The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-04-12
"a SUBSTANTIAL CAsUs BELLI" AT LAST.


pondent of the Baltimore Sun, commenting up
on the policy of Emancipation in Cuba, an
nounces that the Administration is at last fur
nished with a casus Jelli, so long wanting in
our controversies with that country" His re-
marks deserve attention, not so much as reflect
ing his own opinions, flor Ion is not a bloody
minded flibuster, or even Slavery propaganda
but as furnishing an insight into the specula-
tons and desires of the "partisans of Slavery"
1t will be observed that while he presents these
in their length and breadth, he takes good care
to insinuate incidentally the utter want of prep
aration in this country to carry out any bel
ligerent measures.
"If, in the longcontinued chickering's between
the Government of the United States and that
of Spain, substantial cdsus beUi has been
wanting, it is no longer so. One is quite ready
for our acceptance. Cuba is to be Africanized
and abolitionized and revolutionized into Gree
black Governslcnt like st. Domingo This
purpose has been formally announced in the
Spanish Cortes by the Government, and was
heartily responded to by that body.
"The object SO long sought by Great Britain
is thus to be speedily attained. No one can
doubt that the movement will be supported by
the British Government; and if there is any
thing in the Clarendon declaration and the like
declaration of Louis Napoleon, as to the cordial
understanding between those two Governments
in regard to all matters in both hemispheres. it
will apply with full force to this case.
"Spain is now satisfied that she cannot longer
retain dominion over Cuba. To abolish Sla.
very will be to extinguish all her own interests
in the possession, and to nullify the interests of
all the Cuban proprietors. 1t is desperate
attempt to render the acquisition of Cuba use
less or injurious to the United States.
at is held by all our Southern statesmen to
vent, at all hazards, the conversion of Cuba in
to free black community Such a change
will, as they think, be ultimately dangerous to
the peace of the South. Yet, we have to choose
between the evil and the abandonment of our
cherished designs of Selling the island.
eff we do not intend to acquire the island
by seizure, or by intrigue or otherwise, then
there will be no occasion for its differentiation.
The instructions of Mr.. Dodge must be re-writ-
ten, and made to meet the new case. Cannot
a treaty be made with Spain, whereby. on our
side, we will guaranty to her the possession of
Cuba, while, on her part she shall agree not to
lberate the slaves? But England and France.
it may be said, will not permit Spain to enter
into such a treaty.
"Spain will probably act with promptness, if
| at all, on this subject, and she will be pressed
to action by the British Government. The
whole scheme may be in full progress by the
time of the regular meeting of the next Con
gress. The Free-Soil- Know Nothing Wing ma
jority of the House will not be likely either to
| sanction a declaration of war on account of
this aggression, or to grant means for prevent
| ing it. But the Executive Government will
| probably assume, as President Polk did in re-
gard to Mexico, that war exists, when meas
ures so hostile to the United States shall be act
ually adopted and enforced.
1.-The navy is not in a very good condition to
meet the British, French, and Spanish fleets,
which even now protect the coasts of Cuba. Ii
the late Congress would not provide for an ad-
dition of seven steam sloops of war, surely the
next cannot be expected to do it, The six
steam frigates are not to be in readiness for a
year or more. The process of differentiation
will, of course, be carried on under the bayo.
nets of twenty thousand Spanish troops. to saw
nothing of the guns of the British and French
| fleets. 1t will therefore require considerable
effort, on the part of the United States, to seize
upon the island in time to prevent the impend-
ing danger"
The National LateLigencer, apparently troub.
led by these truculent remarks, begged Ion to
reconsider the matter-he was too bastv-the
policy of abolition had not been resolved on
all Spain meant was to put an end to the slave
trade-of course this was no casus beUi. We
should like the hatelligencer to say, whether, ad.
hitting it to be fact, that Spain intends to
abolish Slavery in Cuba, it would Justify this
Administration in declaring war against her
for that reason? Ion, however. consented To he
pacihed, as the dreadful intelligence was soon
discredited
There IS something SO ridiculous in all this
that we can hardly treat it seriously. If Snaiu
conclude to abolish Slavery in Cuba, it is none
OF our business. England and France did i,
IN their colonies, right on our coast, and we
never whimpered. What is the reason Spain
cannot DO the same now? Is it because we
think we are strong enough to whip herr How
magnanimous
Some years since, the question of Emancipa
ton was up In Kentucky, lying amidst Slave
holding States, and powerful movement wa.
made to put an end to the curse. Did the
South call upon the Federal Government to in
terfere, to demonstrate, to send detachment Of
United States troops to put down the movement
Did 1t get up any 6libustering on the occasion
South Carolina to-day might abolish Shaver,
within its borders, if it saw proper, without mo
lestation from its sister States and yet we must