New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-06-02


likely to be diminished by the annexation OF Cuba
OF the other hand, the rush Of American adyen-
turers TO the island and the setting on foot of new
enterprises by specuiators acxious to eorich them
selves, would tend 10 increase she demand
for slaves; while shy authority which the
United States might possess would be utterly pow
erless to enforce the law against the general seni
mept in favor Of the continuance Of the trade.
What has happened in the Gaze of the yacht
WaDderer, and the cargo of slaves which that
vessel imported from the coast of Africa, abund'
antly shows how little the United States Govern
mept would he likely TO accomplish against the
prevailing sentiment of the island. The United
States Government has not succeeded in laying its
hands upon single ore Of those Africans imported
in the Wanderer and of all the numerous prose-
cutions instituted against persons charged with
being concerned in the importation, or with pur-
chasing and holding the imported Africans, not one
has yet come to anything, nor Is likely 10 40 so.
What reason is there to suppose that me Unued
States Government would prove any more success
full in Selling imported Africans in Cuba, or In
bringing to punishment the parties concerned IN
the importation, than it has proved itself to be in
Georgia and South Carolina?
Cuba, az a State or two States of this Union,
would haveegisloture other owo, Observation-Disclosures
to give, and representation in Congress. Con-
sideriDg how powerful the slaye-tradng interest is
10 that island it would be to control the State
Legislatures which, under that iofuence, would
very likely put themselves in direct opposition 10
the enforcement of the laws against the slave
trade The Cuba Senator's and representatives IN
Congress would join and strengthen the party re-
Gently sprupg up at the South, which denies that
Congress has any constitutional authority Tor pro-
bibitipg the importation Of slaves from Africa. 30
far from putting down the importation OF slaves
into Cuba, we might find ourselves obliged to
struggle against the legazation of the traffic and
the open establishment of African slave markets
not merely in Havana and Matanzas, but in Mo-
bile and New Orleans.
However we may find fault with the Spanish
Government for not enforcing its laws for the sup
preston Of the slaye.trade, could we reasonably
expect to be able to DO in Cuba what we find our
selves unable to do in Georgia and South Carolina
not to say in New-York? Our Government might
have the will which tie Spanish authorities lack
though, if the Democratic party is to continue in
power, even that might be open to question; but
it certainly would not have All, thing like the power
which the existing system of government puts into
the hands of the Spanish authorities Should the
Spanish Government really choose to do 50, there
can be little doubt that it would find the means to
put stop to the Importation of slaves. That i'm
portation has been stopped in Brazil, and there
seems to be DO reason why with the despotic pow
ers which the GovernOr-General of Cuba pos
sesses, this same thing should not be done there
But under our form of government it hardly seems
possible to enforce upon any State any law to
which the majority of the inhabitants are warmly
opposed. There is no instance in our history of
any such thing beiOg done, and we doubt very
much, if Cuba were annexed that the suppression
of the slave.trade to that slahd would furnish the
first instance of it.