The daily Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1855, 1854-05-09
Cuba and it's DESTINY.

The London Shipping Gazette of April has the
following article which is not in general accordance
with the spirit of the British press when speaking of
the United States and Cuba:--
Some very unjusti6abe proceedings towards an
American-the Black Warrior-by the Spanish au.
thorities at the Havana have led to a demand for
reparaton from the American government, cOuched,
as we may suppose in no very conciliatory language
and unless the reparatiOn be amply made it is
imperativey demanded, there is prospect of dec
laration Of war the part of the Union against
Spain. Hence, Cuba would be invaded and once it
be acquire! nv legitimate conquest, according to the
law of nations and the rules Of war, is very ain
that it would never again lie surenderedto the Span
iards Should the government of the United States
entertain this nentiOn the time is very favorable for
the design, as in all probability, England and France
will be too much engaged IN the present to pay
any attention to dishonored country as Spain and
its slave-mporting colony Of Cuba.
Politically it would be wrong to allow the United
States to possess this island, but morally and COM
mercialIy it cannot too change masters. At the
same time would rather see it in the hands of a
country that neither dealt in slaves tolerated
slavery. So long as Cuba remains under the govern
ment Of Spain, never expect to see it other than
it s-the great slave focus of the world. The
son is obvious: all the great Of Spain-and. il
report may be credited, the great women too-are
gagged in this trade. They are accessories to the
crime, both before and after the fact; it is in this
farlOUS trafhc they embark what capital tney nave;
they uxuriae in the blood and torture of their el-
low-creatures.
1t is in vain that the Governors of Cuba ire
quenty changed; each successive Governor accepts,
perhaps socits the office, for the express purpose of
making his fortune by countenancng the slave trade.
The subject was brought before the House Of Com
mons, few evenings since, by Sir G. r. Pechell,
the member for Brighton, when he took the oppor-
tunity of exposing the scandalous and open manner
in which the slave trade is carried in the island,
with the connivance, If not under the patronage Of
the local authorities. In confirmation Of what Sir
G. r. PecheiI said, Sir James Graham informed the
House that even the Spanish mail-packets were in
the habit Of bringing crgocs of slaves to the island,
which, from the cOnyenient ports it afforded for this
traffic. escaped the vigilance Of the British cruisers
That Cuba will be addei to the dominion of the
United States, we consider matter Of certainty;
and, setting aside the policy of the question, it wi
be fortunate event for civilization and humanity
Spain is the only country which still clings to
the slave trade. 1t longer exists in the Brazilian
do inons and there is every to suppose that,
were it not for the island Of Cuba, the horrd traffic
would soon he extinct throug bout the world. Spain
has been largely paid by this country, with the hope
that it would, in accordance with the treaties !. has
made with us, abandon the trade. 1t has never
we believe that British money has often proved a
stmulant to the traffic, by furnishing the means for
carrying it on. When find object on which
Great Britain has expended much money, and on
the accomplishment of which the national feelings
are SO much engaged, defeated by such country as
Spain-a country which has neither moral worth nor
political influence to command respect consdera-
tion-we cannot but regard its reverses in this in
stance with satisfaction.