The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-08-10
THE NATIONAL ERA, WASHINGTON D. C, AUGUST 10. 1854

Cuba from the coast of Africa, which has kept
down the standard of negro civilization, we re-
gard the laws of that Island as far more favor
able TO the slave than those of our Southern
States.
In Cuba, every slave has the privilege OF
emancipating himself by paying price which
does not depend upon the selfish exactions of
the masters; but it is either fixed price, or
else is fixed in each case by disinserested APP
praisers. The consequence is, that emancips-
tions are constantly going on, and the free peo-
pie of color are becoming enlightened, Guilt
waited, and wealthy. In no part of the United
States do they occupy the high social position
which they enjoy in Cuba
Is It not certain, that in the event Of annex
alton, these humane, legal, and social regula-
tions, will be overturned, and that the intoler-
ant spirit which pervades Mississippi and Geor-
gia win be substituted
| But another invincible objection, with every
honorable and humane man, must be the i'm
pulse which viii be given to the slave trade
between our shores and those of Cuba. No
man can pretend, that traffic in Christian
negroes and mulattoes is whit better than
that which is carried on from the coast of Al
RIGA to Cuba, in ignorant savages. Indeed,
provided the latter were legalizcd, and the ma
tives were not encouraged to 60 to war to
make slaves, we are clearly of opinion, that it
is less criminal than the infamous domestic
trade. The latter, equally with the former,
disregards all the most sacred and endearing
ties of family Of parent and child, and of huS-
band and wife. None but the vilest dema-
gogues in politics, or hypocrises In religion, VIII
DENY a fact so notorious; and unless the Chris
tan people of the United States are willing to
see three-fold augmentation of this Internal
traffic, they should never listen to the PROPOSE
ton of annexing Cuba while Slavery continues
there and here in its present form.
Demagogues will pretend that the annexa-
ton of Cuba will stop the African slave trade;
and in this way they hope to satisfy the con-
sciences of Northern men. But do we not see
the champions of Slavery demanding the revi-
val of the African slave trade even for this
Continent? And although some OF them scru-
pie ubtlo VI tnAS PVAA'5 N~S~~HN 'SJ 49,
that its odium may injure more practicable
and pressing schemes, will they not after ac-
curing Cuba, demand the continuance of the
African slave trade, which already exists, as In
dispensable? They are endeavOring to acquire
the Amazon valley, for the purpose of carry
ing Slavery to it; and with such demand for
slaves as will follow, it is the height of credu-
Iity to believe that the conscience of the ruling
class in the South will higgle at the idea of
reviving all the horrors of the slave trade,
against which the good men of this country
and of England have contended for seventy
years, and which is now nearly destroyed.
We intend to advert to this subject of the
slave trade again in day or two, and we
shall show that events are rapidly tending to
an open issue in this country upon the policy
of its revival u.