Of them.
There are other arguments which might ad-
vance but they are not needed. In the elabo-
rate discussions which these resolutions have
caused | do not recollect to have seen single
tenabe reason advanced in favor of the acquisi-
ton of Cuba Its possession is assumed TO be Of
/
consists we are wholly uniformed. We are
not told how We are to be benefited by throw
ing away a revenue of FIVE or six millions OF dol
lars annually. We are not told how we are TO
be benefited by destroying the culture OF sugar
in the southern States. We are not told how
we are to be benefited by changing the charac-
ter of neutral harbor into which our commerce
might be safely poured in time Of war. We are
not told what advantage we are to derive from
incorporating among US mass of wretehed hI-
man beings, whites, free blacks, and slaves, un-
fit to govern themselves, and unwilling to be
governed by us.
Not one of these things seems to have been
considered of sufficient importance to attract at
tention. In the eloquent speech of the honoTa-
BILE senator from louisiana, Mr.. SoULE, L was
particularly struck with the absence OF all this.
noticed also, another significant omission.
He did not venture to tell US when or in what
way he thought Cuba ought to be acquired. He
told US that he not in favor of its purchase,
but there he stopped. | am sure he does not
desire that it should come TO as the result of
an unprovoked and aggressive war. There Is
but one other mode in which it can come, and
that is by successful revolt of the Cubans them
selves Well, sir, if that be his method we are
pretty nearly agreed. | am willing TO compro
mise on that for it is tolerably certain that he
ana will both be cold in the grave long before
that revolution is begun, much less accomplish
ed.
| 1
a bowshot beyond the senator from Louisiana,
and argued that there was some sort Of cover
ruling necessity" which was about to compel US
to snatch this gem from the Crown OF Spain.
| recognise an overruling Providence whose law
demands that nations should be upright, just,
and honest and deny the existence of any ne
! ces,ity which comes in conflict with that law
! Heretofore ''progress' and manifest destiny
| have heen considered sufficient to cover all de-
| signs upon the property of our neighbors; but
! these catch words are nearly two years old, and
are therefore approaching the precints of 'fogy-
| ism" 1t was necessary that Young America
| shouId have new one and the senator from
| Florida has supplied it. oyerruling necessi-
| ty" | admire his judgement He could not
! have selected more comprehensive phrase
| Certain it is that there is no wrong It VIII not
excuse no outrage it will not extenuate.
! Mr. President, | need not say that | do not
| intend to vote for these resolutions. The one
which announces our purpose not to take posses
| sion of Cuba by fraud or violence is certainly,
| that far in accordance with my own feelings !;
but do not see the necessity of making the dec
| laration 1t seems to me TO be both undlgniied
and unmanly to he making constant protesta-
tions of our honesty. Let us show the world by
/ our acts that we are honest and leave all such
declarations 70 those whose doubtful character
| requires some sueh bolstering Nor do think
| the reafirmation of the Monroe doctrine would
add TO its Importance Our policy has long ago
] been announced to the word, and this restless
desire TO reterate it upon all occasions looks to
4 me somewhat as if we doubted our own reso-
! 'ution and required few Legislative resolves 70
/ keep MP our courage f
Tbc s.p.tor fron, Michigan hns expressed