Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1857-02-18

she had already seized IN violation OF her stipuia-
tons with Spain. In substance therefore, 1t SIMPLY
declared that, as Great Britain had possession Of
the principal part of the coast and the territory most
valuable, she should continue to hold it, while the
United States, haoing nothing, agreed that they
would acquire nothing there. As long as this trea;
ty should stand so long would Great Britain have to
populate improve, and fortify the territory held by
her. When she had thus become SO strong there
be able to control the destinies of that whole
region. if the treaty were annulled the United States
not having one foot of ground, would have been in
no condition to contend with her, and hence Central
America would inevitably have become one of her
possessions completely as Canada is at this day.
see it stated in the newspapers, Mr.. Chairman,
that there is project on foot to amend this treaty.
Though the particular additions and qualifications
suggested may be improvements on the original
treaty in respects, yet they rest on foun-
dation which is unsound and treacherous, hope
they will never be sanctioned by this Government
as published. The original Clayton Bulwer treaty
must be gotten rid Of Possibly it n int be we'll to
add p, oviso that at the end of five years, for ex-
ample, the whole, both of the original and supple.
mental articles, should become void. We might
afford to slbmt to a bad treaty for time, with
certainty that We were soon t, be relieved from It,
Emboldened by success in this movement which
could hardly have been looked for, the next step IN
English diplomacy the proposition for the tri-
partte convention in relation to the Island OF Cuba
The British Government, in conjunction with that
Of France, on the 23d Of April, 1852, proposed to
the United States that the three Governments should
Jointly and severay agree that no them should
ever acquire the Island of Cuba The administra-
ton of Mr. Fillmore declined the arrangement and
the dispatch of Mr. Everett, the then Secretary of
State, has been much commended for its ability.
That the reasons why the United States could not
be expected to consent to such an arrangement are
ably and handsomely stated, no ono can question +;
but it is due to truth that shall say that in my
Judgment, our Government let itself down by con-
senting to argue such question. The reply the
proposition merited might have been given with far
more force and justice in ten sentences 1t might
well have been said in answer, that if Great Britain
and France chose to suggest to the United States
that neither of the three Governments should ac-
quire additional territory in any part Of the world
as such proposition would have the appearance OF
mutually and fairness, the Government ofthe Uni
ted States would take it into consideration but that
the proprositioh actually submitted did not merit to
be entertained at ALL At that very time sir, Great
Britain actively extending her dominons in Asia
and elsewhere; and France pressing her con-
quests in Africa; and in the face Of these things
they had the modesty to propose that the United
States should agree not to acquire territory on her
borders, ennently desirable to her, and lying in the
very direction in which alone she could hope for ex-
tension. Was there ever more impudcnt PROPOSE
ton and did not our Government lower itself by
condescending to argue it?
But having failed to induce the United States to
agree to acquire the island Great Britain de-
ternined to ruin it. so that whenever it did fall into
hands, should at least prove worthless. In the
conduct of wars in barbaric times, when province
could no longer be held against an invader, it was
not uncommon for those who were compelled to
abandon it to burn its Cities destroy its bridges and
aqueducs, poison its wells and waste its fields, so
that the conqucror might find its possession an in
cumbrance rather than an advantage. Such is the
policy which Great Britain has deliberately adopted
with reference to Cuba and the West India Islands
Seeing that, in the natural course of things they
will probably become ours she has resolved that, if
not entirely ruined (for to do this is beyond her
powcrO they shall at least be SO damaged as greatly
to reduce their value us.
Early in the present session, grentlcman from
Tennessee Mr.. Etheridgcl introduced resolution
dcnouncng in strong terms any suggestion in favor
of reopenng the African slave trade. 1t was follow
cd by the resolution of my friend from South Caro-
lima, Mr.. Orr.l likewise decidedly adverse to such
restoration, which the House with great unanimity
adopted
Well, sir about that very time the newspapers
were bringing to notice such paragraphs these
| read from the Daily Globe which was laid on cur
desks on the morning Of the 10th Of December last:
The New York Journal Of Commerce has letter f. 'm
Havana stating that the African slave trade is hourishng
there without check and that there large and increasing
inspirations of Chinese Spanish ship having Just arrived
sx.yve having been sold during the previous week
from $40 TO $40 per head
In the Union of January /, l find the following
paragraph:
"TuE Cody TRApE-Extract of letter from Havana,
dated the 25th unmo Another cargo of three hundred
and As!acs have arrived here dccmated from the
Quanty embarked at Annoy during voyage of two hum
drcd and twen,ysx days. They arrived the I'D by
es They have been already assigned purchasers
by the in this trade at sl7c and some Of them
These specimens are sufficient; and from them it
seems that in sight of our own coast, publicly and
! in open market, white men regularly sold into
! slavery, without one word of complaint from the
sensitive member from Tennessee MR. Etheridgc]
! and his numerous hackers on this floor.
| Look for moment at the difference between the
two cases. The African slave trade was abolished
by this Government fifty years ago, and since then
! all the civilized countries of the world have pro-
nounccd and legisated against it in the most decd-
ed form that human enactments can assume. Besides
this Great Britain and the United States keep up
large fleets the coast of Africa to prevent indvi-
duas from engaging in it. Nor has any member Of
Congress proposed here by bill, resolution,
speech, as know or believe, to re-establish it
has any State or State Legislature recommended
it; and yet the bare suggestion by one individual
that it ought to be reopencd, gave such a shock to
the sensbilities of the gentleman from Tennessee,
that his feelings could only find vent in the most
exaggerated and heart-rendng figures of speech.
He seemed to be thrown into conyulsons by the dea
as hydrophobia patient is by the sight of water !;
and yet he represents body of sohite on this
floor and looks with supine indifference the SALE
in open daylight of large numbers of sohite &C.
curing on our very borders. Nor is there any law
existing to prevent this really great mischief But
while he is thus Indifferent to the existence of the
slave trade in ohite nnen-men of the same color
with his constituents the idea that negroes should
be sold SO operated on him and many others on this
side of the House, that they were thrown into as
great commissions and contortions as frogs leg
would be by powerful galvanic battery.
have been waiting, sir, for an opportunity to
bring up these gentlemen upon this question; and
- so- IL .1<L.