The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1855-02-07
IN ADVANCE
n U NJ B L r 50

tile peace ot Cuba now, but in the alb
sence Of standing army, the whites ot
Cuba would be sleeping over voIca-
no. ....
The next clement in the population of
Cuba to be considered, was the 100000
slaves. "A large portion of these have
been imported from Africa, and are still
half savage, and cannot be relied upon
for fidelity and loyalty to anything like
the same extent as our slaves.
MIR. Boyce proceeded to examine the
slave regulations of Cuba-the riyht Of
the slave to change his master if he
chooscs-the right to buy himself or any
part of himself-and the right of the
slave mother to secure the freedom of her
unborn child upon payment Of S2J. All
these facts were full of meaning, showing
how the Spanish government keeps tho
African idea impending over Cuba, ike u
portentouS cloud, which flashes up a. in
tervdIs to retain dominion by the terror of
its vivid glare.
Again by treaty with Great Britain,
Si'alI-.n consideration of 100000 paid
to her by Great tBritain,-agreel to ajol-
ISL the slave trade after 1920 and every
African imported into Cuba since that
time is, 10y public uurepeaed ordinance,
and in accordance with the treaty, de-
cIared free. AS nearly all the slaves now
in Cuba, are either negroes imported IN
violation Of the treaty of / 500, or their
descendants, in the event of the auncxa-
ton of Cuba to the United States, with
out some previous modification Of the
condition OF these negroes, 10y a sLpreme
authority intermediate between the Span
ish power and our own race, they would
certainly be declared free. Indeed til.
principle upon which this question turns,
has already been settled by the Supreme
Court in the ceeLra ell Amistad case.-.
| Under these circumstances the Island
would Oe at once flooded with class of
free negroes, and th,re would be no sub
stantiaI basis left for the maintenance of
the institution Of slavery. Nor could the
white popu!ation-in numbers about COO,
600, and about equal as n class to the
Mexicans-be relied upon to maintain the
institution. The comparatively few South
ern men who would 60 there, would ne
countcracted, in their influence, by All
equal aud adverse emigration from the
North. The continuance Of slavery would
therefore, depend on the Creuies Of Cuba.
"a very slight security indeed. Slavery
Is never secure where their nasteis are
an inferior white race. There is, too, 4
marked tendency in the Spanish Creole
race to emigration, the causes OF which
Mr.. b. inteIGgentIy explained. In view
OF all these considerations lie was salts
He'd that, on the part Of the South, the
annexation of Cuba was not desirable,
even, without money or blood.
Cuba can only be acquired by purchase,
10y war, or 10y treaty with her as All inde,,
pendent power. Buy the Islam. we can
not. No Spanish administration would
dare to sell it; and if it could be pur-
chased, it would be at price 50 enormous
as to be unadvisable. TO take the Island
10y war, would be unjust, and cost blood
and treasure beside. War too, would
bear more heavily upon the South, be-
cause Of the inequality of our system of
taxation, and because the W ung men oi
the South, for this, as n Southern measure,
would rush TO the battle aud its dangers !:
and besides, Spain, for the purpose ci
blasting our acquisition in our hands
when she could hold Cuba no longer
would decree universal emancipation
and the sentiment OF the North would
forbid the reversal OF that decree, AMI
maintain the supremacy of the Spanish
law Of freedom. If it is desirable 10 ac-
quire Cuba at all, The best method would
be negotiation with her as an indercn-
dent power-chiefy, because then her
character would be fixed, anu We should
know what we were getting, and be less
likely to get what we do not want.
MIR. Il. disavowcd being in favor oI
tiIlibusterisE and urged the reference OI
this whole question for solution, to- tlt
future. France and England did not
want, and would not take Cuba (; bat, Il
they should attempt il, he would draw
the sword and drive them into the sea-
He would not take Cuba for the settle
ment Of our claims against Spain, but in
the last resort would make rnprisals upon
her commerce, in order to justice.
But, suppose Spain should attempt tc
Africanize Cuba. In anticipation of sucl
Il possibility, our Government, following
the maxim that an ounce Of prevention
is worth a pound of cure, would remove
the causes leading Spain to that COURSE
These are two-fear Of our designs upon
Cuba, and the pressure Of England. Let
Us take a line Of conduct to remove tll,
first cause.-the Russians are removing
the second.