True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1858-12-22

4
Mr.. Thrssher as-many Of them
uneasy under their present rulers, and
strongly inclined to apopular government.
But this, while it is no new thing with
Spanish Americans, by no means proves
their capacity to perform the part Of cit'
gems Of republic. The Spanish Ameri-
can republics have all failed to secure
popular freedom and public tranquility
and we have only to glance at the history
Of France for the last two-thirds Of cen
,ury to see how perfectly compatible is
violent love of civil liberty with an entire
incapacily to preserve it by appropriate
institutions.
The next element Of the population OF
Cuba is the FREE CoLoRED-of all shades
from the Iightest to the darkest-fellow
subjects of the Spanish Government with
the former class, and enjoying so far as
appears. an equality with it in civil rights
and privileges. Many of these people
have wealth, talents and social position
and will not be content, in case OF the
attempt to establish popular government
in the island with any other civil cOndi-
ton than that Of citizen. Descended
from African tribes far superior in intelli-
gence and physical strength to the parents
of the negroes of the States Of this Union,
they are proud and fierce. with more
courage and less docility, and will not
consent to be degraded by any political
change that may take place around them
1t will be seen that they constitute very
considerable ingredient in the aggregate
population; and it is easy to see that their
influence will be in proportion; for while,
in Maryland, where slavery is little more
than optional, the proportion of the free
blacks to the whites is one in 81 in
Virginia is one iu l6a in Kentucky one
in rs; in Georgia one in l7S; in Mis-
sissippi one in 9ls; in Cuba, taking an
average Of all calculations, it stands at
one in %. Now, if The people Of the
Southern States of this Union are justly
afraid-as they profess to be-of the in
huence of their few free negroes upon the
slave population, how much may reason,
ably be apprehended from the turbulence
of an element of the same kind, but great.
ly superior in character and in much larger
proportion, already possessed ofcivil rights
i'm case the attempt is made TO create
against them political distinctions which
do not now exist. With white popula-
tion far more prone TO revolution than
| fond Of the quletude OF settled govern
ment, and free colored ingredient, such
AS we have described, the case, in any of
its aspects. is one of no little difficulty.
The third class is the SLAVES, also of
all the different shades Of color, and in
numbers, in respect 10 which estimates
vary-the lowest being four hundred and
thirty.six. and the highest hne hundred
thousand. 1t is probable that the state
ment of Mr.. BALLoU, which makes the
number to be 100000, and is about mid
way between the Two extremes, is nearly
correct. The slave population, is there
fore, considerably larger than the free
white, and is composed Of the same mate.
rias with the free colored-races more
athletic, more passionate, and less dociIe
|. than those from which came the slaves o.
the United States. This difference with
perhaps that between the Anglo Saxor
and the Romano Celt in the master clas.
has had the effect to modify the characte
Of the relation, so that slavery in Cuba
, as. for similar reasons, it does in Brazil
differs, in many important respects, from
slavery in the United States. The Cubal
slave enjoys certain legal rights, inconsis
ten! with perfect chattlehood, which tn
I tribunals Of the island recognise and pre-
: tect. He may compel his master to sci
him to himself, or in some cases, to 9th
: ers, the price being fixed by the appraiss
e Of disinteres:ed persons, and hold him t
v a strict performance of the conditions {
i the sale. He has therefore the power I
Y contract-a long step toward freedom
e and a productive ofa perceptible tendenc
j. in that direction, If the people Of th
Slave States are afraid of the 'Africaniz;
d ton Of Cuba on account Of its inhuenc
" upon their own servile population, ho
J. much more will they have reason to
'e afraid, when Cuba becomes a part
!" the Union, Of the effect which these Gu
I" toms will produce upon them. And y
n The elements remaining the same--tl
,e customs will continue. It will be out
l. the power Of the Southern States to cor
pei their abandonment. Congress W
y, ~ hardly undertake job Of SO doubtful e.
N pediency, and a setvile insurrection wou
20 almost certainly follow an attempt Of Il
W kind from any quarter. The slave won
n