The President’s Proclamation

Our readers, doubtless, have read the Proclamation of President Taylor against supposed movements in the United States to aid the Cubans to throw off the tyranny under which they groan, with no little surprise. If such a Proclamation had appeared, forbidding the citizens of the United States to aid the Californians in their scheme of annexation to the united States, there would have been no cause for wonder; for we do not doubt the truth of the assertion, against one of the mildest and most beneficent Governments, are from the United States; whilst past experience proves that there are thousands ready to co-operate all along our Northern frontier to force such a result by the sword. Or if expeditions to Hungary had been denounced, this would have some ground of justification from movements openly made in any of our Northern cities. But when and where has there been any demonstration on the part of our citizens to aid in revolutionizing Cuba? Open demonstrations to aid the Canadians and Hungarians are passed by unrebuked; but suppositious, certainly not public, manifestations by our citizens to aid the Cubans, is forthwith made the subject of denunciation by this truly Southern Administration. Although, in this city there has transpired nothing to justify the Proclamation of President Taylor, and it looks, therefore, now that the Southern elections are over, very like a small effort to gain popularity at the North, wherever he is now moving on his tour, we sincerely hope there is ground for this most extraordinary proceeding. Never was there a poor people more oppressed than the unfortunate inhabitants of Cuba. They are not only compelled to support an army for their own subjection, but the effete and corrupt monarchy of old Spain lives by the money extorted from them. The taxes wrung from them annually would long since have crushed them, but for their energy and the unequalled richness and fertility of their wonderful and beautiful country. Twenty millions of dollars a year are exacted by the Government from some three hundred thousand people. And what a Government! The despotism of Russia or Turkey is a beneficence itself compared to it. Should a people so situated to rise to vindicate their rights, and draw their swords for independence, there is not a heart in the broad South, not a friend to her institutions, but will burn with sympathetic ardor in their cause. President Taylor may not forth his Proclamations, and use or abuse his high office to truckle to Northern fanaticism, and to oppress any generous sympathy, or more efficient support in the shape of men and bayonets, to aid in such a struggle, but his edicts will be in vain. He will have to establish here a tyranny as despotic as that which exists in Cuba, before he can hinder an American citizen from going where he pleases to fight for an oppressed people against their oppressors. Thousands of our gallant sons will go to that glorious island to rescue it from Spanish or Negro domination if called on by the people of Cuba. They will not allow his garden spot of the world—this Key of the Gulf Of Mexico—this gate of the Mississippi river—more important to the South, and the great Valley of the West, than all the Middle States, and Northern to boot—to fall under any control inimical to their interests. In despite of the Buffalo platform, with Mr. Wenster asserts to be genuine Whiggery, declaring that no more Slave States shall be added to this Union, they will place another star in our flag, among the brightest of them all, and make it there to shine forever. The frowns of a weak, and already prostrated administration—the opposition of Southern traitors, in or out of Congress—the cries of Northern aspirants to power by a Northern predominance, or of tedious fanatics, poisoned, like the rattlesnake in August, by their own venom, will not avert the onward march of events. Cuba will be a part of these Southern States—and of these United States. But we forbear speculating upon a subject, on which we fear the Administration is only speculating. We hope the whole is not the puffing of a broken bellows, to fill its flagging and flap sails with Northern breezes.