Weekly North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1858, 1855-05-30
A STARTLING DOCTRINE.

We understood Mr.. Shepard, the Know-Nothng
candidate to take this position Monday last with
reference to the island of Cuba: He was opposed to
war for its acquisition, opposed to fillibustersm-
thought it well enough that the island should remain
as it is, but would take it by purchase at fair and
reasonable prize. We understood him to declare,
however, that if England and France should Afri-
canze the slandthat is, set the slaves free, as they
have done in Hayti and Jamaica, there soould be no.
thing in the act to alarm or injure people!
On the contrary he argued that if the island should
be Africanized it would throw into the Southern
States of the Union the cultivation of coffee and su
gar this actually adding to the prosperity of this
country. This is the most startling do, trine
advanced in relation to Cuba, by any public man in
this State; and we undertake to say that but few
of the old federal party in the District, whose
votes Mr. Shepard is soliciting, will agree with him
in this position. Why, citizens Of the non-slave-
holding States-Mr. Douglas, Mr. Buchanan, Gen.
Cass, and President PIERCE who is denounced on an
hypothesis by Mr.. Shepard traitor-have all
declared, over and over again, that such nterven-
ton by England and France in the affairs of Cuba,
,oouM be raught aoith imminent peril to the inter-
ess Of the United States, aoouM put at hazard the
institution IF slaoery itse! and should be resisted
of the point efthe 6ayonet, If necessary, By theJsd-
eral gocernnaent. And the same view is entertained
by majority of the people of the free States.
The result of permitting such policy on the part
of England and France is so evident that it to
US unnecessary to dwell upon it, but aside from the
consequences which would flow from the act affect
ing the institution of slavery, the right if conceded
to these two powers, thus to interfere and destroy
the leading domestic establishment of Cuba, would
carry with it the right control the island itself;
and in that event, free outlet at the mouth of the
Mississippi, and all our commerce seeking the great
South and the wide regions of the Pacific through
the Gulf of Mexico, would at once exist merely by
the suferance of England and France We should be
thrown back, by such policy, at least fifty years,
to the period preceding the acquisition of Louisiana
by Mr.. Jefferson. 1t is policy which, if attempted
by France and England, and submitted to, would
vitality affect the interests of the United States and
especially the institution of slavery and we should
BE- pointed to throughout Christendom people
destitute alike of common sagacity, Of craftsmanship
and manhood. It is policy which would doubtless
be quite acceptable to such Know Nothings as Hen
ry Wilson, John P. Hale, and Anson P Morrill, {;
but it will find but few advocates here.
Truly Mr.. Shepard has begun, and that right sud-
denly, to "folow strange gods" He was not thus
taught by that Democracy which once honored him,
and called him to the only political stations he ever
has or ever will, most probably, occupy. Indeed,
We think he has gone considerably, in this respect
beyond the wishes of the darklantern concern which
nominated him. Where is their platform? Who
were the delegates? Who presided over the cabal,
which has sen forth candidate to excuse before
the people of this District, the threatened Aricani-
cation of Cuba by France and England? What say
Messrs Reid, of Duplin, Reade Of Person, and Paine
to these views of their brother Know Nothing? Are
they with him? And if so, is it good "American'
doctrine to stand quietly by and permit England
and France to convert Cuba into another Jamaica
or Hayt? This, then, is "Ansrieanism ! We
pronounce it any thing else; it would open the door
OF the whole Union to that very FOREIGN ISfLy.
EScE" against which we so solemnly warned
oy Washington. and would expose these States to
consequences, the depth and the danger Of which
no human Imagination can now fathom.
And is this specimen of Mr.. Shepard's states
anshlp? Ifso it proves that he has cast aside all
us former expsrience-all his former readings OF
nistory and has determined to commence anew in