The Yazoo Democrat. [volume] (Yazoo City, Miss.) 1858-18??, 1859-03-12
MR.. BENJAMIN ON THE ACQUISITION OF


CUBA.
Ia the Senate, on Friday, Mr.. Benjamin
spoke in favor of the acquisition of Cuba:
He commenced by stating the value Of
Cuba. All the British, French and Dutch
West Indies, together with the possessions
of those Powers in Guiana, were not equal,
intrinsically, to that solitary island. lie
then proceeded to demonstrate the failure of
the disastrous experiment of emancipation,
saying that the emancipated negroes have
not yet become the admirable peasantry and
yeomaary the English Abolitiousts prophe,
cied. Compulsory labor was necessary in
the tropics. While Cuba is kept in the
grasp of Spain she cannot keep up her sup.
ply of negro labor by surrepttlous slave
trade, and the coolie system was infinitely
worse. He then related the horrors of the
coolie trade, showing that these miserable
Asiatics died at the ratio of ten per cent per
annum, and were mere raw material to be
worked up into sugar. In view of the Me-
cessity of supply IT labor, Cuba must soon
follow San Domingo, or become American.
He would not discuss the effects of the ac
QUESTION of Cuba on our trade, manufactu,
ring or agricultural interests. Geograph.
cally considered, Cuba would be d s.ruco
tive element in the hands of the British in
case of war between the. Uuited States and
Great Britain. He denied that Spain was
an Independent nation She had sold her
sovereignty in Cuba to Great Britain. There
was time when she would not have felt
insultcd by an offer of money; for Great
Britain had paid her four hundred thousand
pounds to stop the slave trade, which she
had not done. He further denied that
Cubans had petitioned to remain under the
jurisdiction of Spain. Bolvar's plan to
assist Cuba In declaring her independence
fell through because the United States,
learning that Great Britain intended to seize
the opportunity Of her independence to as.
sumo protectorate, interposed, through Mr.
Clay, and prevented the movement. Spain,
alarmed placed the island in state of siege,
and it has ever since so remained, under the
des ootism of a Captain General, who is in
vested, like the commander of besieged
city, with unlimited power over life and
property Yet we are told that Cubans will
seek to remain under this yoke. 1t is not
so. They have done all they could to throw
it off. In 1926 there was a revolt there
later was the conspiracy of the Black Eagle
and later the attempts to gain her indepen
dence, familiar to all. In July, 1851, Q
few patriots declared her independence in q
proclamation, which Mr.. Benjamin read, and
which set forth intolerable grievances. The
fidelity of Cuba to Spain was only maintain
ed by thirty thousand bayobets and the fleets
that watch the coast. The comparison be-
tween the oppressed unarmed Cubans and
the armed three millions of our fathers i:
fall0cious. All that the Cubaus could dc
they have done. This being the case, why
should not Congress make an expression
, towards purchasing tP We need not reply
to the statement that the offer to purchase
Cuba will be an offence against Spanish dig
: n tys Everything that Spain had ou thi,
, C ntinent had been torn from her, except
Louisiana and Florida, both of which were
bought, If fGreat Britain and France object
that alone is a controlling consideration fol
perssting. Great Britain offered to buy
Cuba in 1928, and in 1926 was at the bottom
of plot to take it under her protectorate
and both failing she now proposes triparttC
treaty between England France and tho
United States, to guarantee that nobody bu
Spain shall have it. AS to France, wha
right has she to object to our purchase o.
Cuba 7 What Interpolation into the law o
nations prevents the requirement of territory
by purchase? Napoleon's uncle bougb
Louisiana. As to England if sic raises hel
voice, Mr.. Benjamin trusted our reply vii
be demand that she account for her tit,
to the Bay Islands; and when Lord Claren
don pleads Spontaneous settlement" tha
we shall claim the spontaneous settlement o
Cuba. There is 20 need to invoke the
musty bibles of international law to show
that she belongs to Spain. We seek NJ
subjects, for the fundamental basis of Amer
lean policy is the right of the people tt
r institute their own forms of government
Cuba belongs to the people, and it is fo
them to say what form Of government they
will live under. We propose to purchas,
from Spain; but if Spans dignity Is offend
ed, let US invite her to graut independence
to her Cuban subjects, and we will iudem
nifty her for the outlay, trusting to recon
pence ourselves in the friendly relations tina
are sure to spring up. II she refuse to ced,
, or to relax her despotic grasp, let the United
States, in the face of the world, tell her tina
on the first occasion that offers We will ex
tend to the Cubans the same aid whicl
Britain gave the other Spanish colonies il
their revolt, the same aid that France CAV
us in the darkest days of the Revolution
If the Cubans prefer independence, we will
protect them independent; and if they pre-
fer annexation, we will receive them witt
welcome.
A BARBAROUs EMPERoR.-A Haytie
, correspondent, in speaking of the fight o