Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-03-20

Government would be brought to bear for its
overthrow
Are the People Of tho United States blind
Are they willing to BIO tricked into war
with Spain, waged ostensibly to vindicate the
rights Of commerce, but really to.pphold sla-
very in Cubaf Shall the repes lessons we
have had Of the insidious, unrelenting, grasp
ing policy of the Slave Power, be all lost upon
US? This Message Of the President, with its
covert, fagitious recommendation to interfere
against the policy Of Emancipation in Cuba,
is commended for its spirit and firmness by
many Northern papers, utterly hostile to Sla-
very!
We have no patience with q tame or time
serving spirit in the conduct of our foreign
affairs Let the honor Of our flag be vim
dictated, let the rights Of our commerce be
protected, let the broad shield Of the Govern
ment be thrown over our citizens wheres0eyer
they may sojourn; let every indignity to the
nation be promptly punished, if reparation be
withheld.
Whatever oppressive regulations restrict our
commerce with Cuba, we should seek to re-
move; whatever offences tho local authorities
commit against us, we should demand and Sc
cure PREPARATION for; and the proposition repeat
eddy urged for an arrangement by which the
Captain General Of the Island may be empow,
erod to redress injuries sustained by our citi-
zens or commerce in it's ports, without the ha-
RAISING delays attendant on an appeal to the
Home Government is reasonable and just. But
Let us not forget that Spain has reason to be
distrustfnl Of this country, and apprehensive Of
its growing ambition. We have tried to obtain
possession Of her colony by negotiation and pur-
chase. Our Government has always proceeded
on the assumption that Nature has designed it
to become part Of our political system. Its
annexation has been the theme Of defamation
with Young America, the subject of resolutions
at popular meetings. the topic Of debate in Con-
gress. Grave Senators have spoken Of the ISL
and as our future heritage under the law Of
Manifest Destiny declaring that its acquisi-
ton was only question Of time.
A secret organization in this country, con-
templating the revolution Of Cuba, has sought
by the issues Of the Press, and by private let
tiers, introduced covertly into the island, to stir
up disafection there, and establish common
understanding between its malcontents and
our adventures, and several attempts have
been made by armed expeditions, sailing from
our ports in violation of our Neutrality Laws,
to wrest from nation to whom we are bound
in amity by solemn treaty, her richest possession
Had Great Britain or her People given us the
same grounds Of complaint, war cry would
have gone up from our whole People. The
wonder is not that Spain has been so distrust-
full and vigilant or that our intercourse with
Cuba has been subjected to occasional annoy
ance, but that she has not been provoked to
assume defiant and resentful attitude.
1t becomes US to be forbearing and moder-
ate. There is no magnanimity in taking ad-
vantage of the weakness of o friendly nation,
and Of the pre- occupation Of the allies on whom
she has been accustomed to depend. ?
We are hostile to every movement looking to
q war with Spain, when we know that its real
object is, the maintenance Of Slavery in Cuba
especially do we oppose such movement at
this time when such war would almost in
evitably involve the dissolution of friendly re-
lations with England and France, and an en-
tangling alliance with Russiaan Despotism.
We know this is the secret desire Of portion
of the Pro-Slayery party. The Union itself
has no sympathy with Turkey, but much with
Russia, and abounds in bitter invective against
France and England. The Richmond (va)
Enquirer occupies a similar position-thinks
that the war in the East will inurs chiefly to
the benefit Of the manufacturers Of the North,
and the grain-growers and pork packers of the
West--thst England is our hereditary enemy
and Russia our natural ally.
Let the People of this country, who love lib
erty and hate oppression, beware, lest in an
evil hour they find themselves plunged into a
war for Slavery in Cuba, and caught in the
mcshes of an alliance with Russian Despotism
the mightiest Despotism and the mightiest De-
mocracy Of the world, joined hand in hand,
and marshalling their hosts for the overthrow
Of the worlds Liberties!