Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-04-19
foreign gntflligeu;e.
DETAILS BY THE ARCTIC.

THE SLAVE TRApE-CuBA AND THE UNITED
STATEs.-In the House of Commons, Sir g..
Pechel moved an address to her majesty for
returns of all vessels, their names and tonnage,
seized, Ton suspicion of being engaged in the
slaye-trade, J and of her majestys ships and YES
sells employed on the coast of Cuba for the pre-
vention of The slave-trade, from the 18th day OF
july, 1852 1.-THE last return, to the latest dates.
The House had appointed q committee last SEES
sion to inquire into the amount paid by this
country for the suppression of the slave trade,
and the manner in which. the various treaties
existing on the subject we're carried into effect.
That committee after obtaining very valuable
evidence, came to the unanimous conclusion
that Spain ought to be required, as far as pos
sible. to carry out the treaties into which she
had entered with this country for the suppress
sion of the slave-trade. The government Of
Brazil had already yielded to the representa-
tons made to them by her majestys govern
ment. 1t was shown, however, before the com
mittee. that the continued existence OF the slave
trade was mainly attributable to its encourage
ment in the island of Cuba; for, though the
captains general of that island had proessed
to endeavor to carry out existing treaties, 1t
was notorious that they had connived at the
landing of slaves. It was stated by Captain
Hamilton, one Of the witnesses examined be-
fore the committee, that, in his opinion, if the
slavc-trade with Cuba Could be prevented, the
whole Of our cruisers on the coast Of Africa
might very safely be withdrawn. The present
captain.general Of Caba, since the report Of
the committee had reached him, had expressed
his determination to use all the exertions in his
power to put stop to the slave-trade. He
(Sir G. Pechell) thought, then, that this was
the time for her majestys government to take
the encouragement at his word, and to test his
sincerity by keeping up the small naval squad
ron stationed on the shores Of Cuba. In 1852
this country had upon that station six sailing
vessels and four steamers, which would be am
ply sufficient to suppress the traffic, if. they
were properly managed; but in this number
was included the flagship, vessel Of "A guns,
which, instead Of remaining on the Cuban
coast, was at Halifax during one-half OF the
year, and at Bermuda during the greater part
of the other half year. He (Sir G. Pechell)
hoped that the squadron would be maintained
on the coast of Cuba, and that it would be placed
under efficient superintendent. t3.98l ,94l
had been laid out by this country, besides the
expense of the cruisers, to put down the slave
trade, and he trusted that no portion of our
ships would be withdrawn from the coast OF
Cuba, where the slavetrade was now concen-
trated. The government should show that they
could combat, not only the Emperor Of Russia,
but the slave lealer also.
Mr.. Hume supported tie motion.
: Mr.. Baillie supported the motion. 1t was
essential that the fraudulent and faithless con-
duct ofSthe Spanish government should no
longer be permitted. Most assuredly, unless
L L ~ al
care that Cuba should no longer be the grand,
and, indeed, sole seat Of the slave-trade, which
she had undertaken 70 suppress, she could not
fairly complain if England took no measures TO
prevent Cuba from falling into The hands et'the
americans.
Sir j. Graham said that, though he could
not at all concur in the proposition that, by
way Of collateral argument, we we're to hand
of our cruisers both on the coast of Cuba and
on the coast of Africa should be, if possible,
augmented, and every means used for securing
the real cooperation of the authorities at Cuba.
Hear
Mr.. Golden pointed out that the honorable
member for Inverness had not proposed that we
should hand over Cuba to the United States,
but simply suggested that if Spain, despite her
solemn engagements to the contrary, persisted
in allowing Cuba to be the focus of the slave
trade, she could not call upon as to interfere be-
t,ceen her and tile United States IN any course
the utter poorer might adopt for the acquisition
ofh the island. He wished to guard himself dis
tinctly from the expression OF any opinion as
to whether it would be just or right for America
to buy Cuba, for he believed that they were
more likely to become possessed of it by that
means than any other; but he thought, if they
really attached so much Importance to the sup
preston OF the save-trade, as they had always
asserted, and as past experience had demon
stratcd, they ,oould be guilty Of great inconsis,
tency If Mey were to offer 10 defend by their
arms Tie right IF Spain to that ISLAND. He
could not imagine anything more calculated to
make the Spanish government persevere in the
course she had always adopted with reference
to the slave-trade, than to allow her to enter
tain hope that we would interfere 10 prevent
America from becoming possessed of the island
Of Cuba. Hear, hear. The Spanish govern
ment ought to be made to understand that, by
pursuing the policy she had chosen, disregard
ing, as she did, the doctrines of civilization and
humanity by continuing the slave-trade, she
was fast losing the respect and sympathy Of
every nation Of the civilized world, and pre-.
pairing the way for some strong power to take
possession of that island which she had so scan,
dalously abused. The honorable baronet had
said that slavery existed in the United States.
That was trse; but the slave-trade did not ex-
ist there. Hear, hear. The United States
had declared the slave-trade to be piracy, and
it was not quite candid to put that nation on
par with Spain in keeping up that odous traf
hc. Hear hear. Without saying one word
about the expediency of giving Cuba to the
United States, or assisting that country to take
possession Of the island, he thought u scould be
greatly for the Interests Of humanity the
United States, or any other po,cer that ,could
altoqether discountenance the slapetrade, should
possess Il. Cheers.
Captain Scobel hoped that they were not
about 10 throw bone Of contention before the
public, to be carried across the water and
create il-will. He could say nothing of the
wisdom or otherwise Of the Spapiards being
allowed to retain Cuba, but he did thank the
government for every effort they had made to
Suppress the slaveIrade; and he hoped the
House would never forget that it was very long
before the friends Of the abolition Of that traffic
could carry the measure through Parliament.