Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1854-08-10
ANNEXATION OF CUBA.

The time has at length arrived when we are
compelled to look the mad project of ann X
ing Cuba, with her slavery, to our already
slavery-ridden Republic, full in the face. From
the hour that fllibustering, fre-eater, Soule,
was taken from the Senate, fresh on his shame
lesss public avowal that the South would have
Cuba either by ccssion Or a revolt in which our
people were to have hand, the determination
of the Slave Power, as shown through the acts
gifts true exponent, the present Administration,
to annex this island by force or purchase, has
been too obvious to escape the attention of the
dullest. But though the will to effect this, has
been obvious to all, yet the ability to do so seems
to have been 30 generally doubted that the pub
lie press of the North have scarcely made the
subject matter of discussion. The attempt to
purchase the island which the minister at first
made, as absolutely startling as was the price
offered, entirely failed. The Black Warrior
game was next tried with little better success.
The project then was supposed, by many, to be
pretty much at an end for few believed the
permit, fllibusterng expedition to an extent
which would seriously affect the destinies of the
Island But new phase has been put on the
affair by the unexpected revolution which has
just broken out in Spain. This revolution, which
is said to have been fostered by the reckless and
dissolute Queen, for the purpose of getting rid
,l,, t,nt ,n1
not sure but that our minister also had a band
in it-this revolution, if successful will lead to
the appointment of an entire new Cabinet, ana
one, probably, that the Queen and hcr friend
Soule can easily manage; and should this prove
80, the three hundred millions will be accepted
and Cuba, with her half million slaves, will be
part Of the United States.
Were Cuba free country, even, well might
We hesitate to take her with her prepondorating
black population, ignorant, brutalzed and half
wild from tho coast of Africa-with her bigot-
ted, Catholic, Spanish population, as little fitted
to become the citizens of our Republic as we can
possibly conceive-with such population, with
entirely different from our own---with all these,
we'll might We hesitate to take Cuba coald We
have her for nothing. But to take her with her
slaves, and thus add, to an untold extent, to the
strength of the Slave Power, as well as that 0
Popery, in the country, and then give thai
enormous sum-more than it cost us to achieve
our national independence-inp payment for thos
monstrous evils, is proposition which shoult
appal every sober-minded American.
To say nothing of the stretch of power in
Cabinet in authorizing treaty giving such
sum of money in advance Of all action of Con
gress, the bare fact of the annexation of such
country, with sach population, and such in
stituIons, involves considerations of the mos
momentous character, and those of bearing Oh
the.destinies of our Republic which may wei
fill our minds with forebodings and alarm.
Were thore no other objections to the annexa
ton of Cuba than that which will arise iron
the inevitable foothold and great accession q
strength it will give Roman Catholicism in tn
United States, that alone with us woald be
serious one. But when we consider that it will
with heothor slaveholding anncxations to whc
twill, in all human probability, lead, give tn
Slave Power complete political prepondcranc
in the Union, and above all when we consider til
lastrevolting and hagitious item in the program
ma--tho re-opening Of the African Slave Trade
which will inund.sc the country with one con
tinuous inrolling food Of slaves, words fail q
in trying to depict the mountain peril which i
presents for our contemplation.
If this bold and fearful project were vicwe
by all in the Free States as we cannot but vie,
it, every freeman therein, every pulpit, and eve
ny press, would, with one united voice, CT
aloud against it, and, in the language of tn
old prophets, make it the chief burden of the
denunciations and warning to tne infatuatc,
Administration who are engaged in it.