The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-07-20

Let Cuba como if she wish6a.

( *
/ Let Cuba come if she wish@.
She belongs to US by forco of geographical
position.
Let her come, even if she should not pre-
yiously have abolished Slavery.
Slavery under our institutions viii be short
lived
would not give sloo,ooo,oo for her, but
when she wishes, let her come.
Nor would have her wait always for the
consent of the Spanish Government.
To every one of these PROPOSITIONS except
the negative on the 500, 100000 purchase,
General Cass General Pierce, AID Gen. Cash
inc say. yea and amen. 10 WHIT single point,
then. does the position of MrvSmith prdeti-
eaHv differ from theirs? We Sill not COM
mare their motives or their principles. The
only question regards their poscy and here
thew practically reach the sam conclusion
with this exoeption--they are wiling to give
two hundred millions, or more, fir Cuba, while
he would not give hundred faillions. Sla-
yery is no insuperable objection to Mr. Smith,
because it will stand better chance for aboli-
ton under our institutions than under Spanish
institutions Slavery is no insuperable objec-
ton TO them, for what reason, Heaven knows !;
all we know is, that to their special friends of
the North they would assign the very reason
Mr.. Smith dees Have we forgotten that the
annexation of Texas was urged by R. ].
| Walker upon the North for similar reason
The refusal of the consent of the Spanish
Government would be no bar to Mr.. Smith, if
Cuba wished to be annexed it is none to them.
Now, suppose the Cubans should plainly sig
nifty their desire for annexation, and go go far
as to engage in o civil war against Spain, they
would then have gone as far Gs possible "to
come to usn What would Mr.. Smith recon-
mend? After having encountered them to
take such step-for that is khs tendency of
his speech-wOuld he leavetthesu without aid
But the attempt to extend taem helping
hand would involve us necessarily in war
with Spain
We put the question---supposa all the Anti
Slavery men of the country should take Mr..
Smiths position in regard to Mexico and Cuba,
and territorial acquisitions generally, where
should We be? What restrainst would tram
mel this Administration Full rein would be
given to the Slave Power, and its wildest
dreams of conquest and ACKNOWLEDGEMENT would
speedily become realities.
In special reference to Cuba VII have a few
words to say. We have certainly not succeed
ed 80 well in the management Of Slavery in
this country, that we can afford ~ add to our
embarrassments by complicating with it Cuban
Slavery. Under our institutions, since the or
ganization of the government, ottr slaves have
increased from six hundred thousand to three
millions; and now, when the public opinion Of
the South has retrograded so mnch that it ad
vocates the system on Principle, instead of ex-
cusing it on the plea of necessity, the PROPOSE
ton is, to add six hundred thousand more
slaves to those we haye-so evidently short
livedn is the evil in this country
Great Britain has abolished Slavery in ia.
maica and her island Colonies. France, moved
by the generous throes of Liberty at homo, has
put an end to the evil in her possessions. Spain,
under the impulse of another storm Of European
Revolution, always imminent, world probably
commence similar work for Cuba. The con-
necton of that island with the Earopean sys-
tenn, naturally subjects it to thesicissitudes of
European Revolution. In fact, sts separation
from that system and its annexation to ours,
have been urged again and agHin, upon the
ground that the institution of Slavery is safe
and stable only under the safeguards of the
American Union. And yet Mr.. Smith would
annex Cuba, even with Slavery, because there
is better prospect for its abolit "a under our
institutions!
Consummate such annexatioI peacefully,
without the abolition Of slavery, and we
know what would take place al once. The
Slave Power would secure clea preponder,
ence in the Senate, independently even of its
Northern allies 1t would add t' its political
weight in the House. It would secure one Of
the greatest commercial marts 10 the world.
It would enhance its prestige of success already
so prevailing over our politicians And, the
stoppage of the African slave trade, would ag-
gravate the American increasing the price of
slaves in Virginia, Maryland, Norsh Carolina,
Tennessee, and Kentucky, giving aew impulse
and new strength to the Slave Interest in those
States, and multiplying the pecufiary reasons
for perpetuating the system
There are times for all thingso-a time to
theorize and time to practice; time to in
dulge the luxury of noble sentiments, and
time to discharge hard and severe ,tuties. We
should like to see the whole OF the North
American Continent, with the adjacent islands,
under one Government government of Law,
Liberty and Peace this is not lie Question
of the Hour.
Let US delight ourselves with aspirations
for glorious Future, but the only way to Sc
cure their fulflment is, to do the present Duty
That Duty is, to battle the scheme of Slavery
Propsgandism, to confne the system to its
present limits, to break the power of the Oil
garchy to which it has given birth, to place
the Federal Government on the side of Human
Liberty, and to take care that all its acquisi-
tons of Territory, shall be made honorably,
honestly in conformity with the Laws Of Ma
TONS and for the purpose of extending the
blessings of Freedom. This accomplished then
indeed would Slavery be o "short,li lived" in
stitution, and the way would be fairly opened
for the establishment of Union, comprehend
ing in It's ample embrace, the whole Continent,
with the islands adjacent, and dedicated to
Justice, Liberty, and Equality.
CUBA-Tho following speculatioSs by the
New York Herald compromise ssggestions
worthy reflection. "Our islands, merit the
| serious attention of the American pt ople: