Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1859-09-03
Cuba and the Slave Trade.

The acquisition Of Cuba is opposed by the
Republican party, because it will increase the
Slave Territory Of the United States. The same
men are violently opposed to the African Slave
trade, and whenever a chance vessel happens TO
slude the vigilance of officers, and land a car
90 of negroes on the coast of southern State,
they are loud in their denunciations Of the Ad-
ministration, and assert that the democratic
party are in favor Of re.opening the traffic. If
they are conscientious in their opposition to
slavery aud the slave trade, they certainly
ought to favor any project, by which the latter
might be decreased or utterly abolished. It is
easy OF demonstration, that the annexation Of
Cuba to the United States, would do more to
accomplish that object than any other means
that could be devised. At present, almost all
the slavers which visit the African coast, are
fitted out in Cuba, and land their negroes there
on their return. Spain has always wiuked at
this transgrsssiOn Of what has now become a
law OF nations and as long as she holds Cuba
in her possession, the trade will be carried on
{ greater or less extent
Captains Of vessels are certain, II they can
make post in this island, that they are out of
danger from molestation; and the knowledge
Of this fact gives them encouragement to pros
ecute a business which would otherwise he
entirely abandoned.
But ifshe belonged to US. under our sirin
gent laws, il would be az difficult and danger
Gus TO disembark a cargo Of Africans there, as
il ia on our own coast AZ the present time, Gov
eminent officials would be on the alert, and
after the capture aud punishment Of a few
crews, the traffic would be permanently broken
up. This country would also hold complete
control over the waters Of the Gulf, aud it
would be next to impossible for slavers to elude
the vigilance Of our vessels. The slave trade
would die a natural death and never be resur.
rected The objection. that the acquisition of
Cuba would increase our Slave territory is with
out force. If we get Cuba with her slaves it
will not iBjore Us. and 1t cannot but be an ad,
vantage 10 The slaves themselyes They are
now held in the lowest depths of seryituds, and
are sunk to the extrsmest point of degradation.
The slaves of the southern States are infinitely
better OF than they are. and the same system il
extended over them, would vastly aneliOrate
their condition. The pAst history Of Cuba has
shown that they are incapable Of self govern
msnt, lha; they cannot rule themselves; and
uBdst The Jurisdiction Of The United States, they
wOald enjoy all the blessings Of which they are
capable. at least until they are elevated in the
scale Of moral existence. Al some future time
they may become eBdoEed With the capacity
Of eslAhliahing . gogsrDmant under which they
ek6 eaist, bit the experience Of the laat century
iB lAe West India Islands has proved, that the
attempls % lhe negro population to govern
tbenssises are sisnal failures. Such attempts
hngt alpsys tsan atteRdea with murder, blood.
shed, raplus, fraoheEy and anslly starvation
"a snis. Lea IA have o1bassaO with slavery
fgsAt slsps iEsds wIll ihuS be snsctaalIy abOI