Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-02-04

and social equality of races. Thus, the free
negro population constantly increases until
strong enough effectually to assist successful
revolt among the Slaves. The game was played
out in Hayt, and Jamaica The process in the
latter instance may be appreciated by reference
to the fact, that, at this time. there arc nearly
ten free negroes for every white man on the
Island
/ The acquisition Of Cuba by the United States
would, indeed, check this mode of Africanising
the island and the check would be the sup
preston Of the African slave trade. But it is
doubtful whether even this would be sufficient
to prevent universal emancipation in the course
Of a few years. At least, very stringent mea-
sures would be required to ensure the prcvcn-
tion-00, 900 slaves in immediate contact with
200,000 free negroes presents at once state Of
affairs very injurious to the value, and very
precarious to the permanency Of slave proper
ty. But supposins this domestic difficulty to
be surmountable, there are other difficulties
of international Importance in the way
Q
negro population of 100000. On the North,
the Bahamas present another horde Of
slaves, without masters, amounting to $4,000
On the East the Black despotism Of lIayti
offers at least 100000 more. How long
can slave property, in Cuba, endure this contact:
and what remedy is there for it? Shall we take
Iayti and make that slave State also? Why,
even If il were practicable to reduce SouloQueS
subjects to slavery, under other circumstances,
there is further obstacle in the way. More than
half the island is now in the possession Of an
Independent white republic. To persuade the
Dominicans to annexation might be practica-
BILE task; but they are all non-slaveholders, and
would most probably prefer to come in as free
soil State Again: are We to snatch Jamaica
and the Bahamas from Great Britain? We
might as well commence scheme for storming
Gibraltar.
But there is another view of tho matter,
which at once demonstrates the utter imposs-
bilty of the immediate acquisition Of Cuba.
Until the Central American question shall be
permanently settled it will be idle to dream Of
the acquisition Of Cuba. Such acquisition, il
it could be effected, would. indeed, strengthen
ton But herein lies the exact difficulty
Both England and France are wide awake to
the immense advantage in this connection
which the acquisition Of tho island would If
I L.kk l,. 10
US war, before they will yield to US the prepon
derance in Central America, which seems 10
be the aim of not few Of our short-sighted
law.givers II is folly to talk about cotton" in
connection with this matter. England can
better afford to shut up every cotton mill III
the British empire and employ every opera
tive in her army and navy in the prosecution
of a terrible and unexampled war against
nation speaking her own language, than she
can afford to yield her claim to free passage
across Central America and double Cape Horn
indefinitely Free equal, uncontrolled transit
to the Pacific, is the one great national and
commercial stake upon which her hopes OF
continued prosperity rely
France is interested in the same manner,
though, perhaps, not to the same extent. And
the prospect Of another offensive and dcfen-
sire alliance, with Great Britain, will certainly
become by no means distasteful to the French
Government because Of prospective injury to
British manufacturers. Moreover, fthe acqni.
sition Of Cuba is, at this time, to be made the
immediate easus Jelli, we may rest assured that
Spain, Holland, Denmark and Sweden will
eventually be added to the alliance against
us
If manifest destiny" has indeed marked
Cuba for future territorial acquisition BY the
United States, then, in the name ofpeacc, let us
bide our time Whenever it shall hecomc prac-
ticabe and erpedient to acquire the island We
must take it subject to great difficulties and
pers and very grave responsibilities. II will
then become our delicate task to re-organize its
whole social and governmental system, by
righting the accumulated wrongs Of century.
The attempt to cut the Gordian knot by an
appropriation of $50, 100000, to be employed
nobody knows how-a paltry demonstration,
which will subject US to all the dangers atten-
dant on an acknowledged Gnimus of territorial
seizure or diplomatic bribery, and yet only result
in complicating and embarrassing Central Ame-
rican difficulties, and in unnecessarily and arbi-
trarily increasing the present rate of import du-
ties-such a policy is above all others, at the
same time the weakest and most dcrogatory toall
the requirements of our national dignity and
prospective interests.