The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-06-19


ance of its universal abolition to the prosperity
of interests with which her Industrial prosperity
is conspicuously identified. At all events and
beyond all peradventure, whether from philan-
thropy, or selfishness or q mixture of both Great
Britain, the first maritime Power in the world,
and having island possessions in threatening
propinquity to the Southern States, is decisvely
committed, and by enduring motives, to the Anti
Slavery cause. The gentlemen of the slave States
understand it well, and for years they have
sounded an ALARM neither affected nor ground
less, that England wishes to " AfricdRize" Cuba,
and surround the South with Z" Gordon of free
negro communities" IL was to defeat this scheme,
that, under Col Folks Administration, they Of
fered one hundred millions of dollars for the
purchase of Cuba, and more recently instigated
conferences at 0stend, at which the same pur-
chase was attempted at a much higher price.
We will consider by and by, in the progress OF
this discussion, whose money it was which has
been offered with such a princey and uncalcula-
ting munifcence. For the present, | refer to it
only proof Of the intensity of slayeholding ap-
prehensions, and of the magnitude of the dam
gers which threaten Slavery. The most formi-
dable Power on the Globe, with every inviting
opportunity OF position, is the known, avowcd,
and sworn enemy of the institution with which
every Southern interest is indssolubly bound up,
and is also from motives and considerations
which make its hostility fixed, unappeasable and
eternal.
All the orators and all the writers of the South
adopt the views of Mr.. Calhoun in reference to
English policy. To quote them all, is equally
mpractcable and unnecessary, and only refer
now TO a speech delivered in Congress, April 30
1856, by Gen. Quitman, Representative of Mis-
sissippi, and the owner of three hundred slaves,
as the latest and most elaborate expression of
these views. After remarkng generally upon
" the peculiar condition Of nadny netghboring States
and Coionies, and The influence wheh their condition
must exercise upon our o,cn prosperity" Gen. Quit
man proceeds to particuarize (lst) Mexico, which,
he says, I" can be sdDed only BIZ the advancing food
Of our enterprising citizens" (3d) Central America,
where he says that, at present. European an
tgues check our extension, but where he hopes much
from that patriotic band ,chich has lately trans
planted The principles Of Democracy from tie United
States 10 Nicaraguan SOIL" (3d) Cuba; and (4th)
San Domingo which strange and grotesque pom
err, lie says, under ichoss stupid stray that fair
island, hoLiing ruth her commodsous ports The
relation 10 the CdriJJedn Sea that Cubd holds 10 the
Gaf of Merico, as fast reopsing INTO bar6arism, is
sustained 6ymghy European Influences m ITS attempts
10 eItermi,gate The small trhtte dominican Republic
srhieh still retains portion Of the island"
Completing his survey, Gen. Quitman sgnif-
cantly declares
IAN the OF nsular America is European or Ami
Standing here, among the statesmen OF America,
point the surrounding scene. Behold il is and
then look forward few and contenIp ate what
will be. What reflect docs present! world
startling drama O he ensr,ed and We the guard
ans of counirys veal to have part III the per-
greatness, and THE SAFETY even. Of our beloved land
are deeply concerned"
{" Iasuldr Anierica!" That has a strange and
unfamiliar sound. 1t has nothing in common
with the history and ideas of this people. 1t was
Continental America which resisted George Ill.
II was in the name of the Continental Congress
fhar thau A bad dar Of
conderoga. OF nothing is the tradition so fresh, as
of the famous Continental money, with which our
armies were kept on foot during that great struggle
" Iasular Americd!." The phrase is new, and of
alarming and dangerous portent The idea of
which il is the expression must be met, and re-
sisted and denounced at the threshold. OF our
Continental possessions, we have not even expor-
ed the one half With the possible exception of
an occasional resting-place for our commerce in
the vast Pacific, we want no islands. {" Myuiar
Amertoa may exist in geography, but should never
he allowed to form part of our politics.
The cause of Gen. Quitman's alarm is his be-
lief, reiterated in great variety of forms, that
Great Britain is infexibly intent upon devoting
this kasui0r Americd," so near and so menacing
to the Southern States, to the Possession and
domination of the hated race of Af&Sens. Gen.
Quitman says:
.'She has been periinaciously engaged in protecting
Spanish ~ ranny lin Cuba aud in the unnatural and
%
insular America, barbarous black empire The germ
of her plot exhibited in laying waste Jamaica, by
destroying the proper relations between the white aud
black races there. Her plot ~ further exposed
by her inirigues i'm San Domingo. Pursuing her
schemes with intense and interchangeable ZEAL she
has used her strong influence with Spain 10 bring about
the abolition OF Slavery Cuba. Her intent plain
She desires 10 devote the American Archipel-
ago the great islands OF The Caribbean sea TO The negro
race Could this scheme be effected, The object
ter would be forever stopped The proeciorate of the
black Empire, States thus brought into existence,
would. OF course, be- vested IN Great Britain.
She will have the power disturb her pleasure the
= rpose Of The contiguous Sta,ef III and TO simulate
throughout entire country the agitation of that slavery
question: which, even now, - so pregnant with mis-
chief to tho harmony of our institutions. None
but the perversely blind fail perceive her serpent
like policy. The never-slumbering vigilance of
great commercial rival ia at work weaving
meses and planning dangerous combinations to enange
aud destroy u.s.
Observing that Spain, under English influence,
has invested the Captain General of Cuba with
the power, as one extreme means of defence, of
" endncipdting he stdce PopuidtiOR,' Gen. Quitman
eyclaims " There 6ctore as, PREGNANT WITH
RUIN, hangs tie dark and terrible cioud!"
Observing that he had {" not time 10 present the
many and conctusirc pJoofS that ue policy Of Eng
idRd rs such os as attributed 10 her" Gen Quitman
quotes the following, from instructions given by
Lord Palmerston to the British Minister at Mad
rid in 1851:
II have instruct your Lordshp say To the Spanish
Minister that the ssve form large portion and by no
that steps taken 10 provide for her emancipation would
therefore, far the black population concerned be
Msesiy's Government that should be adopted
for contenung the people OF Cuba
The policy of England may be denounced as
| selfish. Ii is, however, the duty of Governments
to consult the interests of the governed; and when
they do so without invading the rights of Others
they deserve praise, and not censure England
| need not be ashamed to avow the motives which
| control her She can make 4 clean breast of it.
| without mourning the condemnation of an Impair
| tial world. In the competitions of production
| and commerce, whoever makes use of enslaved
labor is the natural enemy of all the rest of man.
kind and must not complain if he is treated as
| SUCH He avais himself of an unfair advantage
! The robbery of the slave becomes the robbery of
the freeman with whose labor the slave is brought
into rivalry. The working men of the free States
of this Union do not, all of them, yet see that
| this is So but they are fast learning it. and when
| the lesson is once learned, it will never he I'M
learned. The Government of England perceives
1t, and is acting upon it, and will continue to act
upon it.
So long as the Union of these States subsists,
Slavery, AS domestic institution of a portion of
the Confederacy, is entitled to that protection
| from the national power, of which it stands so
greatly in need. If the Union is dissolved, the
| Southern States must protect it as best they
may. England is under no obligation to protect
1T, but is perfectly justified in preventing its e1-
tension, by any fair means, if she believes il to
be antagonistic to her own policy. While we are
governed by our own interests, let us not child
ishly complain because England also is governed
by her own interests Insisting upon our own
rights, and pursuing our own policy, let US respect
the equal prerogatives of other sovereign nations
In his letter of 1874, to our Minister to France
Mr.. Calhoun shows extreme anxiety to estab-
lish distinction between the interests of France
and those of England, in reference to the annex