New-York daily tribune., 1858-07-20


been drawn up by Mr. Buchanan, now President of
the United States a. all events signed by him. We
find the following emphatic sentence: awe should
"be recreant to cur duty, be unworthy of our gal
"lant forefatbers, ard commit base treason against
"our posterity, should we permit Cuba to be Afr-
"caDized ard become second st. Domingo" The
Authorization of st. Domingo was brought about
by means of the African slave trade, which, stmu-
lated by the extension Of the sugar cultivation, was
kept up in fun vigor down to the very day that the
revolt tf the slaves commenced 1t can only be by
similar process that Cuba can ever be Afrcanized
There is not the least danger Of any inyssion Of
Cuts from Africa. If tie island is to psss like st
Domingo, from tie hands of the whites into those
of the blacks il can only occur through the accumu-
aton in it Of greet preponderancy OF Atrlcaas BY
means of the African slave trade.
If Mr.. Buchanan really desires to prevent the
Attenuation of Cuba, the means is very simple.
Let the Africans be kept out Of it, thing fully
within the power Of the United States TO accom-
psh without giving apy oAense to our neighbof'
or exciting their Jealousy; without any risk OF
war either with Spain or anybody else, and at
cost very far short of the absurdy eItrayagant
price at which it has been proposed to purchase
Cuba Of Spain. The process Of the Abicanizstion
Of Cuba by keping up perpetual influx OF slaves
from Africa is mainly carried on under tho Amer
can flag, which alone furnishes any security to the
vessels engaged in it against capture by British
cruisers. Let Mr.. Buchanan interfere perempto-
rily and decisively to put stop to the use OF
American built vessels, American registers and
papers, American masters and the American flag
for the purposes of this traffic, aud the Africaniza
ton of Cuba will be efectualy and forever put stop
to. Nor would any considerable number of vessels
large show Of force be required for this purpose
The scOundres employ ed in this business, whether
American foreign, proceed at present in the per-
feet cor fdence that the American Government
winks at and secretly fayors them. Let the Presi-
dent issue a proclamation declaring his resolution
TO put stop TO this abuse, and let him back up this
proclamation by placing few cruisers on the
coast of Cuba for this express purpose, and the mo-
ment tie slave traders become convinced that our
Government was in earnest in the matter they
would drop the practice Of shulkiDg under the Amer
lean fsg ard would be driven to the last resource
| that of sailing under no flag at all.
Ard there are special reasons why Mr.. Buchanan
should act now in this matter. Vigorous and ef-
fcient action on our part will not merely shield US
from the charge to which our recent diplomatic
correspondence with England leaves US exposed, of
disposition to put obstacles in the way Of the
abolition of the trade it will in all probability
secure us the honor and pleasure Of being in at the
death, and Of puttirg final stop to that disgrace.
full traffic in the placing Of which under the ban Of
the law, having ourselves been exposed to the dan
ger of Africanizston, We took the lead fifty years
| sgo.
That traffic at this moment, in spite of sl the
recent efforts at its revival here and elsewhere, is
more restricted, more hazardous and less profitable
! than il ever was before. The only remaining mar.
ket for African slaves is Cuba; the only ports Of
outfit for sayeIs in Cuba and the United States.
Even in Cuba the landing of slaves is illegal, and
| they are liable to seizure, not only b. British
cruisers as they approach the eont, but by Spanish
| ficisls after they are landed. II is true that
seizures of this Latter sort are seldom made, but
they are only avoided BY the payment Of very he.yy
bribes to the Spanish officials, adding greatly to the
cost even Of successful enterprises. Nor this extra
cost confined merely to the landing of the slaves 1t
charscte rzes the whole business from beginning to
end In addition to the market value Of the ships,
sad supplies purchased and the wages Psid, large
sums have to be disbursed in the shape Of hush
money. And, after all these heavy expenses have
beec incurred it is calculated that Of late years, st
least two out Of every three vessels employed in
this business have been captured BY Sic British