Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-02-18
Mr.. Benjamin's Speech on the Cuban Bill

speech on the Thirty Million bill, disclose
other and more fatal fallacies than were oh
served in it's delivery.
For instance: the orator invoked the sym
pathies of humanity for the Cubans, becaus,
Of the expressions they endure under the ruiz
of Spain; and, yet as if with the deliberat,
purpose of neutralizing his appealand SO refu
ting his own argument, he convicts the same
Cubans of atrocities i'll the treatment of thei
subjects for which there is no parallel in the
annals of tyranny. 1T is a well authenti
Gated fact" he declares, "that the whole In
boring population of the island is exhausted
in IA single generation" Volumes of inyec
tive could not represent the cruelty of tn,
Cubans with stronger effect than is achieved
by this simple statement. And it is these
remorseess task-masters, for whose advantag,
MIR. Benz amin would have the United State,
violate all the safeguards of public law
trample upon the rights of nations, ant
abandon that policy of non-ntervcntiol
which is the tradition and security Of til,
Union.
Again: Mr.. Benjamin concludes from al
exhaustive induction, that out of the Ameri
can confederacy Cuba cannot possibly main
tain an adequate supply of labor;-not from
the natural increase of its slave population
for they are annihliated in single gene
ration;" not from the importation of Coolie.
or apprentices, for that experiment is disas
trOus failure; nor yet from the African slave
trade, against which the Powers of Christen
dom are united in active protest and resist
ance. But Cuba must have a sufhciency Of
compulsory labor, or else become desolat,
and depopulated waste. Such supply may
he realized after annexation to this country
but only by the deduction of so many ne
groes from our own border States. And pray
what will it avail for the interests of tn,
South, if Virginia is abolitionized for the per
petuation of slavery in Cuba?
MIR. Benjamin intimates-the idea is too
preposterous to be clearly developed-tha
annexation would induce the planters of Cubs
to adopt the more provident and humane
system prevalent in this country. Why
then rather than now? 1t is not in the ma
ture of the Spanish master to be consideratt
and indulgent. Besides, Mr.. Benjamin in
forms us that the ratio of males to females
among the slave inhabitants of the island, is
as six to one; and that they all perish togeth
or in single generation. Under these con
ditions it is palpably impossible that the pro
ductive powers of the slave population il
Cuba can suffice for an adequate supply o.
labor.
The most essential and inexousable err
ror in Mr.. Benjamin's srgument,-an error
which vitiates not only his logic but his pc
litical philosophy as vel, lis involved in these
extraordinary declarations:
"Now, Mr.. President, bringing this dis
course to close, desire to say, in Il few
words, what my view is in relation to the pc
Icy of this country. would propose, as the
President proposes, the purchase of the Isl
and of Cuba from the Government of Spain
If that he refused, if it be supposed tha
Spanish pride or Spanish dignity is involved
in the proposition to such an extent rs Il
make it impossible for them to cedeit, would
then say to Spain, 'if you will not cede the
Island to us, grant independence to your sub
jects there, and we will pay you reasonable
equivalent for the abandonment OF your rev
enues, and make settlement hereafter witt
the people of Cuba for our advances" Ii
this offer be again refused, then let US all
nounce to Spain in advance, that whenever
opportunity shall offer we are ready and re-
s0lute to offer to the people of Cuba the same
aid that England offered to the other Span
ish colonies; the same alliance, offensive and
defensive, which France so nobly rendered
to us in the hour of our darkest peril. Tell hel
that we shall repair the wrong by us done to
the generation now passing away in Cuba
when we impeded their efforts for gaining
their independence, by affordng to the pre-
sent generation our aid, countenance. and
assistance"
As Mr. Benjamin was the retained advo
cate of Spain in her relentless prosecution OF
the gallant men who essayed the emancipa
ton of Cuba, he may well feel some com
Functions Of conscience and with propri
ETY. propose now pentential atoneRent.-
But, as the United States have never accep
ted subsidy from the hands of the op
pressor, and have done nothing more than
discharge their duty under the law of ma,
tons, we do not perceive the necessity Of
the sacrifice which Mr. Benjamin suggests
A sacrifice we call it,-for surely no gov
eminent can adopt the policy seriously re
commended, in the above paragraph, without
an utter surrender of all honor and all prln
ciple. Upon what pretext of right or reason
may the United States dictate the indepen
dence of Cuba? Is not the island under the
dominion of Spain? lsit not her property by
every title beyond dispute? Is she response
BILE to us for the government of her posses
sions? Wherefore, then, this suggestion from
an American SENATOR With rs much propre
ty may England or France, uttering protesta'
tons of liberty and humanity, imperatlvely
advise the United States to emancpate the
slaves of the South. Never was the dogma
of Intervention proclaimed in 50 offensive a
form. 1t is subversive Of the independence
of nations; it denies the rights of sovereign
communities; it breaks through and breaks
down all the barriers of civil society; in
short, it resolves public law into the rule OF
the strong arm. Obviously, with the preva,
lence of such principle, no government is
secure; the weak will become the prey of the
powerful; and nations will be precipitated
into universal and exterminating war.
Is craftsmanship extinct? Is there no man
in the public councils who can rise superior
to the passions of the mob and the intrigues
of the caucus? Are they all alike narrow OF
vision and grovelling in their aspirations?-
When we observe the insensibility to the OBJ
legations of political morally, so conspicu-
GUS among the responsible rulers of the
country, We almost despair of the republic
Nothing but an abiding confidence in the
virtue Of the people and an undoubting con-
viction of the destiny of tho Union, could
reassure the patriot in the midst of the vice
and folly which no has 80 much occasion To