Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1858-06-02


cruel than the Former slave trade Then males ard
females were thought here. and there was something
of a social sHtem recognized in that trade Then
these people Re to be hired out and nobody will
deny that thee will be worse treated than the slaves
usually are who belong to those who control them.
maintain tf4t this system is one of enormous cru
city. everyone must see at glance. Its subjects
will, most probably, be worked to death by the time
their eight oIten years service is over. So
Mr.. Speaker, we have upon the coast of Africa
ships to d Great Britain in the suppression of the
slave trade AVID yet she is transporting men who
are free comparatively, and vastly superior to the
negro, and 9onsgning them in vast numbers to the
most cruel condition of slavery ever known. l sub
NIT whethe it is not mockery, whether it is not
hypccriticain the United States and Great Britain
to try to SAFE few negroes while this enormous
system is gping say that it is as hypocritical
as it would he for an individual, who had been rob-
bling the pIor of thousands systematically, to give
away few shings SYSTEMATICALLY on Sunday for
charitable purposes. As we have this agreement
with Gref Britain, why not speak out our sent-
ments maifully, and tell her that if she does not
abandon his. we will withdraw our squadron from
Africa, ard no longer attempt to prevent the carry
ing awayof few negroes to Cuba, while countless
numbers of white men are being enslaved?
The great objection to our acquiring Mexico as a
whole, IS to be found in the fact of the existence
there Of large population of Indians and other in.
fcrior persons. Suppose Louisiana, Florida, or Tex
as. had been filled up with large number of inferi-
or people, which could not reduce to subsection:
that fact would have rendered them useless to the
United Strtes. On the principles of humanity. in the
first place. and secondly upon the question of expe-
diency also, am against this system of filling up
these thinly inhabited neighboring regions with
inferior and degraded races Gentlemen must see
hat it is the ultimate policy Of the United States. at
some future day, whether ten, twenty, or fifty
years hence to acquire the greater portion of this
territory. hold sir, that system will be better
for that country than the system Of Great Britain;
and that therefore, it will be for the interest of all
that region, it unquestionably will be our policy
some day to control it.
Gentlemen may say, however, suppose that the
treaty is abrogated, and England refuses to yield:
will you go to war with her? That is thrown at us
by way Of intimidation. l have observed the course
of the British Government, and they have two sys-
TENS of operation against us. They may be defined
as what Sammy Weller would call "insinivation and
buster" Many of our statesmen are so delighted
to get compliments from the British press, and to
be thought well of by British officials that they
seem to forget the interest of their own country.
remember, few years ago, when there was an in
vestgation going on in the British Parliament in
latien to the expenses of their missions abroad
here, was a Witness and he was asked what expen-
diture paid best? His reply was. "that spent
for dinners" Whether his American experience
brought him to that conclusion or not, l do not
know. l confess that appreciate dinner and
civility as much anybody; but it is one thing to
accept and return courtesies, and it is another to
abandon the interests Of ones country
have no doubt that every right minded English.
man will think better of American statesmen who
while accepting the civilities Of foreigners, will still
stand by the interests of their country rather than sell
it for a mess Of pottage When these means fail We
to be alarmed by threats of danger from England
and sometimes with great effect the timid. I
doubt much whether any Administration we have
had since John Tylers would have had the courage
to accept Texas upon her application in the face of
the British protest against it. l am very certain
that some of them would have professed to be
afraid and would have declined it. I think it alb
solutely necessary that this country should in
respects. take higher position abroad. An extreme
ly notifying fact brought to my knowledge the
other day. A bearer Of dispatches came here from
St. Domingo He called to me, thinking that
Congress might be induced to do something. He
says that the American commercial agent at the city
Of St. Domingo, with his family and all American
citizens in that country, are actually protected from
massacre by Baez and his followers by the British
consul, and by the captain of an English ship who
happened to be there, and who was ready to land
four hundred men to protect them. knew that in
Europe, Asia, and Africa, citizens were in the
habit of claiming to be Engshmen. in order to
get British protection but l did not know that
this system had to be resorted to in America and
almost in sight of our own shores.
Is it not time that something should be DONE
There has been great difficulty upon the part of the
Secretary of the Navy in finding ship to send there
to protect our citizens. l think that the African
squadron might as we'll be employed upon that ser.
vice. If we will submit to indignities from white
men, il is rather too much to take insults and kicks
from free negroes. Cannot the Greytown affair at
least be repeated in ST. Domingo?
But we are constantly met with the allegation that
Congress will do nothing that Congress would not
back the Executive. We know very well the short
comngs of Congress but, in my judgment, there
have been but few instances where the Executive
has had occasion to call for and has shown dispo'
sition to use force that Congress did not properly
respond. Not only in the Maine boundary dispute,
but during the Mexican war, the Government had
everything it asked. The misfortune has been, that
some of our Presidents heretofore have not shown
the purpose to act. and the consequence has been,
that Congress has been slow in advancing anything
Our Navy costs SIS, 900, 600 year-more than
the whole General Government cost in the year
Iceland yet I am told that the Navy is not much
efficient than it was in 1916 This if true, is
attributable TO the miserable system which now pre-.
walls in having ignorant clerks in the Departments
at the heads of bureaus, to whom the management
of the Department is committed, while the Secrea.
ry himself sometimes, not being familiar with the
business, trusts it to his subordinates. l hope we
shall have reform in this respect
As far as concerns the present Administration il
has not, as yet had an opportunity of showing its
hand upon our foreign policy. 1t has been occupied
with certain domestic questions; but, I think, from
the antecedents of the President and the Secretary
of State, have right to expect a more determn.
ed policy. read last session extract from Mr..
Buchanan's Ostend manifesto. The language is SO
good that de~ire to repeat it again. On the 18th Of
October he says:
"Under such circumstances ought neither to count
the regard the odds which Spain might enlist
against We rbear to enter into the question: whether
the present condition Of the island would justify such
e be tn ntv
be unworthy of gallant forefaher and commit
treason against poserity should permit Cuba to be
Acanized, and become second ST. Domingo with all its
attendant horrors to the white and suffer the flames
extend to our own neghborng shores seriously 10 endan